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

Case No. 03-15-00744-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 08, 2016

Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District v. State

The Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District and its Commissioners appealed a trial court's denial of their plea to the jurisdiction and Rule 91a motion to dismiss. The State of Texas sued them, alleging they unlawfully authorized Sustainable Texas Oyster Resource Management, L.L.C. (STORM) to cultivate and harvest oysters in state waters. The appellate court found that sections 12.301 and 12.303 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code provided an express statutory waiver of immunity for the District regarding claims of unlawfully possessing oysters. However, the court reversed the trial court's order concerning the State's ultra vires claim against the District, as such claims must be brought against individual officials, not the governmental unit itself. The court affirmed the ultra vires claim against the Commissioners, finding they exceeded their statutory authority by granting STORM rights related to oysters, an authority vested solely in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The court also rejected the ripeness argument, stating the claim was not hypothetical.

Sovereign ImmunityUltra ViresNavigation DistrictsOyster CultivationTexas Water CodeTexas Parks & Wildlife CodeGovernmental AuthorityStatutory InterpretationPlea to JurisdictionRule 91a Motion to Dismiss
References
56
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Chambers-Liberty Cntys. Navigation Dist. v. State

The Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District and its Commissioners appealed the denial of their plea to the jurisdiction and Rule 91a motion to dismiss. The State of Texas, representing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, sued them for allegedly exceeding their authority by leasing state waters to Sustainable Texas Oyster Resource Management, L.L.C. (STORM) for oyster cultivation. The appellate court affirmed in part and reversed in part. It found an express statutory waiver of immunity for the District regarding claims of unlawful oyster possession under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. However, it dismissed the ultra vires claim against the District itself, clarifying such claims must target individual officials. The court upheld the ultra vires claim against the Commissioners, concluding they acted beyond their statutory authority in authorizing the lease. Furthermore, it ruled that retrospective relief in the form of restitution was permissible against the District, and the State's claim was ripe for adjudication, not merely hypothetical.

Sovereign immunityUltra viresNavigation districtsOyster cultivationState watersTexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentStatutory interpretationGovernmental immunityPlea to jurisdictionRule 91a motion
References
28
Case No. 03-01-00491-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2002

West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District Coppell Independent School District La Porte Independent School District And Port Neches-Groves Independent School District v. Felipe Alanis, Texas Commissioner of Education The Texas Education Agency Carol Keeton Rylander, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts And the Texas State Board of Education Alvarado I.S.D. Anthony I.S.D. Aubrey I.S.D. Bangs I.S.D.

Four Texas school districts, led by West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, appealed the dismissal of their action seeking a declaratory judgment that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional. The districts contended that the $1.50 tax cap had become a de facto floor, forcing them to tax at the maximum allowable rate to provide education, thereby constituting an unconstitutional state ad valorem tax. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal, ruling that the districts failed to state a viable cause of action because they did not allege they were forced to tax at the cap specifically to provide the constitutionally-mandated 'accredited education.' The court also found the claim unripe, emphasizing that the focus should be on whether the state's requirements forced a lack of meaningful discretion in setting tax rates for an accredited education, not on a desired level of education or the number of districts taxing at the cap.

School Finance ReformConstitutional ChallengeAd Valorem TaxationEducation FundingDeclaratory JudgmentAppellate JurisdictionRipeness DoctrineTexas Constitution Article VII, Section 1Texas Constitution Article VIII, Section 1-eProperty Tax Cap
References
30
Case No. No. 22-0620
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 21, 2024

Texas Disposal Systems Landfill, Inc. v. Travis Central Appraisal District, by and Through Marya Crigler, Acting in Her Official Capacity as Chief Appraiser of Travis Central Appraisal District

The dissenting opinion in Texas Disposal Systems Landfill, Inc. v. Travis Central Appraisal District challenges the majority's interpretation of Texas Tax Code Section 42.02(a)(1) regarding property tax appraisal appeals. Justice Boyd argues that limitations on such appeals are jurisdictional and that a district court's review of an appraisal review board order should not be confined solely to the grounds raised in the property owner's initial protest. The dissent asserts that the Tax Code and Texas Constitution mandate that appraised values must reflect both "equal and uniform" taxation and the property's "market value," and therefore, the district court should be able to address market value even if not initially protested. The dissent concurs with the majority's decision to affirm the court of appeals' judgment but disagrees with the prohibition on the district court addressing the market-value issue on remand. Consequently, Justice Boyd respectfully dissents in part.

Property TaxAppraisal LawJurisdictional LimitsMarket ValueEqual and Uniform TaxationDe Novo ReviewAdministrative RemediesTexas Tax CodeTexas ConstitutionJudicial Review
References
23
Case No. 06-13-00115-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 17, 2014

Mt. Pleasant Independent School District v. Dona K. Elliott

Dona K. Elliott sued Mt. Pleasant Independent School District after a bus she was driving experienced brake failure, causing an accident that broke her kneecap. Elliott was employed by Durham Transportation, Inc., which had recently contracted with the District to operate and maintain its bus fleet. The District appealed the trial court's decision to overrule its plea to the jurisdiction, arguing sovereign immunity was not waived. The Court of Appeals concluded that the District did not have direct control over the bus's operation at the time of the accident, nor does maintenance fall under the definition of 'operation' or 'use' in the Texas Tort Claims Act for school districts. Consequently, the court reversed the trial court's judgment and dismissed Elliott's claims.

