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

Case No. 14-18-00274-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 17, 2020

Dr. Louis Patino, D.C. Dr. Stephen Wilson, M.D. And Dr. Gary Craighead, D.C. v. Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers' Compensation Commissioner Cassandra J. Brown and Dr. Donald Patrick, in Their Official and Individual Capacities State Office of Administrative Hearings, Texas Chief Administrative Law Judge Cathleen Parsley in Her Official Capacity Tommy Broyles, in His Official Capacity The State of Texas And the Attorney General of the State of Texas

Three doctors, Patino, Wilson, and Craighead, appealed the dismissal of their claims against the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers’ Compensation and other state entities. The doctors were excluded from the state's workers' compensation approved doctor list between 2004 and 2007, leading to administrative penalties and a subsequent lawsuit. The trial court dismissed their claims for lack of jurisdiction, asserting immunity. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal of claims challenging final agency orders due to unexhausted administrative remedies and collateral attack immunity. However, the court reversed the dismissal of the doctors' constitutional challenges to the Workers’ Compensation Act and ultra vires claims against the Commissioner, concluding these claims were properly pleaded and not barred by sovereign immunity.

Physician ExclusionAdministrative LawJudicial ReviewSovereign ImmunityUltra Vires ClaimsConstitutional ChallengeDue Process RightsProfessional LicensingGovernment RegulationTexas Labor Code
References
24
Case No. 03-15-00285-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 01, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. And Audi of America, Inc. v. John Walker III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board The Honorable Michael J. O'Malley, the Honorable Penny A. Wilkov, in Their Official Capacities as Administrative Law Judges for the State Office

This case involves an appeal filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Audi of America, Inc. (Appellants) against John Walker III, Chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board, and Administrative Law Judges Michael J. O'Malley and Penny A. Wilkov (Appellees). Appellants sought injunctive relief in district court to prevent Appellees from proceeding with an allegedly ultra vires remand of an administrative contested case after a Proposal for Decision (PFD) had been issued. The district court dismissed the lawsuit based on governmental immunity and failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Appellants argue that Appellees' actions, including ordering the remand and reopening evidence, exceeded their statutory authority under the Administrative Procedure Act and Texas Occupations Code, making governmental immunity inapplicable and exhaustion of remedies unnecessary.

Administrative LawUltra Vires ActsGovernmental ImmunityExhaustion of RemediesJudicial ReviewAgency AuthorityState Office of Administrative HearingsRemandContested CasesStatutory Interpretation
References
31
Case No. 03-22-00241-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 31, 2023

Texas Political Subdivisions Joint Self-Insurance Fund v. Texas Department of Insurance - Division of Workers' Compensation and Commissioner Cassie Brown in Her Official Capacity

The Texas Political Subdivisions Joint Self-Insurance Fund (TPS Fund) appealed the denial of its plea to the jurisdiction and summary-judgment motion by the 455th District Court of Travis County. The TPS Fund, a self-insured governmental entity, was assessed administrative penalties totaling $132,500 by the Texas Department of Insurance–Division of Workers’ Compensation for violations of the Texas Labor Code related to nonpayment or late payment of workers’ compensation benefits. The TPS Fund asserted governmental immunity from these penalties. The Court of Appeals reviewed the legislative history and prior common law, including Texas Workers’ Comp. Comm’n v. City of Eagle Pass, to determine if immunity was waived. It concluded that the 2019 amendment to Labor Code Section 504.053(e) merely codified existing law, which had already established a clear waiver of immunity for such regulatory actions against self-insured political subdivisions. Therefore, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order, holding that the TPS Fund’s governmental immunity is waived for the administrative penalties.

