Good news to start off the new year! The Texas Supreme Court denied the Plaintiff’s Petition for Review in connection with Magdalena Flores v. Crystal City I.S.D. The Plaintiff, a former Business Manager in CCISD’s Finance Department, had filed complaints with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) alleging time theft and fraud by a coworker. Upon her nonrenewal, the Plaintiff sued the District under the Texas Whistleblower Act (“Act”) alleging that her firing was because of her report to TEA.
The TWA mandates that government employees report violations of “law” in good faith to an “appropriate law enforcement agency.” The 8th Court of Appeals concurred with the District’s assertions, determining that the Plaintiff’s reports did not constitute violations of “law” and that the TEA was not an appropriate law enforcement agency under the Act.
The Plaintiff appealed to the 8th Court of Appeals decision in favor of the District to the Texas Supreme Court. Our law firm wrote a response arguing that the Court should not entertain Plaintiff’s Petition. The Texas Supreme Court agreed with our law firm’s argument and refused to hear the Plaintiff’s Petition for Review. The denial of the Plaintiff’s Petition for Review by the Texas Supreme Court reinforces the appellate decision and sets a precedent that will benefit governmental entities across the state.
Associate Attorney Mario Perez was the lead attorney on this case. Great work, Mario!
