### NU MBE R 1 3 - 0 9 - 0 0 0 1 1 - CV 

## C O U R T O F A P P E A LS T H I R T EEN T H D I ST R I C T O F T EXA S C O R PU S C H R I ST I - 

## E D I N B U R G

C I TY O F P H A R R , A pp e l l an t, v. M A R IE E S T H E R A G U IL L O N a /k /a M A R IA E S T H E R A G U IL L O N , A p p e lle e .

O n a p p e a l fr o m th e C o u n ty C o u rt a t L a w N o . 1

of Hi dal go County , Te x as. 

## M E M ORA N D U M O P I N I ON B e fo re C h ie f J u s tic e V a ld e z a n d J u s tic e s B e n a v id e s a n d V e la Me m or an du m Opi ni on by Chi e f Ju st i ce V al de z I nt h i s a c c e l e r a te d i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l , a p p e l l a n t, t h e C i ty o f P h a rr (t h e “C i ty

”), c h a l l e n g e s t h e t r i a l c o u r t’ s d e n ia l o f its p l e a to t h e j u r is d ic t io ninf a v o r o f a p p e l l e e , M a r ie E st h er A gu i l l o n a / k/a M ar i a E st h er A gu i l l on . By

on e i ss u e, t h e C i t

y ar gu es t h at

t h e t r i al cou r t l ack ed s u bj ect- m at

ter j u r i sdi ct i onov

er A gu i l l on ’ s c l ai m s b ecau se s h e di d n ot m eetI n he r s ec ond am ended pet it ion, A guill on s t at ed t h a t s h e s u s t ained “ a brok en a nk le, c er v ic al 1 s pr ain/ s t r ain, t horac ic s pr ain/ s t r ain[ , ] and br uis es and c ont us ions all ov er her bod y ” as a r es ult of t he c ollis ion. I n he r or igina l pe t it ion, A guill on m ade t he f ollow ing f

ac t ual alleg at ions : 2 B ef

or e t he P laint if

f [ A guill on] ent er ed i nt o t he c r os s [ ] walk [ , ] t he c r os s [ ] walk indic at ed t hat it was s af

e f or her t o walk

. O nc e in s ide t he c r os s [ ] walk [ , ] t he P laint if f s t at es t hat s he not ic ed a c ar

bei ng d r iv

en b y S alv

ador V az quez c om ing at a high r at e of s peed. S he n ot ic ed t h a t t h e dr iv

er was not pay ing at t ent ion and appea r ed t o be on a c ell phone pr ior t o t h i s im pac t

. W hen s he t r ied t o av oid get t ing hit by t he o nc om ing c ar [ , ] s he f elt t hat s he d id not m ov e f as t eno ugh and t he c ar s t r uc k her

. T he i m pac t c aus ed [ ] her t o be t hrown t hrough t he air and lan ding [ s ic ] in a m anner t hat c aus ed h er

t o s uf f er s ev er e in jur ies

. A guill on did not m ak e an y all egat ion as t o t he t im ing of t he c r os s walk s ignal dev ic es in her or igina l pet it ion. V as quez and P alenc ia a r e no t par t ies t o t his app eal. 3 2 t h e s ta t u to r y r e q u i r e m e n ts o f t h e Te x a s T o r t Cl a im s A c t

( t h e “A c t” )a n d b e c a u s e s h e d id n ot dem on st r

ate t h at gov er n m en tal i m m u n i t

y was wai v

ed. W e r ev er se an d r em an d. I. B ACKGRO UND OnJ a n u a ry

2 0 , 2 0 0 6 , a t a p p ro xi ma te l y 3 :1 5 p .m., A g u i l l o n a t t e mp te d to c ro s s th e s t re e t a t t h e i n te r

s e c t i o no f

S o u t hC a g e B o u l e v

a r d a n d E a s t

C a f f e r y A v e n u e i nP h a rr, Tex as. Agu i l l onal l egedl y

beganwal k i n g i nt h e c r oss wal k o n ce t h e c r

oss wal k s i gn al i n di cat ed t h at

i t was saf

e f or h er to cr oss t h e st reet

. H owev

er , w h i l e i n si de t h e cr

osswal k, A g u i l l onn ot i ced t h at

a c ar dr i v enby S al v ador V az qu ez was appr

oach i n g at

a h i ghr ate of spee d. A gu i l l onal so al l ege d l y no t i c e d t h at t h e cr osswal k si gn al i n di cat ed t h at i t was n o l on ger sa f e to c r oss t h e s t reet

af ter on l y a v er y sh or t p e r i o d of

t i m e. O nappeal , A gu i l l on s tates t h at

sh e was on l y

abl e to take fi v

e or si x steps i n to t h e c r

oss wal k b ef

or e t h e s i gn al ch an ged to i n di cate t h at i t was n o l on ger

s a f e t o c r o s s t h e s t reet

. I nan y ev en t , A gu i l l on was st r u ck

by V az qu ez’ s c ar

an d s u f f er ed s ev er e i n j u r i es as a r

esu l t of t h e c ol l i si on . 1 O nS eptem ber

8, 2006, A gu i l l onfi l ed h er or i gi n al pet i t i on al l egi n g n egl i gen ce and 2 n e g l ig e n t e n tr u s tm e n t c a u s e s o f a c t io na g a in s t

