Ricky J. Shugart v. David Thompson, A.K.A. \"Lead Agent,\" A.K.A. \"Agents\" and Unknown Deputies, A.K.A. \"Agents\" Each in Their Individual and Official Capacities, Sheriff's Department of Fannin County ( 2017 )

In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
No. 06-15-00101-CV
RICKY J. SHUGART, Appellant
V.
DAVID THOMPSON, A.K.A. “LEAD AGENT,” A.K.A. “AGENTS” AND UNKNOWN
DEPUTIES, A.K.A. “AGENTS” EACH IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND OFFICIAL
CAPACITIES, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OF FANNIN COUNTY, Appellees
On Appeal from the 336th District Court
Fannin County, Texas
Trial Court No. CV-15-42338
Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Burgess
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Ricky J. Shugart, an inmate in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison appeals, pro
se, from the trial court’s order dismissing his pro se, in forma pauperis civil suit against the
Sheriff’s Department of Fannin County (FCSD) and several deputy sheriffs in their official and
individual capacities. By five issues, Shugart claims that the trial court erred in dismissing his
lawsuit with prejudice.
We affirm in part and reverse in part the trial court’s order.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
According to Shugart’s allegations, in September 2013,1 several officers with the FCSD
illegally entered onto his property and into his home without a warrant, handcuffing him and his
family. Shugart admitted to the officers that he had a small bag of marihuana in a drawer next to
a chair in the living room. He was arrested and escorted outside, where he saw agents going in
and out of a greenhouse—described by Shugart as a “large dome building built & designed to
house avocado trees”—behind his residence. One of the deputies commented about the large
quantity of marihuana located in the greenhouse. Shugart later pled guilty to possession of over
fifty, but under 2,000, pounds of marihuana and was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.2
1
Shugart’s petition alleges that the raid occurred on September 5, but there is other evidence in the record indicating
that the raid occurred on September 2.
2
Although he pled guilty to and was convicted of possession of marihuana, Shugart does not admit that any marihuana
was found in the greenhouse. On the other hand, Appellees allege that Shugart was operating “a large illegal grow
operation” and that the he had “large marijuana plants inside a home-made structure.” Appellees further allege that
they removed “18 foot tall marijuana plants from the area inside the dome.” The trial court heard no evidence on this
issue, and we make no finding as to the truth of either set of allegations.
2
In September 2015, Shugart, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed a civil suit
against the FCSD, David Thompson of the FCSD in his official and individual capacities, as well
as “unknown deputies” of the FCSD in their official and individual capacities, seeking damages
and other relief because the officers “arbitrarily, irrationally, and without call or essential need
destroyed his 3 story dome Greenhouse Building during an illegal entry, search & seizure on his
residence and property.” Appellees filed a plea to the jurisdiction and a motion to dismiss
Shugart’s petition under Chapter 14 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, arguing that
it was “without merit [and] fail[ed] in the face of official and governmental immunity” and that
any chance of ultimate success [was] slight.” Without holding a hearing, the trial court dismissed
Shugart’s petition with prejudice, but did not specify the grounds for so doing.
II. The Trial Court’s Ruling Granting Appellees’ Plea to the Jurisdiction
Because Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction implicates the trial court’s subject-matter
jurisdiction, we address it first.
A. Standard of Review
A plea to the jurisdiction seeks dismissal because the trial court lacks subject-matter
jurisdiction to consider the cause. Harris Cty. v. Sykes, 136 S.W.3d 635, 638 (Tex. 2004). When
a governmental entity is immune from suit, a plea to the jurisdiction is the proper procedure for
challenging a suit filed against the entity. State v. Lueck, 290 S.W.3d 876, 880 (Tex. 2009).
“Whether a court has subject matter jurisdiction is a question of law” and is subject to de novo
review. Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004); Hoff v.
Nueces Cty., 153 S.W.3d 45, 48 (Tex. 2004); Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs. v. Atwood,
3
176 S.W.3d 522, 527 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. denied). When reviewing a trial
court’s order sustaining a plea to the jurisdiction, an appellate court is required to accept all the
factual allegations in the plaintiff’s petition as true. Axtell v. Univ. of Tex., 69 S.W.3d 261, 264
(Tex. App.—Austin 2002, no pet.). Also, the appellate court must examine the petitioner’s intent
and construe his pleadings in his favor. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 226.
B. Identification of the Legal Bases for Shugart’s Claims
As an initial matter, we must identify the legal bases for Shugart’s claims for relief. In his
petition, Shugart alleges,
Petitioner seeks action for injuries, damages, costs, declaratory and injunctive relief
in law, common law, tort, suit in equity, or other proper proceedings for redress
alleging Respondents acting individually & under pretext of State law has
trespassed, destroyed private property without compensation, and unreasonably
violated Petitioner’s Texas Constitutional rights; for replevin, littering & illegal
dumping (of the dome building debris) on Petitioner’s property, & illegal forfeiture.
