Case: Ramos v. City of Farmers Branch

06-12227 | Texas state trial court

Filed Date: Feb. 9, 2006

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is one of four lawsuits filed against the City of Farmers Branch, Texas to challenge the City's anti-immigrant housing law, Ordinance 2892. See Vazquez v. City of Farmers Branch, Barrietos v. City of Farmers Branch and Villas at Parkside Partners v. City of Farmers Branch, cases filed in federal court. Unlike the other three federal suits, plaintiffs filed this action in state court in the 116th Judicial District, Dallas County, Texas, and based their challenge not on the constitution…

Unlike the other three federal suits, plaintiffs filed this action in state court in the 116th Judicial District, Dallas County, Texas, and based their challenge not on the constitutionality of the ordinance, but on alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). Tex. Gov. Code § 551.001 et seq.

The legislative history of the ordinance in question is as follows: on November 13, 2006, the Farmers Branch City Council adopted two ordinances, numbered 2892 and 2893. Ordinance 2892 (rental ordinance) mandated that landlords obtained proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status from prospective tenants. Ordinance 2893 (yard ordinance) was directed at property maintenance. Plaintiff filed suit on December 4, 2006, alleging that both illegally targeted the city's Hispanic population and that the laws were enacted in secret closed meetings in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. Farmers Branch responded by denying the allegations and asserting a plea that there was no jurisdiction for the Court to hear the case.

Ramos and other residents then presented the City with a petition seeking a repeal of Ordinance 2892 or its submission to a public vote. On January 8, 2007, the City adopted Ordinance 2900, which submitted the rental ordinance for a public vote. On January 11, 2007, the trial court (Judge Bruce Priddy) granted plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order enjoining defendant from enforcing Ordinance 2892 pending the trial court's resolution of plaintiffs' request for a temporary injunction.

On January 17, 2007, the City adopted ordinance 2903, a new version of the rental ordinance. Ordinances 2892 and 2900 were repealed, and Ordinance 2903 was set for a public vote in May 2007. On May 12, 2007, the voters of Farmers Branch approved Ordinance 2903 by a margin of 4,058 to 1,941.

During the time that the City revised and approved the rental ordinance 2903, the Court (Judge Priddy) held several hearings on the Ramos case. On January 16, 2007, Judge Priddy heard argument and evidence on the City's jurisdictional challenge, and on February 2, 2007, he entered an order denying it. The City appealed. On appeal, the City argued that the Ramos case was moot because had it enacted Ordinance 2903, which repealed the two ordinances that formed the basis of Ramos' claims.

The Texas Court of Appeals (Judge Molly Francis) affirmed the trial court's denial of the City's jurisdictional challenge. The Court held that Ramos' allegations were sufficient to state a claim that the City had violated the Texas Open Meetings Act and the fact that the City later repealed the ordinance did not absolve it from potential liability. The Court reasoned that if the City "illegally deliberates and decides an issue in closed session, repealing the action so that it can be retaken in a later setting does not vindicate the very right protected by TOMA." City of Farmers Branch v. Ramos, 235 S.W.3d 462 (Tex. App. 2007).

As of the date of this summary, the Ramos case was still pending.

Note that challenges to the constitutionality of the rental ordinance have proceeded in federal court. The three federal cases were consolidated into one action, Villas at Parkside Partners v. City of Farmers Branch, and the federal court enjoined enforcement of Ordinance 2903.

See Villas at Parkside Partners v. City of Farmers Branch for a recitation of the procedural history of the federal litigation.