V a z q u e z a n d t h e o w n e r

o f t h e c a r , M a r ia P a l e n c ia

. L a te r , o n N o v e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 , A g u il l o nfil e d h e r fir s t a m e n d e d p e t it io n , a d d in g 3 t h e C i t y an d t h e Tex

as D epar

t m en t of T r an spor tat i onas par

t i es to t h e cas e an d ass er t i n g,T he Tex as Dep art m ent of T r ans por

t at ion was non - s uit ed f r om t he c as e on S ept em ber 2, 200 8. 4 3 i npar t i c ul a r , n egl i gen ce cau ses of ac t i onagai n st

t h e C i t y . Agu i l l onfi l ed h er

se con d 4 a me n d e d p e ti ti o no nA p ri l 4 , 2 0 0 8 , a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e C i ty wa s n e g l i g e n t: “[i ]nfa i l i n g to pr o per l y pr ogr am t h e c r

oss wal k s i gn al devi ce to al l ow P l ai n t i f f an d ot h er

pedes t r i an s s u f fic ie n t t im e to s a f

e l y u s e a n d /o r t r

a v e r s e t h e c r o s s wa l k , ” “ [ i] nf

a il in g to p r

o p e r l y m a in ta in a n d i n s p e c t t h e c ro s s wa l ks i g n a l d e vi c e to e n s u re i t wa s f u n c ti o n i n g a s d e s i re d ,” a n d “[i ]n f a il in g to c o r re c t

t h e m a l fu n c t io na n d /o r c o n d it io no f

t h e c r o s s wa l ks ig n a l d e vic e w it h ina re a s o n a b l e ti me a fte r n o ti c e .” I nr espo n se to A gu i l l on ’ s al l ega t i on s, t h e C i t y fi l ed a pl ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i ononM arch 5, 2008. T h e C i t

y su bsequ en t l y

am en ded i ts p l e a t o t h e j u r i sdi ct i ononM arch31, 2008, a n d o nN o v

e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 0 8

. I ni ts N o v

e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 0 8 p l e a to t h e j u r is d ic t io n , t h e C it y al l eged t h at

A gu i l l ondi d n ot

pr ovi d e p r o p e r no t i ce of h er cl ai m s to t h e C i t

y an d t h at i m m u n i t y h ad n ot beenwai v

ed i nt h i s s et

of ci rcu m stan ces ; t h er

ef or e, t h e t r i al cou r

t l ack ed su bj ect- m at

ter j u r i sdi ct i onov

er A gu i l l on ’ s c l ai m s . I n s u ppor t of i ts p l ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i on , t h e C i t y at tach ed a l et

ter fr om A gu i l l on ’ s t r i al co u n sel dated Febr u ar y 15, 2007, an d m ar ked

“ recei v ed” Febr u ar

y 22, 2007, w h i chn ot i fi ed t h e C i t y t h at A gu i l l onha d s us t a i n ed i n j u r i es o n J a n u a ry 2 0 , 2 0 0 6 , a s a re s u l t o f t h e d e fe c ti v e c ro s s wa l ks i g n a l d e vi c e s a n d th a t th e C i ty wa s l i a b l e fo r h e r i n

j u ri e s . S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 101. 101( a)(V er n on 2005)

. T h e C i t

y a l s o a t

tach ed: ( 1)anaf

fi davi t ex ecu ted by

Jo e C an t u , t h e D i rector of A dm i n i st r

at i v e S er vi ces f or t h e C i t y ; ( 2)dep o s i t i ontest i m on y of Roy G arci a, D i rector

of P u b l i cW o rk s fo r th e C i ty ; a n d (3 ) A g u i l l o n ’ s d e p o s i ti o nte s ti mo n y . S h or t l y t h er eaf ter , A g ui l l onfi l ed a respon se to t h e C i t y ’ s N ov em ber 26, 2008 pl ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i on . Af

ter a h ear i n g, t h e t r i al co u r t den i ed t h e C i t

y ’ s p l e a to t h e j u r i sdi ct i on . T h e C i ty n o w b r i n g s t h i s a c c e l e ra te d i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l

. S ee T EX . R. A PP . P. 28. 1; see4

al so T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § § 5 1

. 014( a) ( 8)(V er n on2008)( per m i t t i n g an appeal f r om ani n ter l ocu tor

y or der gr an t i n g or den yi ng a p l ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i onfi l ed by a gov er n m en tal u n i t ) , 101. 001( 3) ( B )(V er n on2005)( defi n i n g a “ gov er n m en tal u n i t” to i n cl u de “a n y c i ty ”). II. S TA N D A R D OF R EV I EW Apl ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i oni s a di l ator y pl ea u sed to def

eat a c au se of

ac t i onw i t h ou t re g a rd to w h e th e r th e c l a i ms a s s e rte d h a v e me ri t. B l and I

ndep. S ch. D i st

. v . B l ue , 34 S

. W

. 3d 547, 554 ( Tex . 2000)

