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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 03-18-00740-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 06, 2020

Gerard Matzen// Marsha McLane, in Her Official Capacity as Director of Texas Civil Commitment Office, and the Texas Civil Commitment Office v. Marsha McLane, in Her Official Capacity as Director of Texas Civil Commitment Office, and the Texas Civil Commitment Office// Cross-Appellee, Gerard Matzen

Gerard Matzen appealed a district court's partial grant of Appellees' plea to the jurisdiction in his civil commitment case under the sexually violent predator (SVP) statute, challenging rulings on his APA, ultra vires, and immunity claims. The Texas Civil Commitment Office (TCCO) and its Director Marsha McLane cross-appealed the denial of their plea regarding Matzen's procedural due process and takings claims. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's order, finding Matzen's APA and ultra vires claims invalid and qualified immunity inapplicable. However, the court upheld the district court's denial of the plea concerning Matzen's procedural due process and takings claims, concluding they presented viable constitutional questions requiring further factual development.

Civil commitmentSexually Violent Predator ActPlea to the jurisdictionSovereign immunityUltra vires claimsAdministrative Procedure ActDue processTakings clauseCost recovery feesGovernment agency authority
References
65
Case No. 47 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 1028
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 03, 2004

In Re Commitment of Fisher

This case involves the civil commitment of Michael James Fisher as a sexually violent predator under the Texas Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators Act. The Supreme Court of Texas addresses whether the Act is punitive or civil, concluding that it is civil based on legislative intent and its non-punitive effects, despite provisions for criminal penalties for violations of commitment conditions. The opinion also rejects Fisher's arguments regarding the right to be competent at trial in a civil commitment proceeding, Fifth Amendment self-incrimination, and facial vagueness challenges to the Act's "behavioral abnormality" definition and individualized treatment. The Court reversed the court of appeals' judgment, which had found the Act punitive and unconstitutional, and affirmed Fisher's civil commitment.

Sexually Violent Predator ActCivil CommitmentDue ProcessConstitutional LawPunitive vs. CivilBehavioral AbnormalityMental CompetencyFifth AmendmentVagueness ChallengeOutpatient Treatment
References
54
Case No. 02-18-00019-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 28, 2019

in Re: The Commitment of Gregory A. Jones

Gregory A. Jones appealed the trial court's order committing him as a sexually violent predator. Psychologists Jason Dunham and Sheri Gaines evaluated Jones, testifying to his behavioral abnormality and likelihood to commit sexually violent offenses based on his criminal history, risk factors, and test results. The jury found Jones to be a sexually violent predator. The Court of Appeals found the evidence legally sufficient but reversed and remanded the case for a new trial. The reversal was due to the trial court's error in denying Jones's request for a jury instruction allowing a non-unanimous (10-2) verdict for a 'no' finding, which is permissible under civil procedure rules for non-affirmative determinations.

Sexually Violent PredatorCivil CommitmentJury InstructionLegal SufficiencyBehavioral AbnormalityRisk AssessmentRecidivismExpert TestimonyForensic PsychologyCriminal History
References
30
Case No. 09-06-180 CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 12, 2007

in Re Commitment of Michael Marks

Michael Marks appealed a civil commitment order issued under the Sexually Violent Predator Act, after a jury found him to be a sexually violent predator. Marks challenged the trial court's exclusion of his expert witnesses, Dr. Jason Dunham and psychotherapist Sara Smith, citing improper disclosure and the failure to hold a gatekeeper hearing for the State's expert, Dr. Michael Arambula. He also alleged improper closing arguments by the State. The Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's judgment, concluding that Marks failed to timely disclose expert testimony, did not properly request a gatekeeper hearing, and waived objections to the closing arguments.

Civil CommitmentSexually Violent Predator ActExpert Witness ExclusionDiscovery RulesGatekeeper HearingClosing ArgumentAbuse of DiscretionAppellate ProcedureMental IllnessSchizoaffective Disorder
References
16
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Moss v. Department of Civil Service

The petitioner, a Senior Youth Parole Worker, initiated an Article 78 proceeding challenging the State Department of Civil Service's requirement of a Master's degree for the Youth Parole Supervisor promotion examination. His application was denied due to the lack of this degree, despite his advanced graduate study and prior assurances of eligibility based on earlier prerequisites. The court affirmed the Civil Service Department's broad discretion in establishing minimum qualifications for competitive examinations. It ruled that earlier prerequisites or unauthorized assurances do not confer a vested right to bypass current requirements, which are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State Department of Civil Service. Consequently, the application was denied, and the petition dismissed.