Workers' CompensationGovernmental ImmunityAdministrative PenaltiesTexas Labor CodeSelf-InsurancePolitical SubdivisionsStatutory InterpretationAppellate ReviewRegulatory AuthoritySovereign Immunity
References
13
Case No. 03-05-00176-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 07, 2007

LHR Enterprises, Inc. Task Services, Inc. Business Staffing, Inc. Harry Sewill Rick Chapman And Transglobal Mortgage, Inc. v. Mike Geeslin, in His Official Capacity as Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Texas Texas Department of Insurance And State Office of Administrative Hearings for the State of Texas

The appellants challenged the Commissioner of Insurance's authority to refer them to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for alleged unauthorized insurance practices, seeking a declaratory judgment. The district court granted a plea to the jurisdiction, which led to this appeal. While the appeal was pending, the Commissioner issued a final order absolving the appellants of wrongdoing. The Texas Court of Appeals subsequently dismissed the appeal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, deeming the controversy moot and affirming the prohibition against advisory opinions.

JurisdictionDeclaratory Judgment ActSovereign ImmunityMootness DoctrineAdministrative HearingsInsurance RegulationTexas Civil PracticeAppellate ProcedureJusticiable ControversyRipeness
References
18
Case No. 03-98-00407-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 26, 1999

Vanliner Insurance Company v. Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and the Administrator of the Subsequent Injury Fund

Vanliner Insurance Company appealed the denial of its request for reimbursement of workers' compensation benefits by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and the Administrator of the Subsequent Injury Fund. The dispute arose from benefits paid to Francisco Gonzalez under an interlocutory order that was later overturned by a contested case hearing. The trial court sided with TWCC, but the Court of Appeals determined that Vanliner was legally entitled to reimbursement for the $18,527.40 paid pursuant to the reversed order. The court reversed the trial court's judgment and mandated the Fund to reimburse Vanliner. This case clarifies the statutory steps for reimbursement under Labor Code § 410.032(b) and the scope of mandamus relief in Texas.

Workers' CompensationReimbursementMandamusStatutory InterpretationSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewInterlocutory OrderContested Case HearingSubsequent Injury FundOverpayment
References
10
Case No. 03-14-00396-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 06, 2015

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners and Yvette Yarbrough, Executive Director v. Texas Medical Association

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) and its Executive Director, Yvette Yarbrough, are appealing a decision from the Third Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas. They have filed a motion for panel rehearing and/or en banc rehearing. The appellants argue that the Court's previous memorandum opinion contains three fundamental errors: misstating appellate issues, resolving subject-matter jurisdiction using a prohibited method, and misstating the administrative rule at issue. They contend that the Court misunderstood their challenge to the trial court's jurisdiction regarding the Texas Medical Association's (TMA) claim to invalidate a provision of the Scope of Practice Rule (22 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.17(d)(1)) concerning chiropractors' authority to "diagnose" diseases. TBCE asserts that this claim is a collateral attack on a prior judgment in TMA I where the same issue was litigated and decided in TBCE's favor. They argue that subject-matter jurisdiction should be decided on a claim-by-claim basis and that the Court erred in its interpretation of the administrative rule number. They are requesting an opportunity for oral argument due to the significance of the issues for chiropractic practice in Texas.

Workers' CompensationChiropractic Scope of PracticeMedical AssociationCollateral AttackSubject Matter JurisdictionAdministrative LawRule InvalidationTexas LawAppellate ProcedureMotion for Rehearing
References
6
Case No. 03-01-00631-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 21, 2002

Everest National Insurance Company v. Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Subsequent Injury Fund Leonard W. Riley, Jr., in His Official Capacity as Director of Texas Workers' Compensation Commission And John Casseb, in His Official Capacity as Administrator of Subsequent Injury Fund

Everest National Insurance Company (Everest) sought reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Fund for overpaid workers' compensation benefits after district court judgments reversed prior agency decisions. The Fund denied a portion of the requested amount, leading Everest to file a declaratory judgment suit in district court. The district court dismissed the suit, citing lack of subject-matter jurisdiction due to Everest's alleged failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The Texas Court of Appeals reversed this decision, holding that Everest was not required to exhaust administrative remedies because the Fund had previously stated no such remedies existed. The appellate court found Everest was authorized to bring a direct suit for declaratory relief under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act to enforce the Fund's statutory obligation, remanding the case for a decision on the merits.