. T h e pl ea c h al l en g e s t he t r i al co u r t ’ s s u bj ect- m at

ter j u ri s d i c ti o n . Id. ; see T ex. D ep’ t of Tr ansp. v. Jo nes , 8 S .W.3 d 6 3 6 , 6 3 8 (Te x . 1 9 9 9 ). W h e t h e r a tr i a l c o u r

t h a s s u bje c t- m a tt e r

ju r i s d i c ti o na n d wh e th e r th e p le a d e r

h a s a lle g e d f acts t h at af fi r m at i v el y dem on st r

ate t h e t r i al co u r

t ’ s s u bj ect- m at

ter j u r i sdi ct i on ar

e qu est i on s o f l a w th a t we re vi e w

d e n o v o . T ex. D ep’ t of P ar ks & W il dli f e v . M ir anda , 133 S

. W

. 3d 217, 2 2 6 (Te x . 2 0 0 4 ); T

ex. N at ur al R es. C onse r

vat i on C om m ’

n v. I T - D avy , 74 S. W

. 3d 849, 855 (Te x . 2 0 0 2 ). T h e p l a i n ti ff

h a s t h e b u rd e nto p l e a d f a c ts a ff i rma ti v e l y s h o w i n g t h a t th e t ri a l c o u rt h a s j u ri s d i c ti o n . T

e x . A s s ’ n o f B u s . v . T e x . A i r C o n t ro l B d

. , 852 S

. W

. 2d 440, 446 ( Tex . 1 9 9 3 ); U ni v. of

N

. Tex. v. H ar

vey, 1 2 4 S .W .3 d 2 1 6 , 2 2 0 (Te x . A p p .– F o rt W o rth2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ). We c o n s tr u e t h e p l e a d i n g s l i b e ra l l y i nf a v o r o f th e p l e a d e r, l o o kto t h e p l e a d e r’ s i n t e n t , a n d a c c e p t a s tru e th e fa c tu a l a l l e g a ti o n s i nth e p l e a d i n g s . S ee M ir anda , 133 S .W .3 d a t 2 2 6 , 2 2 8 ; C i ty o f Fo rt W

o rth v . C ro c k e tt, 1 4 2 S .W.3 d 5 5 0 , 5 5 2 (Te x . A p p .– F o rt W o rth2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ). I na d d i ti o nto th e p l e a d i n g s , w e m a y c o n s i d e r e vi d e n c e i nth e re c o rd a n d mu s t d o s o w h e nn e c e s s a ry to re s o l v

e t h e j u ri s d i c ti o n a l i s s u e t h a t wa s b e fo re th e tri a l c o u rt. B l ue , 3 4 S .W .3 d a t 5 5 5

.5 III . A N A LY

S IS B y its fir s t is s u e , t h e Cit

y c o n te n d s t h a t it wa s e n t it l e d to r e c e iv e n o t ic e o f

A g u il l o n ’s cl ai m w i t h i nsi x

m on t h s o f

w h ent h e i n ci den t

gi vi n g r i se to t h e c l ai m oc cu r red, an d A g u i l l o n ’ s a l l e g e d fa i l u re to t i m e l y p r o v i d e s u c hn o ti c e d e p ri v e d th e tri a l c o u rt o f s u bj e c tm a t te r j u r is d ic t io n . A g u il l o nc o u n te r s t h a t t h e Cit y h a d a c t u a l n o ti c e o f

t h e in c id e n t

g ivin g r i se to h er

l awsu i t bec au se G arci a was awar e of t h e i n ci den t

an d n oted, i nh i s d eposi t i on , t h at t h e C i t y test ed a n d i n spect ed t h e pe dest r i ansi gn al s t he d a y a f ter t h e i n ci den t ; t h u s, by test i n g a nd i n spec t i n g t h e s i gn al s, t h e C i t y was “ su bj ect i v

el y awar e” of i ts p oten t i al l i a b i l i ty fo r th e a c c i d e n t. I na rg u i n g th a t A g u i l l o n ’ s a l l e g e d fa i l u re to c o mp l y w i thth e n o ti c e p ro vi s i o n s o f t h e Tex as Tor t C l ai m s Acts di v

ested t h e t r i al cou r

t of su bj ect- m at

ter j u r i sdi ct i on , t h e C i t

y r el i es h e a vi l y o ns e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1 o f t h e c i vi l p ra c ti c e a n d re me d i e s c o d e . S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 10 1. 101. Sect i on101. 101 pr ovi des t h e f

ol l ow i n g: ( a)Agov er n m en tal u n i t

i s e n t i t l ed to r

ecei v e n ot i ce of

a c l ai m agai n st

i t u n der t h is c h a p te r

n o t l a te r t h a ns ix m o n t h s a f

te r t h e d a y th a t t h e in c id e n t g ivin g r i se to t h e c l ai m oc cu r red. T h e n ot i ce m u st r eason abl y

des cr i be: ( 1)t h e dam age or

i n j u r y cl ai m ed; ( 2)t h e t i m e an d pl ace of t h e i n ci den t ; an d (3 ) th e i n c i d e n t.