(Footnote omitted). In a footnote, he identifies the source of his “tort” claims as “Civil Practices
& Remedies, Title 5, Ch. 101, Subchapter B, §101.021(1)–(2),” which is the Texas Tort Claims
Act (TTCA). See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §§ 101.001–.108 (West 2011 & West
Supp. 2016). Shugart goes on to specify three causes of action: (1) a claim that Appellees
“deprived plaintiff Shugart of his property . . . without due course of Texas law in violation of the
Texas Constitution, [and] did then and there [take] said property without compensation”; (2)
“Collective Causes of Action Under General Heading, a.k.a. ‘Trespass & Various Illegal Search
& Seizures’”; and (3) causes of action “Seeking Declaratory Judgment & Injunctive Relief”
challenging “Appellees Constitutionality of Art. 481.15[3](2) and/or Art. 481.002(17), Tex. Health
& Safety Code Ann. . . .”
4
Although Shugart asserts only the TTCA as legal authority for his causes of action in tort,
the TTCA “is the only, albeit limited, avenue for common-law recovery against the government. .
. .” Mission Consol. ISD v. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d 653, 659 (Tex. 2008). Accordingly, all of
Shugart’s common law claims for damages for the destruction of his property fall under the TTCA,
not just his last claims. Consequently, Shugart’s claims can be grouped into the following three
categories: (1) common law claims for damages for the destruction of property under the TTCA,
(2) a claim for the unconstitutional taking of his property without compensation in violation of
Article I, Section 17, of the Texas Constitution, and (3) a request for declaratory judgment that
Sections 481.002(17) and/or 481.153(2) of the Texas Health and Safety Code are unconstitutional
as applied to him, together with injunctive relief. We will address the propriety of the trial court’s
order granting Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction as to these three categories of claims.
C. Appellees Are Immune From Shugart’s TTCA Claims
1. Claims Against the FCSD
The FCSD is a governmental unit entitled to governmental immunity. See Catalina Dev.,
Inc. v. Cty. of El Paso, 121 S.W.3d 704, 705 (Tex. 2003) (noting that a county is governmental
unit protected by sovereign immunity); see also Travis Cent. Appraisal Dist. v. Norman, 342
S.W.3d 54, 57–58 (Tex. 2011) (“Sovereign immunity protects Appellees and its various divisions,
such as agencies and boards, from suit and liability, [and] governmental immunity provides similar
protection to the political subdivisions of Appellees, such as counties, cities, and school
5
districts.”).3 When filing a suit for damages against a governmental entity, a plaintiff must
affirmatively plead and prove the court’s jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit under the TTCA. See
Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice v. Miller, 51 S.W.3d 583, 587 (Tex. 2001).
The TTCA provides a limited waiver of immunity for certain suits against governmental
entities. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d at 655. Nevertheless, “[i]n order for immunity to be waived . . ., the
claim must arise under one of the three specific areas of liability for which immunity is waived,
and the claim must not fall under one of the exceptions from waiver.” Morgan v. City of Alvin,
175 S.W.3d 408, 417 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.). The three general areas of
liability in which immunity is waived under the TTCA are: (1) property damage, personal injury,
or death caused by an employee’s use of a motor-driven vehicle within the scope of his
employment; (2) personal injury or death caused by a condition or use of tangible personal or real
property; and (3) premises defects. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §§ 101.021–101.022.
Although the petition in this case alleges that the destruction of Shugart’s greenhouse was
“wanton & malicious . . . and/or negligent,” Shugart fails to allege how the deputies were negligent
in their actions or how that negligence proximately caused the destruction of the greenhouse.
Moreover, although the petition mentions negligence, the specific actions alleged are clearly
intentional in nature.4 Intentional torts by government employees, like the ones alleged by Shugart,
3
See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.001(3)(A), (B), (D) (defining “governmental unit” as “a . . . county
. . . and . . . any other institution, agency, or organ of government the statutes and authority of which are derived from
the Constitution of Texas or from laws passed by the legislature under the constitution”); see also, TEX. LOC. GOV’T
CODE ANN. §§ 85.021–.023 (West 2008) (designating sheriffs as county officers).
4
Shugart alleges that the defendants “using their vehicles, after chain-sawing the support beams waist-high, roped and
dragged down and scattered the dome building of the backyard totally destroying it and leaving an incredible mess
over the backyard and back pasture area.” He further alleges that
6
are not covered under the TTCA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.057(2); see also
Univ. of Tex. Med. Branch at Galveston v. Hohman, 6 S.W.3d 767, 777 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 1999, no pet.) (stating that “[t]he Texas Tort Claims Act provides that sovereign immunity
exists for intentional torts”). Therefore, Shugart has failed to allege conduct that is actionable
under that Act, and his claims against the FCSD are barred by sovereign immunity.
2. Claims Against The Individual Appellees
Generally, except where a government employee acts outside the scope of his employment,
“a suit against a government employee in his official capacity is a suit against his government
employer,” and “an employee sued in his official capacity has the same governmental immunity,
derivatively, as his government employer.” Franka v. Velasquez, 332 S.W.3d 367, 382–83 (Tex.
