Court Opinion

ID: 9880999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-29 09:11:11.804028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:58:49.906805
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                         TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                No. 10-22-00391-CV

GREGORY MOLIERE,
                                                            Appellant
v.

CITY OF BUFFALO, JERROD JONES,
MARTIN LEE HOUSLER, MIKE GLICK,
WESLEY BRENT REEDER, DIANNA RYDER,
AND JERRY SALAZAR,
                                                            Appellees

                          From the 278th District Court
                              Leon County, Texas
                           Trial Court No. 21-0294CV

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

      In five issues, appellant, Gregory Moliere, challenges the trial court’s granting of

a combined plea to the jurisdiction and motion for summary judgment in favor of

appellees, the City of Buffalo and Jerrod Jones, the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, in a

dispute involving the termination of Moliere’s employment as an officer with the City of

Buffalo Police Department. Because we conclude that a fact issue exists regarding the
authority of the Buffalo City Council to terminate Moliere’s employment as a police

officer, we reverse and remand.

                                       Background

        Moliere was a police officer with the City of Buffalo Police Department. In the

early morning hours of December 8, 2020, Moliere engaged in a high-speed chase while

a civilian was riding along in his vehicle. The policies of the City of Buffalo Police

Department prohibited Moliere from engaging in a high-speed chase with a ride-along

passenger in the vehicle. The high-speed chase resulted in a crash that purportedly

caused damage to the police vehicle that Moliere was driving.

        In response to the crash, Lloyd Lance Pavelka, the Chief of Police for the City of

Buffalo, reprimanded Moliere in writing and placed the written reprimand in Moliere’s

personnel file. Moliere acknowledged and accepted Chief Pavelka’s written reprimand.

As stated in Chief Pavelka’s affidavit, Moliere did not appeal the written reprimand, and

both Chief Pavelka and Moliere considered the disciplinary matter resolved. Chief

Pavelka indicated that he had no intention of terminating the employment of Moliere.

        On December 21, 2020, with no appeal pending, the Buffalo City Council met in

an executive session to discuss Moliere’s employment with the City. At the conclusion

of the executive session, the Buffalo City Council reconvened in open session and voted

to terminate Moliere’s employment as a police officer with the Buffalo Police Department.

Chief Pavelka, who served as Chief of Police for the Buffalo Police Department for

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                  Page 2
approximately sixteen years, opined that “[b]efore December 21, 2020, the Buffalo City

Council had never voted to terminate a Buffalo Police Officer under my command.”

        Thereafter, Moliere filed suit, seeking declarations that the Buffalo City Council

lacked authority as a Type A general-law municipality to terminate his employment and

that the termination of his employment violated the City’s policies. In his last amended

petition, Moliere named the City of Buffalo, Mayor Jones, and several City Council

members as defendants. However, only the City of Buffalo and Mayor Jones were served

with Moliere’s last amended petition. Thus, the only defendants before the trial court

were the City of Buffalo and Mayor Jones.

        The City and Mayor Jones filed an original answer generally denying the

allegations in Moliere’s petition and asserting sovereign or governmental immunity. The

City and Mayor Jones then filed a combined plea to the jurisdiction and traditional

motion for summary judgment, asserting that they have governmental immunity from

Moliere’s claims under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act and that the City had the

authority to terminate Moliere’s employment.

        Moliere filed a response to the City and Mayor Jones’s combined plea to the

jurisdiction and traditional motion for summary judgment. He also amended his original

petition twice.

        After a hearing, the trial court granted the City and Mayor Jones’s combined plea

to the jurisdiction and traditional motion for summary judgment. In its order, the trial

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                  Page 3
court concluded that the Buffalo City Council “had the authority to terminate Plaintiff’s

employment on December 21, 2020.” The trial court also dismissed with prejudice, sua

sponte, all claims Moliere asserted against other Buffalo City Council members. This

appeal followed.

                                     Standard of Review

        Subject-matter jurisdiction is essential to a court’s power to decide a case. Tex.

Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 443 (Tex. 1993). Subject-matter

jurisdiction may be challenged by different procedural vehicles, including a plea to the

jurisdiction and a motion for summary judgment. See Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v.

Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755, 770 (Tex. 2018); Amboree v. Bonton, 575 S.W.3d 38, 42-43 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019, no pet.). A governmental unit may raise the affirmative

defense of sovereign immunity or governmental immunity and challenge the trial court’s

jurisdiction “through a plea to the jurisdiction or other procedural vehicle, such as a

motion for summary judgment.” Clark, 544 S.W.3d at 770. We review the trial court’s

ruling on a plea to the jurisdiction and a motion for summary judgment de novo. See Tex.