. . . . ( c ) T h e n ot i ce requ i rem en ts p r ovi ded or

r at i fi ed an d appr

ov ed by S u bsec t i on s ( a)an d ( b)do n o t a p p l y i f t h e gov er n m en tal u n i t

h as act u al n o ti c e t h a t d e a t h h a s o c c u rre d , th a t th e c l a i ma n t h a s re c e i v e d s o me i n

j u ry , or t h at t h e c l ai m an t ’ s p r

oper t y h as beendam aged. Id. T h e C i t

y al so ar gu es t h at

be c a us e A gu i l l onfi l ed s u i t af ter S eptem ber

1, 2005, an d becau se A gu i l l onal l egedl y f ai l ed to c o m p l y

w i t hse ct i on101. 101 of t h e c i vi l pr

act i ce an d6

rem edi es code, t h e t r i al co ur t w a s d epr i v ed s u bj ect- m at

ter j u r i sdi ct i onu n der

se ct i on 3 1 1 .0 3 4 o f t h e g o v

e rn me n t c o d e . S ee T EX . G OV ’ T C O D E A NN . § 311. 034 (V er no nS u pp. 2009)( pr

ovi di n g t h at

“ [ s] tat u tor

y pr er equ i si tes to a s u i t , i n cl u di n g t h e pr ovi si on of

n ot i ce, a re j u ri s d i c ti o n a l re q u i re me n ts i na l l s u i ts a g a i n s t a g o v e rn me n ta l e n ti ty

”); s e e a l s o P u tth o ff v . A n c ru m , 9 3 4 S

. W

. 2d 164, 173 ( Tex . A pp. –For t W or t h1996, w r i t

den i ed)( h ol di n g t h at if a p l a in t if f d o e s n o t

s a t is f y t h e n o t ic e r

e q u ir e m e n ts o f

s e c t io n1 0 1

. 1 0 1 , t h e nim m u n it y is n o t wa i v e d ). I nh er r espo n ses to t h e C i t

y ’ s pl ea, A g ui l l onar

gu ed t h at

t h e C i t y h ad a ct u al n ot i ce of t h e i n ci den t

and i ts p oten t i al l i abi l i t y f or h er i n j u r i es an d r

ef er en ced G arci a’ s d eposi t i on te s ti mo n y , w h i c hre fl e c te d th a t h e : (1 ) “h e a rd a y e l l ”; (2 ) a p p ro a c h e d th e s c e n e o f t h e acc i den t an d obs er

v ed Agu i l l onl yi n g ont h e pav em ent ; a nd ( 3 ) or

der ed ani n spec t i onof th e tra ffi cs i g n a l s to b e c o n d u c te d o n th e n e x t d a y . S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 1 0 1 .1 0 1 (c ). A ct u a l no t i c e to a g ov er n m en tal u n i t

r equ i res kn ow l edge of : ( 1)a de at h , i n j u r y , or p ro p e rty d a ma g e ; (2 ) th e g o v

e rn me n ta l u n i t’ s a l l e g e d fa u l t p ro d u c i n g o r c o n tri b u ti n g to th e deat h , i n j u r y , or pr oper t y dam age; an d ( 3)t h e i den t i t y of t h e par t i es i n v ol v ed. See C at

hey v . B o o th , 9 00 S. W

. 2d 339, 341 ( Tex . 1995)( per cu r i am )( n ot i n g al so t h at t h e pu r pose of th e n o t i c e r

e q u i re m e n t “ i s to e n s u re p r o m p t re p o r

ti n g o f c la i m s i no r

d e r to e n a b le gov er n m en tal uni t s t o ga t h er i n f or m at i onn ecessa r

y to gu ard ag ai n st

u n f ou n ded cl ai m s, s e tt l e c l a i ms , a n d p re p a re f o r t ri a l ”); s e e a l s o T

e x . D e p ’ t o f P u b

. S a fe ty

v . R i v e ra , N o. 13- 01- 293- C V , 2 0 0 2 Tex . A pp. LE X I S 2911, at * * 15- 16 ( Tex . A pp. –C or pu s C h r i st i A pr . 25, 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t.). T

o h a v e a c tu a l n o ti c e w i th i nth e c o n te x t o f s e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1 , t h e gov er n m en tal u n i t

m u st h av e t h e s am e i n f

or m at i oni t

wou l d h av

e h ad i f t h e c l ai m an t

h adT he S im ons c our t wen t on t o ho ld t hat t he n ot ic e requirem ent was not jur is dic t ional , a holdi ng t hat 5 h a s s i n c e b e e n s u p e rs e d e d

