Yearly Archives: 2020
Secret Recordings at Work? Privacy and Recordings in Texas
Everyone or nearly everyone has a cell or mobile phone that enables photography, audio recording, and video recording with little effort. But what about being recorded without your knowledge –particularly when you are at work? Can you legally be recorded without your consent or knowledge? The old-fashioned term “wire-tapping” (in our wireless age) is… Read More »
Can You Hear Me Now? How to Define a Public Hearing in Texas
In the United States, where the government derives its power from the consent of the governed, the opportunity for public input is cherished and revered not only on election day but also throughout the legislative process. In Texas, for example, the Legislature has recently enacted a statute requiring governmental bodies — other than those… Read More »
Pitcher Lawsuit Against Astros Misses the Plate Over Venue, Claims
On February 10, 2020, former major league pitcher Mike Bolsinger filed a lawsuit against the Houston Astros, alleging that the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme in 2017 was responsible for “interfering with and harming his career.” Is Bolsinger’s lawsuit completely insane? Yes, yes it is, and not just because I’m a lifelong Astros fan. Let us… Read More »
Why Did the City Cross the Road? – To Annex the Other Side
Texas annexation laws underwent a major overhaul in 2019, a subject our firm addressed in a prior blog post. Often, the full ramifications of new legislation are not immediately apparent, until the new laws are put into practice. As with any new innovation, sometimes there are some bugs to work out. Over the past… Read More »
You’re Up in My Business – Suing the AG Over an Open Records Ruling
Elected officials often chafe at the intrusiveness of the Texas Public Information Act when requests come in asking, for example, to obtain text messages sent during a city council meeting on a personal cell phone. The answer: “Dad can you bring some “queso” home after the meeting.” Public employees and managers chafe equally because… Read More »
Where Did All the Water Go? Dealing with Drought in Texas
Drought is a major concern in the State of Texas, and for good reason. The last severe drought that our State experienced was back in 2011, and due to a lack of preparation, a lot of regions throughout the State felt the negative impact of that drought more than ever before. To be fair,… Read More »
Texas Law Seeks to Improve Cybersecurity for Individuals
The idea of someone in another country hacking or cyber-attacking the internet and stealing money and financial information from hard working people makes me really angry. The idea of someone in this country hacking into the internet and stealing money and wreaking havoc for individuals, businesses, and municipalities makes me really angry. It happens… Read More »
Bracket Bill: How the 2020 Census May Change Which Texas Laws Apply to a City
The year is 2020. Jokes about Barbara Walters are timely; jokes about hindsight are not. Also, this new year comes with a few other new things in tow: a new decade, new Olympics, a new presidential election, and a new census. It’s that last one I mostly want to talk about today. Another attorney… Read More »
Public Input Ahead of City Council Decisions on Agenda Items Now Required under Texas Law
In Texas, it has long been established that the public has a right to attend public meetings, such as city council meetings, so that they can be aware of what’s going on in their local government. There is an entire chapter in the Texas Government Code known as the Texas Open Meetings Act which… Read More »