Mun. Power Agency v. Pub. Util. Comm’n of Tex., 253 S.W.3d 184, 192 (Tex. 2007); Ben Bolt-

Palito Blanco Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Tex. Political Subdivs. Prop./Cas. Joint Self-Ins. Fund,

212 S.W.3d 320, 323 (Tex. 2006).

        Our review of a plea to the jurisdiction challenging the existence of jurisdictional

facts mirrors that of a motion for summary judgment. Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v.

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                          Page 4
Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629, 635 (Tex. 2012); see Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133

S.W.3d 217, 228 (Tex. 2004); see also TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c). “[A] court deciding a plea to

the jurisdiction . . may consider evidence and must do so when necessary to resolve the

jurisdictional issues raised.” Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 555 (Tex. 2000).

Further, a court may consider evidence as necessary to resolve a dispute over the

jurisdictional facts even if the evidence “implicates both the subject[-]matter jurisdiction

of the court and the merits of the case.” Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 226.

        We take as true all evidence favorable to the non-movant and we indulge every

reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the non-movant’s favor. Id. at 228. If the

governmental unit meets its burden to establish that the trial court lacks jurisdiction, the

non-movant—here, Moliere—is then required to show that there is a material fact

question regarding the jurisdictional issue. Id. at 227-28. If the evidence raises a fact issue

about jurisdiction, the plea to the jurisdiction cannot be granted, and a factfinder must

resolve the issue. Id. However, if the evidence is undisputed or fails to raise a fact issue,

the plea to the jurisdiction must be determined as a matter of law. Id. at 228; see Garcia,

372 S.W.3d at 635.

                       Sovereign Immunity and the Ultra Vires Exception

        Sovereign immunity protects the State from being sued, and from liability for

money damages, unless the immunity has been waived. See City of El Paso v. Heinrich,

284 S.W.3d 366, 369-70 (Tex. 2009) (citing Reata Constr. Corp. v. City of Dallas, 197 S.W.3d

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                       Page 5
371, 374 (Tex. 2006)). Absent waiver, political subdivisions of the state are also entitled

to immunity, which is referred to as governmental immunity. See Reata Constr. Corp., 197

S.W.3d at 374. Government officials sued in their official capacities generally have the

same immunity as their employer. See Franka v. Velasquez, 332 S.W.3d 367, 382-83 (Tex.

2011).

         The Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (“UDJA”) is a remedial statute designed

“to settle and to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status,

and other legal relations.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 37.002(b). It provides that

“[a] person whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute,

municipal ordinance, contract, or franchise may have determined any question of

construction or validity arising under the . . . statute, ordinance, contract, or franchise and

obtain a declaration of rights, status, or other legal relations thereunder.” Id. § 37.004(a).

The UDJA, however, “does not enlarge a trial court’s jurisdiction, and a litigant’s request

for declaratory relief does not alter a suit’s underlying nature.” Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at

370.

         Although the UDJA is not a general waiver of immunity, it does waive immunity

for certain claims. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 37.006(b); Tex. Parks & Wildlife

Dep’t v. Sawyer Tr., 354 S.W.3d 384, 388 (Tex. 2011). Specifically, claims brought under

the UDJA for declaratory or injunctive relief against actions taken by a governmental

official beyond his discretion or without legal authority, known as ultra vires actions, do

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                       Page 6
not implicate governmental immunity. See Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co. v. City of

Houston, 487 S.W.3d 154, 158 (Tex. 2016). Stated differently, if an act is ultra vires, it is

done outside of the powers and responsibilities of the State, and a challenge to the act is

not a challenge to the State and its officers in the performance of their duty. See Heinrich,

284 S.W.3d at 372. An official who commits an ultra vires act is not immune from suit

because “‘[a] state official’s illegal or unauthorized actions are not acts of the State.’” Id.

at 370 (quoting Fed. Sign v. Tex. S. Univ., 951 S.W.2d 401, 404 (Tex. 1997)).

        To fall within the ultra vires exception, “‘a suit must not complain of a government

officer’s exercise of discretion, but rather must allege, and ultimately prove, that the

officer acted without legal authority or failed to perform a purely ministerial act.’”

Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co., 487 S.W.3d at 161 (quoting Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 372).

“Ministerial acts are those ‘where the law prescribes and defines the duties to be

performed with such precision and certainty as to leave nothing to the exercise of

discretion or judgment.’” Sw. Bell Tel., L.P. v. Emmett, 459 S.W.3d 578, 587 (Tex. 2015)

(quoting City of Lancaster v. Chambers, 883 S.W.2d 650, 654 (Tex. 1994)). On the other hand,

discretionary acts require the exercise of judgment and personal deliberation.             See

Ballantyne v. Champion Builders, Inc., 144 S.W.3d 417, 425 (Tex. 2004). “[U]ltra vires suits

do not attempt to exert control over the state—they attempt to reassert the control of the

state.” Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 372. In other words, these suits do not seek to alter

government policy but rather to enforce existing policy. Id. “[I]t is clear that suits to

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                       Page 7
require state officials to comply with statutory or constitutional provisions are not

prohibited by sovereign immunity.” Id.