. S ee Tex. Dep ’ tof Cr im inal J us t ic e v

. S im ons , 1 4 0 S

. W

. 3 d 3 3 8 , 3 4 9 (Te x . 2 0 0 4 ); se e a l so T EX . G OV ’ T C OD E A NN . § 3 1 1

. 0 3 4 (V e rno n S u p p . 2 0 0 9 ). 7 com pl i ed w i t h t h e f

or m al n ot i ce requ i rem en ts. S e e B o u rn e v . N u e c e s C o u n ty H o s p . D i s t. , 7 4 9 S .W .2 d 6 3 0 , 6 3 3 (Te x . A p p .– C o rp u s C h ri s ti 1 9 8 8 , w ri t d e n i e d ); s e e a l s o R i v e ra , 2002 Te x . A p p . L E X I S 2 9 1 1 , a t *1 6

. Me re n o ti c e th a t a n i n c i d e n t h a s o c c u rre d i s n o t e n o u g hto e s ta b l is ha c t u a l n o t ic e f o r p u r p o s e s o f

t h e A c t. S e e P ut

t hof f , 9 3 4 S

. W

. 2 d a t

1 7 3 ( c it in g C at hey , 9 0 0 S .W .2 d a t 3 4 0 ; G ar ci a v. T ex. D ep’ t of C r im inal Just

i ce , 902 S

. W

. 2d 728, 730- 3 1 (Te x . A p p .– H o u s to n[1 4 thD i s t.] 1 9 9 5 , n o w ri t)). “A l l e g e d f a u l t” i n c l u d e s th e g o v e rn me n ta l u n i t’ s “s u bj e c ti v e a wa re n e s s o f i ts fa u l t, a s u l ti ma te l y a l l e g e d b y

th e c l a i ma n t, i np ro d u c i n g o r c o n tr i b u ti n g to t h e c l a i me d i n j u ry ”: It i s n ot e no ug h t h at

a go v er n m en tal u n i t

sh ou l d h av

e i n v est i gated an i n ci den t as a pr u den t

per son w o ul d h av

e, or t h at i t di d i n v est i gate, per h aps a s p a rt o f ro u ti n e s a fe ty p ro c e d u re s , o r th a t i t s h o u l d h a v e k n o w nfro m th e i n v est i gat i oni t

co n du cted t h at

i t m i gh t h ave beenat

f au l t

. If a go v er n m en tal u n it is n o t s u bj e c t iv

e l y a wa re o f

its f a u l t , it d o e s n o t

h a v e t h e s a m e in c e n t iv

e to g a t h e r inf o r m a t io nt h a t

t h e s ta tu te is d e s ig n e d to p r o vid e , e v e nw h e nit wo u l d n o t b e u n re a s o n a b l e to b e l i e v e th a t t h e g o v

e rn me n ta l u n i t wa s a t fa u l t. T ex. D ep’ t of C r im inal Ju st i ce v. S im ons , 140 S

. W

. 3d 338, 347-48 ( Tex . 2004) ; see T ex. 5 S t at e Tech. C oll ege v

. E vans , N o . 1 0 -0 8 -0 0 2 5 6 -C V , 2 0 0 9 Te x . A p p . L E X I S 1 9 0 9 , a t ** 6 -7 ( Tex . A pp. –W aco M ar . 18, 2009, n o pet

. )( m e m . o p . )

. T h e S im ons co u r t f u r t h er stated th a t: C er

tai n l y , w h enr

ecor ds or i n v est i gat i v e r epor ts gi v e n o i n di cat i ont h at a g o v e rn me n ta l u n i t h a s b e e na t f a u l t i na ni n c i d e n t, i t h a s n o a c tu a l n o ti c e .

. . . . B y h o l d in g in C at

hey t h at ac t u al n ot i ce to a g ov

er n m en tal u n i t

r equ i res kn ow l edge of

. . . t h e gov

er n m en tal u n i t ’ s a l l eged f a ul t pr odu ci n g or con t r i bu t i n g to t h e deat h , i n j u r y , or pr oper t y dam age, we di d n ot

m eant h at th e g o v e r n m e n ta l u n i t wa s r

e q u i re d t o k n o w th a t t h e c la i m a n t h a s a c tu a lly ma d e a na l l e g a ti o no f f

a u l t.