2011). Nevertheless, under common law, “public employees (like agents generally) have always
been individually liable for their own torts, even when committed in the course of employment,
and suit may be brought against a government employee in his individual capacity.” Id. Although
such employees could raise the defense of “official immunity” at common law, they were required
to prove they were performing “(1) discretionary duties in (2) good faith as long as they [were]
(3) acting within the scope of their authority,” and “determining whether actions and decisions
[were] discretionary ‘[was] admittedly problematic.’” Id. Essentially,
[b]efore the Tort Claims Act was passed in 1969, if suit against the
government was barred by immunity, a plaintiff could sue and recover against a
government employee-actor in his individual capacity even though, were he sued
[t]hey intended and did trespass—not only on the posted property, but also into the owner’s homes,
private accessory buildings, family backyard, gardens, the family’s personal things, and did so with
malicious intent to and did disturb the peace, destroy private property, unreasonably handcuff and
harass even somewhat brutally, the home owner and occupant.
7
for the same conduct in his official capacity, he would be shielded by derived
governmental immunity.
Id. Individual liability exposure for government employees changed with the passage of Section
101.106 of the TTCA as to claims arising under that Act.5
Section 101.106 was enacted “to discourage or prevent recovery against an employee.” Id.
at 384. Under that section, a suit filed against a governmental unit bars a suit against an employee
of the governmental unit in both the employee’s official and individual capacities if the suit
involves the same subject matter, and on motion by the governmental unit, the employee shall be
dismissed. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.106(a), (e); Tex. Bay Cherry Hill, L.P.
v. City of Fort Worth, 257 S.W.3d 379, 401 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, no pet.). Shugart sued
both the FCSD and the individual Appellees, and the FCSD moved to dismiss the individual
Appellees. Because the FCSD filed a motion to dismiss the individual Appellees, the County
admitted that they were acting in their official capacity and, therefore, that the individual Appellees
have no liability in their individual capacity. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §
101.106(e). Moreover, by bringing suit against the FCSD, Shugart was barred from asserting
claims against Thompson and the deputies in their individual capacities. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. &
REM. CODE ANN. § 101.106(a). Consequently, Shugart’s TTCA claims against the individual
Appellees are likewise barred by governmental immunity.
5
The Supreme Court has clarified that even claims which do not fall within the TTCA’s limited waiver of immunity
can still “arise under” that Act. See Garcia, 253 S.W.3d at 658 (“We have never interpreted ‘under this chapter’ to
only encompass tort claims for which the Tort Claims Act waives immunity.”); see also Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 385
(“We hold that for section 101.106(f), suit ‘could have been brought’ under the Act against the government regardless
of whether the Act waives immunity from suit.”).
8
Because the facts pled by Shugart amount to allegations of intentional torts, we hold that
there is no waiver of immunity under the TTCA as to FCSD. Because Shugart sued both the FCSD
and the individual Appellees and because the FCSD moved for dismissal of the individual
Appellees, suit is barred against the individual Appellees as well. Because amending the petition
would not remedy these defects, we hold that the trial court properly granted the plea to the
jurisdiction and dismissed, with prejudice, Shugart’s tort claims against the FCSD and against
David Thompson and the unnamed deputies in their official and individual capacities.
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order granting the plea to the jurisdiction to Shugart’s
claims for damages under the TTCA as against all Appellees.
D. Appellees Are Not Immune from Shugart’s Constitutional Takings Claims
Under Article I, Section 17, Texas Constitution, But the Individual Appellees
Have No Liability For Constitutional Takings
On the other hand, Shugart also alleges that, “on or about Sept. 5th, 2013, defendants,
Fannin County Sheriffs’ agents, deprived plaintiff, Shugart of his property, a three (3) story, 55 ft.
wide dome building, without due course of Texas law in violation of the Texas Constitution, and
did then and there [take] said property without compensation.” “Article I, section 17, of the Texas
Constitution, the ‘takings clause,’ provides a waiver of governmental immunity for claims arising
from an unconstitutional taking of property for public use without adequate compensation.”
Thornton v. Ne. Harris Cty. MUD 1, 447 S.W.3d 23, 32 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014,
pet. denied) (citing TEX. CONST. art. I, § 17); see also Kirby Lake Dev. v. Clear Lake City Water,
321 S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008), aff’d, 320 S.W.3d 829 (Tex. 2010)
(“There is a clear and unambiguous waiver of immunity from suit for inverse-condemnation claims
9
within the ambit of article I, section 17 of the Texas Constitution.”). Yet, not just any takings
claim is sufficient to waive immunity. Rather, “a claimant must plead: (1) the governmental unit
intentionally performed an act (2) that resulted in the taking, damaging, or destruction of the
claimant’s property (3) for public use.” Thornton, 447 S.W.3d at 33. Moreover, “it is not enough
merely to allege that the act causing the damage was intentional.” Id. Instead, “a party must allege
the governmental entity knew that a specific act was causing identifiable harm, or at least knew
that the damage was substantially certain to occur.” Id.
