TCAA/TML Legal Defense Program: Amicus Briefs and Comments Filed

TCAA, in conjunction with the Texas Municipal League, files amicus briefs and comments in support of cities on many issues. To keep up to date on the status of these issues, go to http://www.tml.org/p/AmicusBriefUpdate_121216.pdf.

Police ComplaintsCity of Plainview v. Ferguson, No. 16-0880 in the Texas Supreme Court.  The issue in this appeal is whether reinstatement of a police officer is a viable remedy when the officer’s termination did not meet the technical notice requirements of Subchapter B of the Texas Government Code Chapter 614.  TML, as amicus, argued that the lower court overstepped its statutory authority by ordering that a terminated police officer be reinstated.  The consequence of reinstatement in this case is that a known (or strongly suspected) assailant regains a position of authority in the community.  This sends messages that would be poor at any time but are especially troublesome given the current state of national anxiety with the police service.  The brief was filed on November 18, 2016. The Court requested a response from Ferguson on December 9, 2016.