. . . C at

hey can n ot

f ai r l y be r ead to s u ggest

t h at a g o v e r n m e n ta l u n i t h a s a c tu a l n o ti c e o f a c la i m i f i t c o u ld o r

e v e ns h o u ldI n hi s r epor t , O f f ic er A r ev alo not ed t hat he belie v ed t hat “ P edes t r ian [ A guill on] f ailed t o y ield r ight 6 of way whi le a ‘do n’t wal k ’ s ignal was pr es ent [ ; ] t hus , [ s he] was s t r uc k by Uni t 1 [ V as quez ’s v ehic le]

. ” O f

f ic er A r ev alo als o no t ed t hat Ray m on R ubi o , A guill on’s em ploy er , obs er v ed A guill on c r os s t he s t r eet , and whi le d o i n g s o , R u b i o s a w A g u i l l o n “ [l o o k ] t o w a r d th e ro a d w a y a n d [h o l d ] u p h e r l e f t h a n d i n a s to p p i n g m a n n e r .” A f t er c onduc t ing his inv

es t igat ion, O f

f ic er A r ev alo did not f

ind t hat t he c aus e of t he a c c ident was at t r ibut able to m a l f u n c ti o n i n g o r

m i s ti m e d c r o s s w a l k s i g n a l s . A d d i ti o n a l l y , O f f i c e r A r e v a l o ’ s p o l i c e r e p o rt d o e s n o t i n d i c a te t hat A guill on m ade an a llega t ion t hat t he c r os s walk s ignal dev ic es had m alf

unc t ioned or d i d not all ow h er s u f f i c i e n t t i m e to c ro s s th e s tr e e t. 8 h av e l ear n ed of

i ts possi bl e f

au l t by i n v est i gat i n g t h e i n ci den t

. I n ter pret ed so b ro a d l y , s u b s e c ti o n(c ) wo u l d b e c o me th e ru l e , l e a vi n g s u b s e c ti o n(a ) a s th e ex cept i onf or si t u at i on s w h ent h e gov er n m en tal u n i t

was w h ol l y

u n awar e t h at an y i n ci dent h ad oc cu r red at al l

. G ov

er n m en tal u n i ts w

ou l d n ot be g i v en n ot i ce of m ost i n ci den ts an d wou l d t h u s h av e s om e n eed to i n v

est i gate t h em a l l , w h ic h , a s we e xp l a in e d in C at hey , wou l d def

eat t h e pu r pose of

t h e n ot i ce p r o vis io n . W h a t

we in te n d e d in C at

hey by t h e s econ d requ i rem en t f or act u al n o ti c e wa s th a t a g o v

e r n m e n ta l u n i t h a v

e k n o w l e d g e th a t a mo u n ts to th e sam e n ot i ce to w h i chi t i s e nt i t l ed by

se ct i on101. 101( a)

. T h at i n cl u des s u bj e c t iv e a wa re n e s s o f

its fa u l t , a s u l t im a te l y

a l l e g e d b y

t h e c l a im a n t , in p ro d u c i n g o r c o n tr i b u ti n g to t h e c l a i me d i n j u ry . 140 S. W

. 3d at

345, 347 ( i n ter n al qu otat i on s a n d c i tat i on s o m i t t ed)

. T h e deter m i n at i onof w h et h er a go v er n m en tal u n i t

r ecei v ed a c t u al n ot i ce i s a qu est i onof f act bu t m ay be deter m i n ed as a m at

ter of l aw w h er e t h e evi den ce i s i n su f fi ci en t to r ai se a f act i ss u e. A l vara do v. C i t

y of Lub bock , 6 8 5 S .W .2 d 6 4 6 , 6 4 9 (Te x . 1 9 8 5 ); Lor ig v . C i t y o f M i ss i on , 6 2 9 S .W.2 d 6 9 9 , 7 0 1 (Te x . 1 9 8 2 ). T h e re c o r d d e m o n s tra te s th a t A g u i l l o nfi rs t n o ti fi e d th e C i ty o f h e r i n j u ri e s a n d th e Cit y ’s p o te n t ia l l ia b il it

y b y l e t te r d a te d F e b r u a r

y 1 5 , 2 0 0 7 , m o re t h a n a y e a r a f te r A g u il l o n ’s Jan u ar y 20, 2006 acc i den t

. I nan y ev en t , at tach ed to A gu i l l on ’ s r

espon se to t h e C i t

y ’ s pl ea to t h e j u r i sdi ct i oni s a pol i ce repor t fi l ed by C i t y o f P ha r r P ol i ce O f

fi cer E u stol i o A v

er al o, w h i chwas fi l ed onJa n u ar y 20, 2006, an d s ta t e d t h at A rev al o c on du cted t h e i n v

est i gat i on of t h e s cen e of

t h e ac ci den t

. G arci a test i fi ed t h at h i s o ffi ce recei v

ed a copy

of O f fi cer 6 A v e ra l o ’ s re p o rt

a n d t h a t th e C i ty

wa s a w a re t h a t A g u i l l o nh a d b e e ni n j u re d

. Mo re o v

e r, Ga rc i a te s ti f i e d t h a t h e “h e a rd a y e l l ” a t t h e ti me o f t h e i n c i d e n t a n d th a t h e q u i c k l y ra ntoGa r c i a s ta te d i n h i s d e p o s i ti o n th a t h e “ d i d n ’ t v i s u a l i z e th e a c tu a l a c c i d e n t,” h e “ s a w p e o p l e r u n n i n g ,” 7 a n d h e w a s n o t co n ta c te d b y p o l i c e to g i v e a s ta te m e n t a s to c a u s e o f th e a c c i d e n t. W it h res pec t t o t he C it y ’s awa r enes s of t he a llege d t im ing is s ue as s oc iat ed wit h t he t r af f ic s ignal , 8 A g u i l l o n ’ s tr i a l c o u n s e l a s k e d Ga r c i a a b o u t t h e C i ty ’ s f a i l u r e to c h e c k th e ti m i n g o f th e c r o s s w a l k s i g n a l to w h i c h h e r e s p o n d e d : Y es , I would hav