In this case, Shugart alleged that the Appellees “using their vehicles, after chain-sawing
the support beams waist-high, roped and dragged down and scattered the dome building of the
backyard totally destroying it and leaving an incredible mess over the backyard and back pasture
area.” And as is discussed in more detail below, the Supreme Court has held that a police
department’s destruction of a house in order to accomplish the arrest of escaped prisoners
constituted a “taking for public use.” Steele v. City of Houston, 603 S.W.2d 786, 788 (Tex. 1980).
Accordingly, under the liberal construction we are required to give to Shugart’s petition, we find
that he has asserted a constitutional takings claim under Article I, Section 17, of the Texas
Constitution based on intentional conduct.6 Because a constitutional takings claim is a valid
waiver of governmental immunity, we find that the trial court erred in granting Appellees’ plea to
6
A constitutional takings claim cannot be based on negligence. See Thornton, 447 S.W.3d at 34 (“Assuming solely
for purposes of our analysis without deciding the viability of a ‘negligent trespass’ claim . . . we conclude that to the
extent they are attempting to bring a takings claim based on a negligence theory, their ‘negligent trespass’ claim is
barred.”). Accordingly, to the extent Shugart alleges a takings claim based on negligence, that claim is barred and we
affirm the trial court’s order dismissing such claim.
10
the jurisdiction as to Shugart’s constitutional takings claim based on intentional conduct against
the FCSD.
Of course, constitutional takings claims under Article I, Section 17, of the Texas
Constitution do not “arise under” the TTCA. See Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 379 (holding that
plaintiffs claim under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA) did not arise under
the TTCA because the TCHRA was a separate immunity waiver statute). Nevertheless, there is
no cause of action under Article I, Section 17, against non-governmental parties. Edwards v. Mesa
Hills Mall Co., Ltd. P’ship, 186 S.W.3d 587, 591 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006, no pet.). Moreover,
at common law, a suit against a government employee in his official capacity is a suit against the
government entity. Tex. A&M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d 835, 844 (Tex. 2007).
When a state official files a plea to the jurisdiction, the official is invoking the
sovereign immunity from suit held by the government itself. It is fundamental that
a suit against a state official is merely “another way of pleading an action against
the entity of which [the official] is an agent.” Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159,
165, 105 S. Ct. 3099, 87 L. Ed. 2d 114 (1985) (quoting Monell v. Dep’t of Social
Servs. of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 690 n. 55, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 56 L. Ed. 2d 611
(1978)); see also Tex. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Petta, 44 S.W.3d 575, 581 (Tex.
2001). A suit against a state official in his official capacity “is not a suit against the
official personally, for the real party in interest is the entity.” Graham, 473 U.S. at
166, 105 S. Ct. 3099 (emphasis in original). Such a suit actually seeks to impose
liability against the governmental unit rather than on the individual specifically
named and “is, in all respects other than name, . . . a suit against the entity.” Id.;
see also Tex. Natural Res. Conservation Comm’n v. IT–Davy, 74 S.W.3d 849, 855–
56 (Tex. 2002).
Id. Accordingly, because the individual appellees have no individual liability for constitutional
takings in their individual capacities and because a suit against them in their official capacities is
nothing more than a suit against the governmental unit that employs them, the trial court correctly
11
granted the plea to the jurisdiction as to Shugart’s constitutional takings claim as against the
individual Appellees.
III. The Trial Court Erred in Granting the Plea to the Jurisdiction and in Dismissing
Shugart’s Constitutional Takings Claim Against the FCSD Under Chapter 14
Nevertheless, this does not end the inquiry. Appellees also moved for dismissal under
Chapter 14 of the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, and the trial court granted that relief
as well. Accordingly, as will be explained below, we must first decide whether Shugart has
adequately alleged a claim that has an arguable basis in law or fact. If so, then we must determine
that claim’s realistic chances of ultimate success.7
A. Standard of Review
1. Chapter 14
In order to control frivolous, malicious, and excessive inmate litigation, the Legislature
enacted Chapter 14 of the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. § 14.001–.014 (West 2002 & West Supp. 2016). Chapter 14 applies to any lawsuit
filed by an inmate in a district, county, justice of the peace, or small claims court in which an
affidavit or unsworn declaration of inability to pay costs is filed by the inmate, other than an action
brought under the Texas Family Code. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 14.002. Section
14.003 provides that a court may dismiss such a claim, either before or after service of process, if
the court finds that the claim is frivolous or malicious. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.
7
For the remainder of this opinion, unless noted otherwise, references to Shugart’s constitutional takings claim will be
to that claim based on intentional conduct.
12
§ 14.003(a) (2); Comeaux v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 193 S.W.3d 83, 86 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied); Lentworth v. Trahan, 981 S.W.2d 720, 722 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no pet.). We may affirm the dismissal if it was proper under any
applicable legal theory. Hamilton v. Pechacek, 319 S.W.3d 801, 809 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2010, no pet.).
