Ex Parte Robert Burns Springsteen IV
03-14-00739-CV
| Tex. App. | Feb 9, 2015Background
- Springsteen filed an ex parte declaratory-judgment action seeking a declaration of actual innocence to obtain compensation under the Tim Cole Act.
- He named Rosemary Lehmberg as an “interested party” but not a defendant in Bexar County; venue later transferred to Travis County.
- After hearings, the Travis County District Court dismissed the case with prejudice under a plea to the jurisdiction.
- Appellee, Lehmberg, moved to affirm the dismissal on jurisdictional grounds, arguing the UDJA does not create jurisdiction and sovereign immunity applies.
- Springsteen appeals, challenging the trial court’s lack of subject-matter jurisdiction based on declaratory-judgment and Open Courts theories.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDJA creates no jurisdiction where none exists | Springsteen | Lehmberg | Affirmed; UDJA does not confer jurisdiction without an underlying action |
| Open Courts provision provides no jurisdiction for lack of cause of action | Springsteen | Lehmberg | Affirmed; Open Courts does not authorize relief without a valid cause of action |
| Civil court cannot adjudicate criminal matters via declaratory relief | Springsteen | Lehmberg | Affirmed; civil court lacks jurisdiction over criminal-right declarations |
| Sovereign immunity bars relief absent waiver | Springsteen | Lehmberg | Affirmed; immunity not waived by requested declaratory relief |
| Collateral estoppel bars re-litigation of issues already decided | Springsteen | Lehmberg | Affirmed; prior federal/state determinations preclude this relief |
Key Cases Cited
- Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547 (Tex. 2000) (subject-matter jurisdiction reviewed de novo)
- Reata Constr. Corp. v. City of Dallas, 197 S.W.3d 371 (Tex. 2006) (sovereign immunity and ultra vires considerations)
- City of El Paso v. Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. 2009) (ultra vires and declaratory-judgment scope)
- Lone Starr Multi Theaters, Inc. v. State, 922 S.W.2d 295 (Tex.App.—Austin 1996) (declaratory judgments must name proper parties; advisory opinions)
- In re Thompson, 330 S.W.3d 411 (Tex.App.—Austin 2010) (UDJA applicability and party requirements)