e a t im ing c onc er n but not on t he a c t ual dev ic e. I wou ld t hink t he l ady did n o t h a v e s u f f i c i e n t t i m e t o c ros s a c ros s w a l k b a s e d o n s h e w a l k i n g t o o l a t e o r t o o [ s i c ] b e f o re t he ac t ual s ignal not if y ing her

. S o at t hat poi nt in t im e, y es , I m ay hav e had a c onc er n on t im ing, but not hing t o t r igger it of f t o t he a c t ual t im ing of t he operat ions of t he s ignal it s elf; jus t ti m i n g o n th e p e rs o n i ts e l f [si c ] w h e th e r

s h e d i d n ’ t h a v

e e n o u g h ti m e to c r o s s . T he polic e of

f ic er who inv

es t igat ed t he M ar c h 31 , 200 6 in c ident not ed i n hi s r epor t t hat t he c aus e 9 of t he c ollis ion was t he f ailure of t he d r iv er of t he v ehic le t o y ield r ight of way t o t he p edes t r ian. 9 t h e s cen e to get

a c l oser

vi ew o f w ha t had h appen ed. G arci a r ecal l ed t h at

h e s aw 7 A gu i l l onl yi n g i nt h e m i ddl e of S ou t hC age Bou l ev

ar d w i t h o b vi ou s i n

j u r i es to h er

an kl e. G arci a t h enr

et u r n ed to h i s o f

fi ce, r epor ted t h e i n ci den t , an d ar r an ged f or a “ r an dom i n spect i on ” of

t h e t r af fi c si gn al s at

t h e i n t e r

sect i onof

S ou t hC age B ou l ev

ard an d E ast C a ff e r y A v e n u e . Ga rc i a te s ti fi e d th a t i t i s c u s to m a r y fo r th e C i t y t o i n s p e c t t r

a ffi cs i g n a ls af ter an y an d al l acc i den ts occ u r r i n g n ear i n ter sec t i on s w i t h i nt h e C i t

y l i m i ts. G arci a f

u r t h er test i fi ed t h at

t h e i n spect i onof

t h e t r a ff i c s i g n al s di d n ot yi el d an y

fi n di n g of

m al fu n ct i on s; t h u s , t h e C i t

y h a d n o r e a s o nto s u s p e c t

t h a t i t wa s a t f a u l t f o r A g u i l l o n ’ s i n

j u ri e s . G a rc i a l ater adm i t ted t h at t h e i n spec tor

s d i d n ot ch eck t o s e e i f t he t i m i n g of t h e s i gn al s w

as i n c o r r e c t b e c a u s e s u c ha na lle g a ti o nwa s n e v e r b r o u g h t to h i s a tt e n ti o n . A g u i llo na ls o 8 appen ded to h er

r espon se a s econ d pol i ce repor t fi l ed onM arch31, 2006, i n di cat i n g t h at an ot h er ac ci den t

h ad oc cu r red at t hi s s a m e i n ter sec t i oni n v

ol vi n g a v

eh i cl e an d a pedes t r i an . 9 H o we v e r , a s s ta te d in S im ons , j u s t b e c a u s e th e C i ty s h o u l d h a v

e b e e n a wa re o f i ts pot en t i al l i abi l i t

y or beca u se t h e C i t

y i n v est i gat ed a s par

t of r ou t i n e saf

et y pr oced u r es, A gu i l l on was n ot rel i ev

ed of h er du t y to i n f or m t h e C i t

y of i ts p oten t i al l i abi l i t

y f or h er i n j u r i es w i th i nth e p re s c ri b e d ti me p e ri o d i ns e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1

. S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O DE10

A NN . § 101. 101; se e al so S im ons , 1 4 0 S .W .3 d a t 3 4 7 -4 8 ; B l evins v. Tex. D ep’ t of Tr ansp. , 140 S. W

. 3d 337, 337 ( Tex . 2004)( per cu r i am )( “ T h e c ou r

t of appeal s cor rect l y

co n cl u ded t ha t T xD O T ’ s k n ow l edge of t h e ac ci den t

an d t h e pr

esen ce of

i ts e m pl oy

ees at t h e s cen e di d n ot pr ovi de T x D O T ac t u al n ot i c e o f p e t i t i on er s’ cl ai m w i t h i nt h e m ean i n g of se ct i on 101. 101( c)

. ” )