In determining whether a claim is frivolous or malicious, the trial court may consider
whether (1) the claim’s realistic chance of ultimate success is slight, (2) the claim has no arguable
basis in law or in fact,8 (3) it is clear that the plaintiff cannot prove facts in support of the claim,
or (4) the claim is substantially similar to a previous claim filed by the inmate because the claim
arises from the same operative facts. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 14.003(b). We review
the trial court’s order dismissing a lawsuit brought by an inmate who has filed an affidavit or
unsworn declaration of inability to pay costs for an abuse of discretion. Jackson v. Tex. Dep’t
Criminal Justice–Institutional Div., 28 S.W.3d 811, 813 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, pet.
denied); Barnum v. Munson, 998 S.W.2d 284, 286 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, pet. denied).
However, when, as here, the case was dismissed as frivolous and there was no evidententiary
hearing, our review is limited to a de novo examination of whether the claim has an arguable basis
in law. Hamilton v. Williams, 298 S.W.3d 334, 339 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, pet. denied);
8
Even though a constitutional takings claim is an exception to governmental immunity, “when a plaintiff fails to allege
facts that constitute a taking, dismissal for want of jurisdiction is appropriate.” Tex. Bay Cherry Hill, L.P., 257 S.W.3d
at 395 (citing Gen. Servs. Comm’n v. Little-Tex Insulation Co., 39 S.W.3d 591, 598 (Tex. 2001). Logically, if a
plaintiff alleges a constitutional takings claim which has no arguable basis in law or fact, he would also fail to allege
facts that constitute a taking. In that case, not only would dismissal under Chapter 14 be appropriate, but dismissal
via a plea to the jurisdiction would also be equally appropriate.
13
Leachman v. Dretke, 261 S.W.3d 297, 304 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, no pet.); Brewer v.
Simental, 268 S.W.3d 763, 770 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet. denied). Finally, for a claim to have
no arguable basis in law, [the] claim must be based on “an indisputably meritless
legal theory,” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327, 109 S. Ct. 1827, 104 L. Ed. 2d
338 (1989), or the facts alleged must rise to the level of the irrational or wholly
incredible, Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 112 S. Ct. 1728, 118 L. Ed. 2d 340
(1992). “An in forma pauperis complaint may not be dismissed, however, simply
because the court finds the plaintiff’s allegations unlikely.” Denton, 504 U.S. at
33, 112 S. Ct. 1728. Therefore, for the claim to have no basis in law, the facts as
pleaded must not comprise a cause of action.
Gill v. Boyd Distrib. Ctr., 64 S.W.3d 601, 603–04 (Tex. App.— Texarkana 2001, pet. denied).
2. Elements of a Constitutional Takings Claim
“To establish a takings claim, a plaintiff must prove (1) the governmental entity
intentionally performed certain acts, (2) that resulted in a ‘taking’ of property, (3) for public use.”
Tex. Bay Cherry Hill, L.P., 257 S.W.3d at 395. Although Appellees challenge the sufficiency of
Shugart’s pleadings to state a takings claim as to all three elements, Shugart clearly alleges
intentional actions by a governmental entity that constituted a taking of property. Therefore,
resolution of this issue will turn on whether there is an “arguable basis in law” for finding that the
taking he alleges constitutes a taking “for public use.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.
§ 14.003(b) (3).
B. Shugart’s Petition Alleges an Arguable Claim That The Destruction of His
Greenhouse Was a Taking For Public Use
Texas courts have taken a liberal view concerning what constitutes a public use. Dyer v.
Tex. Elec. Serv. Co., 680 S.W.2d 883, 884–85 (Tex. App.—El Paso, 1984, writ ref’d n.r.e.).
Whether property is taken for a public use is a question of law; however, where the legislature has
14
declared an act or purpose to be a public use, we must give weight to that declaration. Housing
Auth. of City of Dallas, et al. v. Higginbotham, et al., 143 S.W.2d 79 (Tex. 1940). Where the
Legislature has not declared an act or purpose to be a public use, however, we determine whether
a specific taking is a public use by examining each case upon its own facts and the surrouonding
circumstances. Id. at 83–84. Essentially, whether or not a governmental taking is incident to a
public use depends upon the character, and not the extent of such use. Id. at 84. The critical factor
is the right the public has to such use and not the extent to which the public may exercise the right.
Id. The number of people who avail themselves of the public benefit is immaterial so long as the
benefit is open to all who choose to use it. Id. Merely because “the advantage of the use inures to
a particular individual or enterprise, or group thereof, will not deprive it of its public character.”
Id.
As noted previously, in Steele, three escaped prisoners took refuge in a house and, in order
to force the prisoners out, the pursuing police officers intentionally set the house on fire. Steele,
603 S.W.2d at 788. The owner and tenants of the house sought damages for the destruction of
their property. Id. The Supreme Court rejected the lower courts’ rulings that exercise of the City’s
police power excused compensation and held that Steele and his tenants had alleged compensable
damage within the meaning of Article I, Section 17’s waiver of immunity because a taking had
occurred that was intentional, neither negligent nor grounded in nuisance, and for a public use. Id.
The public use in Steele encompassed the “real or supposed” emergency—to the general public—
to “apprehend armed and dangerous” escaped prisoners. Id. at 792. The public use “singled out”
Steele and his tenants to bear the cost of that emergency, see Woodson Lumber Co. v. City of
15
College Station, 752 S.W.2d 744, 746–47 (Tex. App.—Houston [lst Dist.] 1988, no writ), and the
use benefitted the entire community and thus the public at large. See Retzlaff v. Tex. Dep’t
Criminal Justice, 135 S.W.3d 731, 744 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.).