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Summary Authors

Christopher Schad (6/6/2012)

Vazquez v. City of Farmers Branch, Northern District of Texas (2006)

Barrietos v. City of Farmers Branch, Northern District of Texas (2007)

People

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Biles, C. Dunham (Texas)

Brewer, William A. III (Texas)

Gardner, Michael S. (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Boyle, Matthew (Texas)

Kallas, Michael K. (Texas)

Judge(s)

Priddy, Bruce (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Biles, C. Dunham (Texas)

Brewer, William A. III (Texas)

Gardner, Michael S. (Texas)

Renard, James S. (Texas)

Smith, Michael L. (Texas)

Ternan, Jack GB (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Boyle, Matthew (Texas)

Kallas, Michael K. (Texas)

Masso, Jadd F (Texas)

Shanes, Scott (Texas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
06-12227	Docket	May 29, 2012	May 29, 2012 Docket
06-12227	Plaintiffs’ Original Petition for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, Demand for Jury Trial, and Request for Disclosures Ramos v. City of Farmers Branch	Dec. 4, 2006	Dec. 4, 2006 Complaint
06-12227	Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order Ramos v. City of Farmers Branch	Jan. 11, 2007	Jan. 11, 2007 Order/Opinion
05-07-00137-CV	Order Denying Plea to the Jurisdiction	Feb. 2, 2007	Feb. 2, 2007 Order/Opinion 2007 WL 2007
05-07-00137-CV	Appellee's Brief City of Farmers Branch v. Ramos Texas state appellate court	May 7, 2007	May 7, 2007 Pleading / Motion / Brief
05-07-00137-CV	Appellant's Reply Brief City of Farmers Branch v. Ramos Texas state appellate court	May 23, 2007	May 23, 2007 Pleading / Motion / Brief
05-07-00137-CV	Opinion City of Farmers Branch v. Ramos Texas state appellate court	Oct. 12, 2007	Oct. 12, 2007 Order/Opinion 235 S.W.3d 235

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Docket

Last updated April 18, 2024, 4:12 p.m.