Civil Service LawPromotion ExaminationEducational RequirementsMaster's DegreeYouth Parole SupervisorDiscretionVested RightsArticle 78 ProceedingState EmployeesCivil Service Commission
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 14, 1988

Levitt v. Civil Service Commission

The City of New York appealed a Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the Civil Service Commission's decision to reject the reclassification of the deckhand position from the competitive to the noncompetitive civil service class. Petitioners argued that the Commission applied an overly strict standard, acted inconsistently with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the NY Constitution, based its decision solely on a presumption despite expert opinions, and failed to adequately state its reasoning. The Appellate Division found that the Commission properly used the term "compelling" to reflect the constitutional preference for competitive examinations and that its decision, while brief, allowed for judicial review. Citing the public safety roles of deckhands, similar to police and firefighters, the court concluded that competitive examinations are feasible and petitioners failed to demonstrate an impediment to compliance with job-relatedness requirements.

Civil Service LawJob ReclassificationCompetitive ExaminationNoncompetitive ClassPublic SafetyDeckhand PositionAppellate ReviewCivil Rights Act Title VIINew York ConstitutionArbitrary Determination
References
5
Case No. 2022 NY Slip Op 01453
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 09, 2022

Matter of County of Nassau v. Civil Serv. Empls. Assn., Civ. Serv. Empls. Assn., AFSCME, Local 1000, AFL-CIO

The County of Nassau appealed an order denying its petition to permanently stay arbitration and granting the respondents' motion to compel arbitration. The dispute arose when the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), on behalf of Joseph W. Grzymalski, a seasonal worker, filed a grievance claiming he was entitled to full-time benefits due to working 40 hours per week. The Appellate Division, Second Department, reversed the Supreme Court's order, ruling that the reclassification of a civil service position, like Grzymalski's, can only be accomplished by the municipal civil service commission as per Civil Service Law § 22, thus rendering the grievance nonarbitrable. Consequently, the Appellate Division granted the County of Nassau's petition to permanently stay arbitration and denied the respondents' motion to compel arbitration.

ArbitrationPublic Sector EmploymentCivil Service LawGrievanceReclassificationSeasonal WorkerFull-Time BenefitsCollective Bargaining AgreementAppellate ReviewJudicial Review
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

City of New York v. City Civil Service Commission

The New York City Personnel Director challenged the City Civil Service Commission's decision to grant veterans' preference credits to police officers who performed a few hours of active duty during a 1970 postal strike. The Court of Appeals found that the Personnel Director had standing to sue, rejecting the argument of an intra-agency dispute due to the Director's policy-making and enforcement authority over civil service laws. On the merits, the Court reversed the Commission's decision, holding that veterans' credits are intended for individuals whose full-time military service significantly disrupted their civilian lives, a condition not met by the police officers' brief service. The court clarified that mere literal fulfillment of "time of war" and "member of the armed forces" definitions is insufficient without demonstrable sacrifice. Therefore, the orders awarding the preference credits were annulled, emphasizing the restrictive interpretation of such preferences in competitive civil service systems.

Veterans' preference creditsCivil Service LawStanding to sueArticle 78 proceedingMunicipal civil service commissionPersonnel DirectorJudicial review of administrative decisionsArmed Forces reservistsActive dutyConstitutional interpretation
References
17
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Board of Education of Yonkers City School District v. Yonkers Municipal Civil Service Commission

The Board of Education of the Yonkers City School District initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to review the Yonkers Municipal Civil Service Commission's determination. The Commission had reinstated Michael DeMuro, a custodial worker, after charges of incompetence and misconduct. This case is a further review following a prior remittal where the Commission violated Civil Service Law § 76 (2) by considering external evidence. The Supreme Court, Westchester County, annulled the Commission's latest determination and transferred the case. This Court (Appellate Division) found the transfer improper as the 'substantial evidence' standard was not applicable. The Court annulled the Commission's determination, vacated the Supreme Court's judgment, denied the cross-petition, and remitted the matter to the Commission for a third determination in strict compliance with Civil Service Law § 76.

Civil Service LawCPLR Article 78Administrative LawJudicial ReviewDue ProcessRemittalAnnulmentDisciplinary ProceedingCustodial WorkerIncompetence
References
3
Case No. 2017 NY Slip Op 02421 [148 AD3d 1146]
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 29, 2017

Matter of Enlarged City Sch. Dist. of Middletown N.Y. v. Civil Serv. Empls. Assn., Inc.

The Enlarged City School District of Middletown New York (the district) terminated an employee, Thomas Turco, pursuant to Civil Service Law § 71 after he was out of work for over a year due to an on-duty injury. The Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. (the union) filed a grievance and then a demand for arbitration, which the district sought to permanently stay. The Supreme Court denied the district's petition, but this appellate court reversed that decision. The court held that public policy prohibits arbitration of the dispute, as an employer cannot bargain away its right to terminate employees under Civil Service Law § 71, and an arbitrator could not fashion a remedy without violating public policy. Therefore, the arbitration was permanently stayed.

Collective Bargaining AgreementArbitration StayPublic Policy ExceptionCivil Service LawEmployee TerminationOccupational DisabilityGrievanceAppellate ReviewCPLR article 75Workers' Compensation Leave
References
8
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