Here, as in Steele, officers destroyed a structure in exercise of their police powers, as a
“direct response to criminal activity.” See Steele, 603 S.W.2d at 790–92. Because its removal
allegedly inured to the benefit of the public, the taking was for a public use. See id. Therefore,
taking all of Shugart’s allegations as true, as we must, we find that Shugart’s takings claim under
Article I, Section 17, of the Texas Constitution, has an arguable basis in law. See Scott v.
Gallagher, 209 S.W.3d 262, 266–67 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (dismissal
proper only if claim is based on indisputably meritless legal theory). Accordingly, we sustain this
point of error and remand this cause of action for further proceedings.9
C. The Trial Court Erred in Dismissing Shugart’s Petition Under Chapter 14
Based on Appellees’ Res Judicata/Collateral Estoppel Defense or Heck v.
Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994)
Finally, Appellees assert that Shugart’s claims were properly dismissed under Chapter 14
based on prior federal litigation.10 By way of background, Shugart filed suit in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, styled “Shugart; Ricky Joe v. Six
9
Of course, Steele involved a claim by innocent property owners, whereas Shugart pled guilty to and was convicted
of possession of marihuana as a result of the evidence found on his property. However, Steele is binding authority in
this case, and under a plain reading of that opinion, Shugart has alleged a taking for public use. Because we are
required to resolve the propriety of the trial court’s order on the pleadings and the limited record before us in an appeal
of a plea to the jurisdiction and dismissal under Chapter 14, we cannot say that Shugart has alleged a claim that has
no arguable basis in law or fact or that the realistic chance of success on that claim is slight.
10
These defenses are not applicable to Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction because they do not implicate the trial court’s
subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the case.
16
Unknown Fannin County Sheriffs’ Agents (Official & Individual Capacities) & State of Texas.” In
that litigation, Shugart sought “compensation from Fannin County Sheriffs’ agents responsible . . .
for damages and cost incurred by their total destruction of a three-story tall, 55 ft. wide dome
building located behind Shugarts’ residence in the countryside of Ivanhoe, Texas.” Additionally,
Shugart sought “punitive damages against these agents for various constitutional violations related
to illegal search and seizures of his properties, outbuildings and resident dwellings.”11
On January 21, 2015, the federal district court entered a memorandum opinion and order
of dismissal in which it stated that “Shugart[,] . . . proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed
the above-styled and numbered civil lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. . . .” The federal court
summarized Shugart’s claims as follows:
The Plaintiff is complaining about events that led to his Fannin County conviction
for the offense of possession of marijuana. He states that on or about September 2,
2013, he was in the privacy of his home when six unknown Fannin County deputies
barged into his house without a warrant. The Plaintiff admitted to them that he had
a small bag of marijuana in a drawer next to his living room seat. He was arrested.
While being escorted outside, he observed agents going in and out of a greenhouse
located behind his residence. One of the deputies commented about the large
quantity of marijuana located in the greenhouse. Upon the advice of his attorney,
the Plaintiff pled guilty to possessing over 50 and under 2,000 pounds of marijuana.
He was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. He alleges that he was subjected
to an unreasonable search and seizure, but his attorney would not consider the
defense. He is asking for damages associated with the search and destruction of his
property.
The federal district court held that Shugart’s claims against the State of Texas were barred by the
Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution and dismissed with prejudice Shugart’s
claims against the State. The federal court then held that Shugart’s claims against the remaining
11
The record does not contain the entirety of Shugart’s federal complaint.
17
defendants were barred by the Supreme Court’s opinion in Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477
(1994), and dismissed those claims and defendants “with prejudice to their being asserted again
until the Heck conditions are met.”
Based on that dismissal, Appellees assert two defenses. First, Appellees assert that because
Shugart’s previous lawsuit in federal court arose out of the same incident which is the basis of this
suit, and because that suit was dismissed by the federal court with prejudice, Shugart’s claims are
barred here by res judicata. Second, Appellees assert that Shugart’s claim is not cognizable under
the authority of Heck. Accordingly, Appellees argue, dismissal was proper under Chapter 14
because the realistic chance of ultimate success for Shugart’s claims is slight.” See TEX. CIV.
PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 14.003(b)(1). Because resolution of Appellees’ res judicata defense
depends on the nature of the defense under Heck, we will address the defenses in reverse order.
1. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994)
In Heck, the United States Supreme Court considered whether a state prisoner could sue
Indiana state and local officials under Title 42, Section 1983, of the United States Code for
“engag[ing] in an ‘unlawful, unreasonable, and arbitrary investigation’ leading to petitioner’s
arrest; ‘knowingly destroy[ing]’ evidence ‘which was exculpatory in nature and could have proved
[petitioner’s] innocence’; and caus[ing] ‘an illegal and unlawful voice identification procedure’ to
be used at [his] trial.” Id. at 479. The plaintiff only sought monetary damages, “did not ask for
injunctive relief, and . . . [did] not [seek] release from custody. . . .” Id. The United States Supreme
Court held,
[I]n order to recover damages for allegedly unconstitutional conviction or
imprisonment, or for other harm caused by actions whose unlawfulness would
18
render a conviction or sentence invalid, a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the
conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive
order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such determination,
or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28
U.S.C. § 2254. A claim for damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or
sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.