Description	Date	Link Date / Link
Temporary Injunction ALL DAY	Feb. 9, 2006	Feb. 9, 2006
ORIGINAL PETITION (OCA) (12-04-2006 - Original Petition (OCA) CV - DC0612227 - 1860825)	Dec. 4, 2006	Dec. 4, 2006
ISSUE CITATION	Dec. 4, 2006	Dec. 4, 2006
CITATION	Dec. 5, 2006	Dec. 5, 2006
NOTE - CLERKS REC NEW JKT	Dec. 6, 2006	Dec. 6, 2006
ORIGINAL ANSWER - GENERAL DENIAL PLEA JURISDICTION,SPEC EXCEP M/DISMISS M/PROTECTIVE ORDER AND ORIG ANSWER-ALL DEF'S (12-22-2006 - Original Answer - General Denial CV - DC0612227 - 1860817)	Dec. 22, 2006	Dec. 22, 2006
ORDER - RECUSAL	Jan. 4, 2007	Jan. 4, 2007
NOTE - CLERKS COPY OF RECUSAL ORDER FAXED TO GEORGE COWERT	Jan. 8, 2007	Jan. 8, 2007
APPLICATION - TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 01-09-2007 - Application - Temporary Restraining Order CV - DC0612227 - 186080201-09-2007 - Application - Temporary Restraining Order CV - DC0612227 - 1860802 (1)	Jan. 9, 2007	Jan. 9, 2007
AFFIDAVIT -2	Jan. 10, 2007	Jan. 10, 2007
ORDER - TRANSFER 116TH CRT	Jan. 10, 2007	Jan. 10, 2007
NOTE - CLERKS JKT SENT TO 116TH CRT / CORRECTION SENT TO MELINDA THOMAS	Jan. 10, 2007	Jan. 10, 2007
BOND FILED	Jan. 11, 2007	Jan. 11, 2007
ORDER - TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER	Jan. 11, 2007	Jan. 11, 2007
Plea to Jurisdiction SPEC EXCPTS, M/DISMISS AND M/PROTECT -DEF- 45 MIN	Jan. 12, 2007	Jan. 12, 2007
MOTION - EXPEDITED HEARING PLTF	Jan. 12, 2007	Jan. 12, 2007
Plea to Jurisdiction Pltf M/Expediated Discovery	Jan. 16, 2007	Jan. 16, 2007
BRIEF FILED SUPPRT/PLEA/JURSDCTN-DEF (01-16-2007 - Brief Filed CV - DC0612227 - 1860795)	Jan. 16, 2007	Jan. 16, 2007
AMENDED PETITION 1ST 01-16-2007 - Amended Petition CV - DC0612227 - 186080001-16-2007 - Amended Petition CV - DC0612227 - 1860800 (1)	Jan. 16, 2007	Jan. 16, 2007
RETURN OF SERVICE 2 AFFIDAVIT OF DELIVERY EXEC 1/13/07 ( BILL MOSES & BEN ROBINSON) PPS	Jan. 16, 2007	Jan. 16, 2007
RETURN OF SERVICE 3 AFFIDAVITS OF DELIVERY EXEC 1/15/07 (THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH TEXAS, CHARLIE BIRD & JAMES SMITH	Jan. 16, 2007	Jan. 16, 2007
RESPONSE M/EXPEDITED DISCVY	Jan. 18, 2007	Jan. 18, 2007
INTERVENTION (01-19-2007 - Intervention CV - DC0612227 - 1860799)	Jan. 19, 2007	Jan. 19, 2007
RETURN OF SERVICE 2 AFFIDAVITS OF DELIVERY -- EXEC 1/17/07 (BOB PHELPS & TIM OHARE) 01-19-2007 - Return of Service CV - DC0612227 - 187929401-19-2007 - Return of Service CV - DC0612227 - 1860796	Jan. 19, 2007	Jan. 19, 2007
ORDER - EXTEND TRO	Jan. 19, 2007	Jan. 19, 2007
ORIGINAL ANSWER - GENERAL DENIAL FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM (01-19-2007 - Original Answer - General Denial CV - DC0612227 - 1860797)	Jan. 19, 2007	Jan. 19, 2007
Status Conference PER JUDGE	Jan. 26, 2007	Jan. 26, 2007
ORDER - DISSOLVE T R O	Feb. 2, 2007	Feb. 2, 2007
ORDER - DENY PLEA/ JURISDICTION	Feb. 2, 2007	Feb. 2, 2007
ORDER - DENY M/PROTECT	Feb. 2, 2007	Feb. 2, 2007
NOTICE OF APPEAL - CT. OF APPEALS deft's n/accelerated appeal (02-05-2007 - Notice of Appeal - CT of Appeals CV - DC0612227 - 1889733)	Feb. 5, 2007	Feb. 5, 2007
Temporary Injunction ALL DAY- PER JUDGE	Feb. 9, 2007	Feb. 9, 2007
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR Binders	Feb. 13, 2007	Feb. 13, 2007
REQUEST CLERK PREPARE RECORD pltf's clk rec req	Feb. 15, 2007	Feb. 15, 2007
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR Atty Boyle vacation letter 4-20 thr 4-23 & 5-4 thru 5-7-07 forwarded to clerk	April 13, 2007	April 13, 2007
MISCELLANOUS EVENT COA/OPINION	Oct. 16, 2007	Oct. 16, 2007