Sovereign ImmunityTexas Tort Claims ActMotor Vehicle AccidentSchool District LiabilityNegligent MaintenanceIndependent ContractorGovernmental ImmunityWaiver of ImmunityBus Brake FailurePersonal Injury
References
26
Case No. 03-04-00744-CV
Regular Panel Decision
May 12, 2006

Greg Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas v. North East Independent School District and Dr. Richard A. Middleton, in His Official Capacity as Custodian of Public Records for North East Independent School District

This case addresses whether a memorandum from a school principal to a teacher, which outlines complaints and directs corrective actions, qualifies as a confidential "document evaluating the performance of a teacher" under Texas Education Code Ann. § 21.355. The Attorney General argued it was merely a reprimand and therefore not confidential, while the North East Independent School District (NEISD) contended it was an evaluation. The district court sided with NEISD, granting their motion for summary judgment. The Court of Appeals affirmed this decision, concluding that the memorandum's content, including the principal's judgment on performance issues, corrective directives, and provisions for further review, indeed constituted an evaluation, thereby making it confidential and exempt from public disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act.

Public Information ActTeacher Performance EvaluationConfidentialitySchool District RecordsSummary Judgment ReviewStatutory InterpretationGovernment TransparencyEducation CodeAppellate ReviewTexas Law
References
18
Case No. 14-08-00493-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 21, 2009

BACM 2002 PB2 Westpark Dr LP, Houston Parkwest Place Ltd, as the Property Owners and the Property Owners v. Harris County Appraisal District and the Appraisal Review Board of Harris County Appraisal District

This appeal concerns a lawsuit where a former property owner initiated judicial review of an ad valorem tax valuation protest by the county appraisal district. A subsequent property purchaser was later included as a plaintiff. The appraisal district challenged the plaintiffs' standing through a plea to the jurisdiction, leading the trial court to dismiss the suit. The appellate court affirmed this dismissal, concluding that neither the initial property owner (BACM 2002 PB2 Westpark Dr. LP) nor the subsequent owner (Houston Parkwest Place Ltd.) possessed the requisite standing to pursue judicial review. Consequently, the trial court was found to lack subject-matter jurisdiction over the dispute.

Property TaxAd Valorem TaxJudicial ReviewStanding DoctrineSubject-Matter JurisdictionPlea to the JurisdictionTexas Tax CodeTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 28Appellate ProcedureProperty Ownership
References
30
Case No. 2-07-128-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 26, 2008

City of the Colony, Texas AND City of Frisco, Texas AND North Texas Municipal Water District v. North Texas Municipal Water District and City of Frisco, Texas AND City of the Colony, Texas

The City of The Colony, Texas, entered into a tri-party contract in 1998 with the City of Frisco, Texas, and the North Texas Municipal Water District for the construction and operation of a regional wastewater system. The Colony later ceased payments and sued Frisco and the District for breach of contract, declaratory judgment that no contract was formed, and rescission. The trial court largely granted summary judgment to Frisco and the District, leaving only certain claims for trial. On appeal, the Court affirmed the trial court's judgment regarding The Colony's claims and the District's appeal. However, for Frisco's appeal, the court reversed the jury's $0.00 damages award, rendering judgment that The Colony owed Frisco $642,863.98 for breach of contract.

Contract LawWastewater SystemMunicipal LawSummary JudgmentBreach of ContractDeclaratory JudgmentRescissionUnjust EnrichmentPromissory EstoppelAppellate Review
References
112
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mount Sinai Union Free School District v. Board of Education Port Jefferson Public Schools

Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson School Districts had a long-standing contract for Mt. Sinai to send its high school students to Port Jefferson. Following a deterioration of relations and an increase in Mt. Sinai's student population, Mt. Sinai decided to build its own high school. New York Education Law § 3014-c was enacted, requiring sending districts to consider teachers from receiving districts as their own employees. Mt. Sinai challenged this statute, alleging various constitutional violations. The court dismissed claims by teacher, parent/student, and taxpayer plaintiffs for lack of standing, and then dismissed the remaining Contract Clause claim by Mt. Sinai, granting summary judgment to the defendants.

School DistrictsTeacher TenureEducation LawContract ClauseDue ProcessEqual ProtectionStandingAbstention DoctrineSummary JudgmentFederal Civil Procedure
References
17
Case No. 03-02-00652-CV; 03-02-00693-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 03, 2003

in Re Marble Falls Independent School District

This case concerns a challenge to the Marble Falls Independent School District's mandatory extracurricular activity drug-testing policy. Eddie Shell, on behalf of his minor children, argued the policy infringed upon their religious freedom, privacy rights, and due process under the Texas Constitution, citing the consumption of wine for religious observances. The trial court initially granted a temporary injunction against the school district. However, the Texas Court of Appeals, Third District, reversed this decision, finding that Shell failed to establish a probable right to recover. The appellate court concluded that the drug-testing policy did not violate constitutional provisions regarding religious freedom, due process, or privacy, as it was a neutral, generally applicable law rationally related to legitimate state interests in student safety and health.

Drug TestingExtracurricular ActivitiesReligious FreedomPrivacy RightsDue ProcessTexas ConstitutionTemporary InjunctionAbuse of DiscretionSchool PolicyAppellate Review
References
26
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