Workers' CompensationInsurance ReimbursementSubsequent Injury FundAdministrative Procedure ActDeclaratory JudgmentExhaustion of Administrative RemediesSubject-Matter JurisdictionStatutory InterpretationTexas Court of AppealsJudicial Review
References
8
Case No. 03-03-00435-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 29, 2004

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Richard Reynolds, in His Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission/East Side Surgical Center Clinic for Special Surgery And Surgical and Diagnostic Center, L.P. v. East Side Surgical Center Clinic for Special Surgery/Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Richard Reynolds, in His Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

This case involves the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission's failure to establish fee guidelines for ambulatory surgical centers under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. East Side Surgical Center, Clinic for Special Surgery, and intervenor Surgical and Diagnostic Center, L.P. (collectively "East Side") sued the Commission to invalidate certain default rules that applied when specific guidelines were absent. The district court declared one rule (133.304(i)) invalid and enjoined its enforcement, citing unlawful delegation of authority. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court's judgment regarding the rule's invalidity and dissolved the injunction, citing a Texas Supreme Court decision finding no unlawful delegation. The court affirmed that East Side was not entitled to its usual and customary fee in the absence of specific guidelines.

Workers' CompensationAdministrative LawDelegation of AuthorityRulemakingAmbulatory Surgical CentersJudicial ReviewInsurance CarrierFee GuidelinesFair and Reasonable RatesStatutory Interpretation
References
38
Case No. 03-03-00643-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 15, 2004

Alpine Industries, Inc. v. Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas And Greg Abbott, Attorney General for the State of Texas

Alpine Industries, Inc. appealed a district court's summary judgment that held it responsible for collecting Texas sales taxes as a direct sales organization. The Comptroller of Public Accounts determined Alpine, which utilizes independent salespersons to sell air-purification equipment, fell under a provision of the Texas Tax Code requiring it to collect and remit sales tax. Alpine contested this, arguing the Comptroller failed to prove it was a direct sales organization, did not make an individualized determination for administrative efficiency, and that the tax violated the Commerce, Due Process, and Equal Protection clauses of the United States and Texas Constitutions. The appellate court affirmed the district court's judgment, ruling that the Comptroller properly applied the tax code and that the tax did not infringe upon Alpine's constitutional rights. Furthermore, the court upheld the Comptroller's counterclaim for over $2 million in back taxes.

Tax lawSales tax liabilityDirect sales organizationAdministrative efficiencyCommerce ClauseDue ProcessEqual ProtectionConstitutional lawSummary judgmentAppellate review
References
25
Case No. 03-10-00648-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 22, 2013

Assignees of Best Buy, OfficeMax, and CompUSA v. Susan Combs, State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

This case concerns an appeal by "Assignees of Best Buy, OfficeMax, and CompUSA" against the Texas Comptroller and Attorney General. The Assignees sought sales tax refunds on rebated amounts, claiming assignments from the retailers allowed them to pursue these claims. The Comptroller denied the claims, arguing that the settlement-class counsel lacked authority to represent individual class members in administrative proceedings, as the tax code does not permit class-action refunds. The trial court granted the Comptroller's plea to the jurisdiction, ruling that the initial orders appointing settlement-class counsel for individual administrative proceedings were void due to a lack of judicial power under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 42. The Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal, concluding that the trial courts lacked jurisdiction to appoint class counsel for individual claims outside the class action, thereby confirming that the Assignees failed to exhaust administrative remedies and sovereign immunity was not waived.

Sales Tax RefundClass ActionPlea to the JurisdictionSovereign ImmunityAdministrative RemediesJurisdictionCollateral AttackRule 42 (Texas Civil Procedure)Attorney AppointmentImplied Powers
References
59
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