MISCELLANOUS EVENT COA/JUDGMNT	Oct. 16, 2007	Oct. 16, 2007
MANDATE AFFIRM	Jan. 23, 2008	Jan. 23, 2008
MOTION - MISCELLANOUS ASSERT/PRVLIGES/COMPL/PRODCTN	May 15, 2008	May 15, 2008
NOTICE OF HEARING / FIAT ON P/M/HEARING ON D/ASSERTION OF PRIVILEGES, TO COMPEL PRODUCTION, AND FOR SANCTIONS (05-27-2008 - Notice of Hearing-Fiat CV - DC0612227 - 1860777)	May 27, 2008	May 27, 2008
MOTION - CONSOLIDATE (06-02-2008 - Motion - Consolidate CV - DC0612227 - 1860778)	June 2, 2008	June 2, 2008
MISCELLANOUS EVENT SEE JACKET #2	June 4, 2008	June 4, 2008
NOTICE OF HEARING / FIAT (06-05-2008 - Notice of Hearing-Fiat CV - DC0612227 - 1860776)	June 5, 2008	June 5, 2008
AFFIDAVIT M BOYLE 06-05-2008 - Affidavit CV - DC0612227 - 186077506-05-2008 - Affidavit CV - DC0612227 - 1860775 (1)	June 5, 2008	June 5, 2008
OBJECTION SUBP--DEF (06-10-2008 - Objection CV - DC0612227 - 1860774)	June 10, 2008	June 10, 2008
RESPONSE M/ASSERTION/PRIVLEGE/COMPEL-DEF--ACCORDIAN (06-10-2008 - Response CV - DC0612227 - 1883051)	June 10, 2008	June 10, 2008
RESPONSE M/CONSOL--DEF (06-11-2008 - Response CV - DC0612227 - 1860773)	June 11, 2008	June 11, 2008
AMENDED ANSWER - AMENDED GENERAL DENIAL 1ST 06-11-2008 - Amended Answer - Amended General Denial - DC Civ P - DC0612227 - 186077106-11-2008 - Amended Answer - Amended General Denial - DC Civ P - DC0612227 - 1860771 (1)	June 11, 2008	June 11, 2008
Motion - Compel	June 12, 2008	June 12, 2008
Motion - Consolidate	June 13, 2008	June 13, 2008
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR COPY OF ORDER ON M/CONSOLIDATE HAND DELIVERED TO COUNSEL	June 13, 2008	June 13, 2008
ORDER - CONSOLIDATE	June 13, 2008	June 13, 2008
RETURN OF SERVICE 1 ATTY SUBP ISSUED EXEC 6/5/08 (MEDLEH GROUP) PPS (06-17-2008 - Return of Service CV - DC0612227 - 1860770)	June 17, 2008	June 17, 2008
RULE 11 (07-07-2008 - Rule 11 CV - DC0612227 - 1860768)	July 7, 2008	July 7, 2008
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION CHIP KOONS (07-21-2008 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 1860767)	July 21, 2008	July 21, 2008
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION BILL MOSES	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION JAMES SMITH	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION BEN ROBINSON	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION CHARLIE BIRD	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION CINDEE PETERS	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION BOB PHELPS	April 27, 2010	April 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION TIM SCOTT	May 20, 2010	May 20, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION GARY GREER	May 20, 2010	May 20, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION LINDA GROOMER	May 20, 2010	May 20, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION TIM OHARE	May 20, 2010	May 20, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION DAVID KOCH	May 20, 2010	May 20, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION TIM OHARE	May 27, 2010	May 27, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION LINDA GROOMER	May 27, 2010	May 27, 2010
MOTION - CONSOLIDATE	Sept. 21, 2010	Sept. 21, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION P. MICHAEL JUNG	Oct. 12, 2010	Oct. 12, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION SCOTT SHANES	Oct. 12, 2010	Oct. 12, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION WILLIAM DOWDY (11-05-2010 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 2778339)	Nov. 5, 2010	Nov. 5, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION STEVEN WATTEN (11-16-2010 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 2835673)	Nov. 16, 2010	Nov. 16, 2010