Id. at 486–87 (footnote omitted). The Supreme Court continued,
Thus, when a state prisoner seeks damages in a § 1983 suit, the district court must
consider whether a judgment in favor of the plaintiff would necessarily imply the
invalidity of his conviction or sentence; if it would, the complaint must be
dismissed unless the plaintiff can demonstrate that the conviction or sentence has
already been invalidated. But if the district court determines that the plaintiff’s
action, even if successful, will not demonstrate the invalidity of any outstanding
criminal judgment against the plaintiff, the action should be allowed to proceed, in
the absence of some other bar to the suit.
Id. at 487 (footnotes omitted).
To begin with, Shugart has not alleged a cause of action under Section 1983 in the present
litigation as he did in the federal litigation, but instead, he alleged a state constitutional takings
claim. Because Heck involved Section 1983, it is not applicable to this case. Yet, even if it were,
as the Supreme Court noted in a footnote,
[A]suit for damages attributable to an allegedly unreasonable search may lie even
if the challenged search produced evidence that was introduced in a state criminal
trial resulting in the § 1983 plaintiff’s still-outstanding conviction. Because of
doctrines like independent source and inevitable discovery, [see] Murray v. United
States, 487 U.S. 533, 539 (1988), and especially harmless error, [see] Arizona v.
Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 307–308 (1991), such a § 1983 action, even if
successful, would not necessarily imply that the plaintiff’s conviction was
unlawful. In order to recover compensatory damages, however, the § 1983 plaintiff
must prove not only that the search was unlawful, but that it caused him actual,
compensable injury, [see] Memphis Community School Dist. v. Stachura, 477 U.S.
299, 308 (1986), which, we hold today, does not encompass the “injury” of being
convicted and imprisoned (until his conviction has been overturned).
19
Id. at 487 n.7. Accordingly, Heck does not bar Shugart’s state constitutional takings claim in this
case.
2. The Federal Court Dismissal Order Was Not a Final Adjudication of
Shugart’s Claims for Purposes of Res Judicata or Collateral Estoppel
It is true that “[a] dismissal with prejudice constitutes an adjudication on the merits and
operates as if the case had been fully tried and decided.” Decker v. Dunbar, 200 S.W.3d 807, 812
(Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet. denied). Thus, “[o]rders dismissing cases with prejudice have
full res judicata and collateral estoppel effect, barring subsequent litigation of the same causes of
action or issues between the same parties.” Id. Nevertheless, “[a]n order or judgment that is
merely a ruling on a technical or procedural aspect of the case is not res judicata.” Swenson v.
Swenson, 420 S.W.2d 638, 640 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1967, writ dism’d).
As noted previously, the federal court dismissed Shugart’s Section 1983 claims “with
prejudice to their being asserted again until the Heck conditions are met.” Accordingly, the
dismissal of Shugart’s claims was based on “technical or procedural aspects,” which does not
constitute a final adjudication necessary to bar subsequent claims by res judicata or collateral
estoppel. Id. Because Shugart’s state constitutional takings claim is not barred by res judicata or
collateral estoppel, we cannot find that his takings “claim’s realistic chance of ultimate success is
slight” for that reason.
20
IV. The Trial Court Correctly Dismissed Shugart’s Claims for Declaratory and
Injunctive Relief Because They Were Not Ripe
A. Introduction and Standard of Review
Finally, in his remaining causes of action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, Shugart
argues that Article 481.002(17), defining drug paraphernalia, and Article 481.153, authorizing
summary seizure and destruction of “controlled substance property,” are unconstitutional as
applied to him. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.002(17) (West Supp. 2016), § 481.153
(West 2010). Shugart contends that the officers destroyed his greenhouse because they deemed it
“drug paraphernalia” subject to summary seizure and destruction under those two statutes.
Essentially, he asserts that because Appellees destroyed his structure under the two statutes in
question, the trial court should declare that they are unconstitutional and enjoin their application
against him.
Requests for declaratory judgments and injunctions are subject to review for ripeness. Tex.
Bay Cherry Hill, L.P., 257 S.W.3d at 393. “A case is not ripe when its resolution depends upon
contingent or hypothetical facts or upon events that have not yet come to pass.” Id. (citing
Patterson v. Planned Parenthood of Houston, 971 S.W.2d 439, 442 (Tex. 1998)). In deciding
whether an issue is ripe for adjudication, courts consider “(1) the fitness of the issues for judicial
decision and (2) the hardship occasioned to a party by the court’s” denial of review. Id. (citing
Perry v. Del Rio, 66 S.W.3d 239, 250 (Tex. 2001)).
