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

Case No. 15-24-00116-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 12, 2025

Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Appellants have neither identified a waiver of the Appellees’ sovereign immunity nor pled a cause of action to confer subject matter jurisdiction on the Court. Sovereign immunity protects state agencies and officers unless there is a clear waiver. Appellants' claims for judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) are barred as administrative remedies were not exhausted, and they are not aggrieved by a final contested case decision. Similarly, claims under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (UDJA) fail to waive sovereign immunity and seek impermissible relief challenging an unripe agency order. Appellants' ultra vires claims and mandamus requests are also barred because Appellees acted within their statutory authority in taking disciplinary actions and issuing a warning, and no ministerial duty to grant SOAH hearings for all Appellants exists. Therefore, the trial court properly granted Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction.

Sovereign ImmunitySubject Matter JurisdictionAdministrative Procedure Act (APA)Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (UDJA)Ultra Vires ClaimsMandamus ReliefPeace Officer LicensureLaw Enforcement DisciplineTexas Courts of AppealsJudicial Review
References
38
Case No. 13-01-00119-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 06, 2002

McAllen Police Officer's Union and the City of McAllen, Texas v. Ricardo Tamez, Individually and as President of the McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association, and McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association

The City of McAllen and the McAllen Police Officers Union (appellants) appealed a district court order compelling an election to determine the exclusive bargaining agent for the city's police officers. The Thirteenth District Court of Appeals in Texas reversed the trial court's decision. The appellate court held that selection by petition is a proper method for designating a bargaining agent and found no evidence of coercion in the petition's circulation. It further concluded that the appellees, Ricardo Tamez and the McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association, failed to provide 'substantial support' to warrant an election, thus denying their requests for a declaratory judgment and a writ of mandamus.

Collective BargainingPolice UnionLabor LawElectionPetitionSupervisor InfluenceMajority RepresentationTexas Local Government CodeNational Labor Relations ActAppellate Review
References
26
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

State Commission for Human Rights v. Mullen

The New York State Commission Against Discrimination, as petitioner, filed a motion under Executive Law § 298 seeking judicial enforcement of its order, dated December 3, 1963, against unnamed respondents. This original order stemmed from a hearing concerning alleged unlawful discriminatory practices. The petitioner aimed to secure court benediction for the order, enabling contempt as a remedy for any future violations. The court reviewed Article 15 of the Executive Law, confirming that section 298 permits the commission to obtain such an enforcement order. Consequently, the motion was granted, authorizing the issuance of an order to enforce the commission's original directive.

Enforcement MotionExecutive LawDiscriminatory PracticesStipulationContempt RemedyJudicial ReviewOrder EnforcementNew York LawAdministrative OrderHuman Rights Commission
References
2
Case No. 03-17-00478-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 28, 2017

in Re Volkswagen Clean Diesel Litigation: Texas Clean Air Act Enforcement Cases

The Texas Court of Appeals, Third District, at Austin, conditionally granted the State's petition for writ of mandamus. The State sought to abate eighteen later-filed cases, initiated by various counties against Volkswagen, concerning enforcement of the Texas Clean Air Act. The court determined that the common-law doctrine of dominant jurisdiction required the abatement of these later-filed suits because the State's enforcement action against Volkswagen was filed first. The court found that venue was proper in both sets of cases and that they were inherently interrelated, involving the same parties, controversy, and environmental law enforcement. The MDL statute was not intended to modify or create an exception to the dominant jurisdiction rule under these unique circumstances, where all actions sought to impose penalties for the same TCAA violations. Therefore, the MDL pretrial court abused its discretion by not granting the State's plea in abatement.

Mandamus ReliefDominant JurisdictionAbatement of SuitsTexas Clean Air ActMultidistrict Litigation (MDL)Environmental LawInterrelated CasesFirst-Filed RuleAppellate Court DecisionVolkswagen Litigation
References
12
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Lykes Bros. S. S. Co. v. Sheppeard

C. B. Stansfield, a longshoreman, sustained a left shoulder injury in 1938 while working for Lykes Bros. Steamship Company, leading to an initial workers' compensation award in 1939 for 15% permanent partial disability. The Deputy Commissioner later modified this award in February 1941, granting additional compensation, citing a "mistake in a determination of fact" after discovering that Stansfield's dislocated clavicle caused pressure on his trachea, a condition not initially known. Lykes Bros. Steamship Company sought judicial review to enjoin the enforcement of this modified award. Judge Kennerly of the District Court found that Stansfield had withheld information regarding his breathing issues from the Deputy Commissioner during the initial proceedings. Consequently, the court ruled that an employee cannot lawfully obtain a modification under Section 922 by withholding material facts, thus granting Lykes Bros. Steamship Company its decree enjoining the enforcement of the February 1, 1941, award.

Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation ActPermanent Partial DisabilityDislocated ClavicleMedical EvidenceMistake of FactJudicial ReviewInjunctionGalveston, TexasWorkers' CompensationCompensation Award
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Railway Co. v. Boland

This case involves a judicial review of a New York State Labor Relations Board decision that found the Frontier Bus and Street Car Employees’ Association (Frontier Union) to be a company union and ordered its disbandment. The Board sought to enforce its order, while the International Railway Company and the Frontier Union cross-moved to vacate the findings. The court reviewed whether there was substantial evidence to support the Board's conclusion that the International Railway Company engaged in unfair labor practices by dominating the Frontier Union. Ultimately, the court determined that the evidence was not substantial and granted the cross-motion, denying enforcement of the Board's order.

Judicial ReviewLabor LawCompany UnionUnfair Labor PracticesCollective BargainingNew York State Labor Relations BoardInternational Railway CompanyFrontier Bus and Street Car Employees’ AssociationSubstantial EvidenceEmployer Domination
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Benavidez v. TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT

This case addresses two key issues concerning judicial review of a Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Appeals Panel decision. The first issue is when a party seeking judicial review is required to file a copy of its petition with the Commission under Texas Labor Code section 410.253. The second issue is whether untimely notice to the Commission under this section deprives the trial court of jurisdiction over the judicial review action. The court of appeals had previously held that the filing was required within forty days of the Appeals Panel decision and was mandatory and jurisdictional. However, the Supreme Court, referencing Albertson’s, Inc. v. Sinclair, clarifies that the petition must be filed with the Commission on the same day it is filed in the trial court, and while timely filing is mandatory, it is not jurisdictional. Consequently, the court of appeals' judgment was reversed, and the case was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

Workers' CompensationJudicial ReviewAppeals Panel DecisionTimely FilingJurisdictionMandatory RequirementTexas Labor CodeCourt of Appeals ReversalRemandCivil Procedure
References
3
Case No. 2025 NY Slip Op 02370 [237 AD3d 1139]
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 23, 2025

Whitfield v. Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Assn.

The plaintiff, John "Divine G" Whitfield, doing business as Divine G Entertainment, appealed an order from the Supreme Court, Kings County, which granted the defendants' motion to dismiss his amended complaint. Whitfield had sued Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA) and its members for fraud and unjust enrichment, alleging inadequate payment for website and paralegal services. The Appellate Division affirmed the Supreme Court's decision, finding that Whitfield failed to adequately allege injury for fraud and that civil conspiracy claims stand or fall with the underlying tort. The court also determined that defendants were not unjustly enriched and that the plaintiff failed to establish an employer-employee relationship necessary for Labor Law and FLSA claims. Additionally, claims for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress were dismissed for failing to meet rigorous standards, and piercing the corporate veil was not adequately pleaded.

FraudUnjust EnrichmentEmployment RelationshipQuantum MeruitLabor LawFLSAEmotional DistressCorporate VeilPiercing Corporate VeilPleading Sufficiency
References
26
Case No. 03-23-00316-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 16, 2025

City of Killeen, Texas and Ground Game Texas v. Bell County, Texas; The 27th Judicial District Attorney's Office; And the Bell County Attorney's Office

The City of Killeen, Texas, and Ground Game Texas appealed the trial court's denial of their pleas to the jurisdiction. The underlying lawsuit, filed by Bell County, the 27th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Bell County Attorney’s Office, challenged the constitutionality and validity of a Killeen ordinance decriminalizing misdemeanor marijuana possession. Appellants argued that the appellees lacked standing and that governmental immunity barred the suit. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's order, concluding that the District Attorney’s Office had standing due to the ordinance's interference with its prosecutorial discretion and duties. It also found that governmental immunity was waived for challenges to an ordinance's validity and for concurrent claims for injunctive relief under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act.

Decriminalization OrdinanceMarijuana PossessionPlea to the JurisdictionGovernmental ImmunityStandingProsecutorial DiscretionUniform Declaratory Judgments ActTexas Local Government CodeTexas Health & Safety CodeTexas Code of Criminal Procedure
References
29
Case No. 04-14-00483-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 25, 2015

Rowland Martin, Jr. v. Edward L. Bravenec and 1216 West Ave., Inc.

Rowland J. Martin, the Appellant, filed a supplemental motion for rehearing, expedited judgment, and writ relief with the Texas Court of Appeals for the Fourth District, Bexar County, on February 25, 2015. He seeks to enforce the Texas Citizen's Participation Act (TCPA) and alleges fraud on the court by Appellees Edward Bravenec and 1216 West Ave. Inc., facilitated by attorneys Bravenec and Deadman. Martin contends that the Appellees concealed a property transfer to Torralba Properties, LLC, which created a resulting trust and negated the Appellees' standing in the underlying tortious interference case. He requests the court to grant special exceptions, reverse the trial court's orders, and issue temporary injunctive relief, arguing that the Appellees' lawsuit is a sham and his recorded lis pendens constitutes protected speech under Anti-SLAPP laws. Martin emphasizes the importance of promptly adjudicating fraud on the court issues in interlocutory appeals to preserve judicial integrity and due process.

Anti-SLAPPFraud on the CourtSupplemental Motion for RehearingExpedited JudgmentWrit ReliefTexas Citizen's Participation ActInterlocutory AppealResulting TrustLis PendensTemporary Injunctive Relief
References
56
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