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION KRIS KOBACH (02-21-2011 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 3380800)	Feb. 21, 2011	Feb. 21, 2011
RESPONSE MOTION CONSOLIDATE (E-FILED) (4-26-2011 - Response CV - DC0612227 - 3965761)	April 26, 2011	April 26, 2011
ORDER - CONSOLIDATE (04-29-2011 - Order - Consolidate - DC Civ M - DC0612227 - 236 - 4008906)	April 29, 2011	April 29, 2011
NOTE - CLERKS Copied Plaintiff atty after the hearing	April 29, 2011	April 29, 2011
SCHEDULING ORDER (05-15-2011 - Scheduling Order - DC Civ M - DC0612227 - 432 - 4191052)	May 15, 2011	May 15, 2011
AMENDED ANSWER - AMENDED GENERAL DENIAL 2ND	Aug. 8, 2011	Aug. 8, 2011
NOTICE OF NONSUIT PARTIAL (8-11-2011 - Notice of NonSuit CV - DC0612227 - 5003606)	Aug. 11, 2011	Aug. 11, 2011
NOTE - CLERKS Order Nonsuit submitted to Judge	Aug. 12, 2011	Aug. 12, 2011
MISCELLANOUS EVENT MOTION FOR PRODUCTION OF CERTIFIED AGENDAS (8-17-2011 - Miscellaneous Event CV - DC0612227 - 5058900)	Aug. 17, 2011	Aug. 17, 2011
NOTE - CLERKS AGREED ORDER PRODUCTION OF CERT AGENDAS SUBMITTED TO JUDGE	Aug. 17, 2011	Aug. 17, 2011
ORDER - MISC. REGARDING CERTIFIED AGENDAS (08-17-2011 - Order - Misc - DC Civ M - DC0612227 - 526 - 5078413)	Aug. 17, 2011	Aug. 17, 2011
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR AGREED ORDER REGARDING PRODUCTION OF CERTIFIED AGENDAS SIGNED 8-17-2011. ORIG/CLERK	Aug. 18, 2011	Aug. 18, 2011
AMENDED ANSWER - AMENDED GENERAL DENIAL 3RD	Aug. 19, 2011	Aug. 19, 2011
MOTION - PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT (8-19-2011 - Motion - Partial Summary Judgment CV - DC0612227 - 5097557)	Aug. 19, 2011	Aug. 19, 2011
CORRESPONDENCE - LETTER TO FILE (08-29-2011 - Correspondence - Letter to File CV - DC0612227 - 5191087)	Aug. 29, 2011	Aug. 29, 2011
JURY DEMAND (08-31-2011 - Jury Demand CV - DC0612227 - 5248342)	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011
NOTICE OF HEARING / FIAT (09-01-2011 - Notice of Hearing-Fiat CV - DC0612227 - 5248341)	Sept. 1, 2011	Sept. 1, 2011
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION WILLIAM M. MICK MCKAMIE (09-08-2011 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 5309541)	Sept. 8, 2011	Sept. 8, 2011
CORRESPONDENCE - LETTER TO FILE RE: SCHED ORDER (9-20-2011 - Correspondence - Letter to File CV - DC0612227 - 5439077)	Sept. 20, 2011	Sept. 20, 2011
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR AGREED SCHEDULING ORDER SUBSMITTED TO JUDGE	Sept. 21, 2011	Sept. 21, 2011
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITION MIKE WILLATT (09-23-2011 - Certificate of Deposition CV - DC0612227 - 5497285)	Sept. 23, 2011	Sept. 23, 2011
NOTE - ADMINISTRATOR SCHEDULING ORDER SIGNED 9-26-2011. COPY ALL. ORIG/CLERK	Sept. 26, 2011	Sept. 26, 2011
SCHEDULING ORDER (09-26-2011 - Scheduling Order - DC Civ M - DC0612227 - 866 - 5501860)	Sept. 26, 2011	Sept. 26, 2011
MOTION - QUASH (9-26-2011 - Motion - Quash CV - DC0612227 - 5506150)	Sept. 26, 2011	Sept. 26, 2011
RESPONSE MOTION STRIKE AND EXCLUDE TESTIMONY (10-7-2011 - Response CV - DC0612227 - 5673040)	Oct. 7, 2011	Oct. 7, 2011
MOTION - COMPEL (10-7-2011 - Motion - Compel CV - DC0612227 - 5687279)	Oct. 7, 2011	Oct. 7, 2011
Motion - Strike PLTF'S M/STRIKE & EXCLUDE EXPERT TESTIMONY	Oct. 12, 2011	Oct. 12, 2011