B. Application
The forfeiture scheme under Chapter 481 of the Health and Safety Code is a limited
proceeding allowing for the summary destruction of illegal drugs and “controlled substance
21
property” which is defined as “a controlled substance, mixture containing a controlled substance,
controlled substance analogue, counterfeit controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, chemical
precursor, chemical laboratory apparatus, or raw material.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN.
§ 481.151(1) (West 2010). The term “drug paraphernalia” is defined as
equipment, a product, or material that is used or intended for use in planting,
propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding,
converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging,
repackaging, storing, containing, or concealing a controlled substance in violation
of this chapter or in injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the
human body a controlled substance in violation of this chapter.
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.002(17).
Shugart’s petition describes the greenhouse as a sturdy, wood-framed, domed building,
thirty-three feet tall and fifty-five feet wide. In their plea to the jurisdiction and motion to dismiss,
Appellees alleged that the structure fell within the definition of “drug paraphernalia” under
Sections 481.002(17) and 481.151(1). Shugart did not contest the statutes’ applicability. Instead,
Shugart proceeded directly to the question of whether the statutes were constitutional as applied
to him.12
12
Appellees argued that because the greenhouse met the definition of drug paraphernalia under Section 481.002(17),
it was subject to summary forfeiture (destruction) under Section 481.153(a) and therefore, Shugart was not entitled to
just compensation for its destruction. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§ 481.002(17), 481.153. In his petition,
Shugart alleges that he
challenges Appellees Constitutionality of Art. 481.153(2) and/or Art. 481.002(17), TEX. HEALTH
& SAFETY CODE ANN, - Art. 481.153(2) in-so-far as it deprives the people and/or Mr. Shugart
of their property under abigibus [sic] cloak of drug paraphernalia without due course of the law of
Texas by summary forfeiture in situations wherein an emergency forfeiture is not warranted or
evidenced, and the article does not establish sufficiently objective criteria to avoid the risk of
erroneous deprivation; and in-so-far as (summary) seizure of drug paraphernalia is concerned
without adequate probable cause; and as to Art. 481.002(17) in-so-far as it defines the term “drug
paraphernalia” for the purposes of “controlled substance property” in Art. 481.153(2) (through
definition at Art. 481.151) and fails to provide sufficient clear guidance to officers as to what
constitutes “drug paraphernalia” (particularly as to the standard in which the public’s property is to
22
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has held that “[a] court will not pass on the
constitutionality of a statute if the particular case before it may be decided without doing so.”
Baptist Hosp. of Se. Tex., Inc. v. Baber, 714 S.W.2d 310 (Tex. 1986) (quoting San Antonio Gen.
Drivers, Helpers Local No. 657 v. Thornton, 299 S.W.2d 911, 915 (Tex. 1957). Before the trial
court decides whether the statutes are constitutional as applied to Shugart, it must first decide
whether the statutes are applicable to the case. Until the trial court makes that determination, the
constitutional issue is not ripe for consideration. Without a determination of whether the statutes
were applicable, the trial court could not determine whether Shugart’s claims for declaratory
judgment should be dismissed as frivolous under Chapter 14 or whether they should be dismissed
for a lack of standing under the State’s plea to the jurisdiction. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
ANN. § 14.003(a)(2), (b); see Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex. 2000)
(standing may be challenged by plea to the jurisdiction). Therefore, the trial court erred in
dismissing Shugart’s claims for declaratory judgment.13
be shown connected to an illegal substances; by ambiguous & unspecific language and meanings;
and as to lack of objective criteria to avoid the risk of erroneous deprivations).
13
The fact that Appellees allege that the destruction was justified under those statutes and the fact that Shugart does
not contest that allegation does not establish that the statutes actually apply to his structure. Otherwise, litigants could
simply stipulate to a statute’s applicability in order to gain standing to challenge its constitutionality, thereby leading
a court to issue an advisory opinion. Cf. Perez v. State, 938 S.W.3d 761, 763 (Tex. App.—Austin 1997, pet. ref’d)
(holding that defendant did not have standing to challenge constitutionality of sex offender registration statute because
“[t]here is no evidence in the record that appellant’s name has been placed in the central database program” and
because “[t]his Court is not authorized to render advisory opinions.”).
23
V. Conclusion
Accordingly we (1) reverse the trial court’s order granting Appellees’ plea to the
jurisdiction as to Shugart’s constitutional takings claim based on intentional conduct as to the
FCSD; (2) reverse the trial court’s order granting Appellees’ motion to dismiss under Chapter 14
as to Shugart’s constitutional takings claim based on intentional conduct as to the FCSD;
(3) reverse the trial court’s order granting Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction as to Shugart’s claims
for declaratory relief; (4) reverse the trial court’s order granting Appellees’ motion to dismiss under
Chapter 14 as to Shugart’s claims for declaratory relief; (5) affirm the portion of the trial court’s
order granting Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction and motion to dismiss under Chapter 14 of the
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code as to all other claims raised by Shugart against all other
parties; (6) and remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with our
holdings in this opinion.
Ralph K. Burgess
Justice
Date Submitted: March 17, 2016
Date Decided: January 12, 2017
24