. F u r

t h er m or e, based on ou r

r evi ew of t h e r ecor d, A gu l l i onh as n ot pr

esen ted j u r is d ic t io n a l e vid e n c e d e m o n s t r a t in g t h e Cit

y wa s “ s u bj e c t iv

e l y a wa re ” o f

its f a u l t in pr odu ci n g or

ca u si n g h er

i n j u r i es w i t h i nt h e s tat u tor y t i m e per i od pr esc r i bed i nse ct i on 1 0 1 .1 0 1

. S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 1 0 1 .1 0 1 ; C at hey , 900 S

. W

. 2d at

341; s e e a l s o R i v

e ra , 2 0 0 2 Te x . A p p . L E X I S 2 9 1 1 , a t ** 1 5 -1 6

. N ev er t h el ess , A gu i l l onci tes to C i t y o f S a n A n t o n i o v

. Jo hnson , 103 S

. W

. 3d 639, 641- 42 ( Tex . A pp. –S anA n ton i o 2003, pet

. de n i ed) , an d C i ty o f S a n A n g e l o v

. S m i th , 69 S .W .3 d 3 0 3 , 3 0 7 (Te x . A p p .–A u s ti n2 0 0 2 , p e t. d e n i e d ), to s u p p o r t h e r c o n te n ti o nth a t t h e C i ty h a d a c t u a l n o ti c e “to th e e x te n t t h a t a s a p ru d e n t e n ti ty i t to o kth e o p p o rtu n i ty to asc er tai ni ts p oten t i al l i abi l i t y stem m i n g f

r om t h i s i n ci den t

by co nd uc t i ng a f

u r t h er i n v e s t i g a t i o n. ” H owev

er , we do n ot

fi n d ei t h er

of t h ese ca ses to be per

su asi v e be cau se t h e y b o t hp re - d a te t h e s u p re m e c o u r t ’s h o l d in g in S im ons

a n d , t h e re fo re , d o n o t re c o n c i le w i t ht h e s u pr

em e c ou r

t ’ s l atest j u r i spr u den ce r e g a r d i n g ac t u al n ot i ce w i t h i nt h e c on tex t of s e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1

. S ee 1 4 0 S .W .3 d a t 3 4 7 -4 8 ; see a l so T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 1 0 1 .1 0 1

. W e th e re fo re c o n c l u d e th a t A g u i l l o nh a s n o t s a ti s fi e d h e r b u rd e no f p ro vi n g th a t th e C i ty h a d a c tu a l n o ti c e o r , i n o th e r wo rd s , k n o w l e d g e o f: (1 ) a d e a th , i n j u ry , o r p ro p e rty d a ma g e ; (2 ) i ts a l l e g e d fa u l t p ro d u c i n g o r c o n tri b u ti n g to th e d e a th , i n j u ry , o r p ro p e rty dam age; an d ( 3) t he i d e nt i t y o f t h e par t i es i n v ol v ed w i t h i nt h e t i m e per i od pr esc r i bed by s e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1

. S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 1 0 1 .1 0 1 ; C at hey , 900 S

. W

. 2d a t 3 4 1 ; s e e a l s o R i v

e ra , 2 0 0 2 Te x . A p p . L E X I S 2 9 1 1 , a t * * 1 5 - 1 6

. M o re o v e r , A g u il l o n ’s11

F ebr u ar y 15, 2007 l et

ter n ot i f yi n g t h e C i t

y of t h e i n ci den t

an d i ts p oten t i al l i abi l i t y does n ot c o mp o rt w i ths e c ti o n1 0 1 .1 0 1 ' s s i x -mo n thn o ti c e re q u i re me n t. S ee T EX . C IV . P RA C . & R EM . C O D E A NN . § 101. 101( a)

. T h u s, bec au se A gu i l l on h as n ot sa t i sf i ed t h e n ot i ce requ i rem en t i m posed by

se ct i on101. 1 01, we f

u r t h er co n cl u de t h at

t h e t r i al co u r

t l ack ed s u bj ect- m at

ter j u ri s d i c ti o no v

e r h e r c l a i ms a g a i n s t t h e C i ty

. S ee i d. ; see a l so T EX . G OV ’ T C O D E A NN . § 3 1 1 .0 3 4 ; P u tth o ff

, 9 3 4 S .W .2 d a t 1 7 3

. A c c o rd i n g l y , we s u s ta i nth e C i ty ’ s fi rs t i s s u e . I V. C ON C LU S ION H a vi n g s u s ta i n e d th e C i ty ’ s fi rs t i s s u e , we n e e d n o t a d d re s s i ts s e c o n d i s s u e . S ee T EX . R. A PP . P

. 4 7

. 1

. A s s u c h , we re v e rs e th e tri a l c o u rt’ s d e n i a l o f t h e C i ty ’ s p l e a to th e j u r i sdi ct i on , an d we r

em an d f or pr oceed i n gs con si sten t

w i t ht h i s o pi n i on .

R O G EL I OVAL DEZ C h i ef Ju st i ce D el i v er ed an d f i l ed t h e 2 5 thd a y o f Ma rc h , 2 0 1 0

.