Tarrant Regional Water District v. Shanna C. Granger and Prost Production, LLC
Shanna C. Granger and Prost Production, LLC (Granger) sued Tarrant Regional Water District (the District) for breach of a permit and violations of the takings and due course of law clauses of the Texas Constitution. The District challenged the trial court's jurisdiction based on governmental immunity, arguing the permit was a license, not a vested property interest. The appellate court examined the agreement, titled "Permit," and found it unambiguously granted Granger a non-exclusive right of use for a limited time and purpose, characteristic of a license. Consequently, the court held that the permit did not create a vested property interest subject to the takings clause, and thus the trial court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction. The appellate court reversed the trial court's denial of the plea to the jurisdiction and dismissed Granger's claims.