        The Authority of the City of Buffalo to Terminate Moliere’s Employment

        In his first four issues, Moliere contends that the City, as a Type A general-law

municipality, acted without legal authority when it terminated Moliere’s employment

and that the Buffalo City Council committed an ultra vires act for which immunity was

waived.

        “Municipalities are creatures of law that are ‘created as political subdivisions of

the state . . . for the exercise of such powers as are conferred upon them . . . . They

represent no sovereignty distinct from the state and possess only such powers and

privileges as have been expressly or impliedly conferred upon them.” Town of Lakewood

Village v. Bizios, 493 S.W.3d 527, 530 (Tex. 2016) (quoting Payne v. Massey, 145 Tex. 237,

196 S.W.2d 493, 495 (1946)). “Texas law recognizes three types of municipalities: home-

rule municipalities, general-law municipalities, and special-law municipalities.”           Id.

(citing Forwood v. City of Taylor, 147 Tex. 161, 214 S.W.2d 282, 285 (1948)). “The nature

and source of a municipality’s power depends on the type of municipality.” Id. at 531

(citing Laidlaw Waste Sys. (Dall.), Inc. v. City of Wilmer, 904 S.W.2d 656, 658 (Tex. 1995)).

        It is undisputed that the City is a Type A general-law municipality. The dispute

in this case centers on who has the authority to terminate the employment of a police

officer in the Buffalo Police Department. Under section 341.001(a) of the Texas Local

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                       Page 8
Government Code, “[t]he governing body of a Type A general-law municipality may

establish and regulate a municipal police force.” TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 341.001(a).

The City asserts that the power to terminate the employment of police officers is an

implied power that flows from the authority of the City Council, as the governing body

for the City, to establish and regulate a municipal police force under section 341.001(a) of

the Texas Local Government Code. See id.; see also Bizios, 493 S.W.3d at 536. Moliere

counters that only the chief of police has the authority to terminate the employment of a

police officers in a Type A general-law municipality, unless the municipality passes an

ordinance under section 341.001(c) of the Texas Local Government Code. See TEX. LOC.

GOV’T CODE ANN. § 341.001(c) (providing that the “governing body” of a Type A general-

law municipality “by ordinance may provide that the police officers serve at the pleasure

of the governing body”). As explained below, we believe that a fact issue exists as to who

has the authority to terminate the employment of a police officer in the Buffalo Police

Department, and as such, the trial court was precluded from granting the City and the

Mayor’s combined plea to the jurisdiction and traditional motion for summary judgment.

        In Bizios, the Texas Supreme Court noted that “general-law municipalities have

‘only such implied powers as are reasonably necessary to make effective the powers

expressly granted. That is to say, such as are indispensable to the declared objects of the

[municipalities] and the accomplishment of the purposes of [their] creation.’” 493 S.W.3d

at 536 (quoting Tri-City Fresh Water Supply Dist. No. 2 of Harris County v. Mann, 135 Tex.

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                    Page 9
280, 142 S.W.2d 945, 947 (1940)). “A municipal power will be implied only when without

its exercise the expressed duty or authority would be rendered nugatory.” Foster v. City

of Waco, 113 Tex. 352, 255 S.W. 1104, 1106 (1923). Therefore, courts “strictly construe

general-law municipal authority and ‘[a]ny fair, reasonable, substantial doubt concerning

the existence of power is resolved by the courts against the [municipality], and the power

is denied.’” Bizios, 493 S.W.3d at 536 (quoting Foster, 255 S.W. at 1106).

        Section 341.001 of the Texas Local Government Code is silent on the specific issue

of terminating the employment of police officers. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. §

341.001. Furthermore, City has not passed an ordinance providing that the City Council,

as the governing body for the City, may terminate the employment of a police officer.

However, it is noteworthy that the City has passed an ordinance pertaining to the

appointment and hiring of city police officers. Specifically, in Ordinance No. 20180625,

which was enacted on June 25, 2018, the City adopted hiring authorization policies and

procedures for police officers. Attached to Ordinance No. 20180625 is Exhibit A, which

provided       that,   among         other   things,   the   “City   Council   shall   approve   the

appointment/hiring of all city police officers.” Although it addresses the appointment

and hiring of city police officers, Ordinance No. 20180625 does not address the discipline

or termination of city police officers.

        It is arguable that the enactment of Ordinance No. 20180625 is a recognition by the

City that it cannot rely on section 341.001(a) “implied powers” with regard to the

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                           Page 10
appointment and hiring of city police officers. The same is also arguably true for the

termination of employment for city police officers. If the City Council wanted to exercise

the authority to terminate the employment of city police officers, it could have passed an

ordinance under section 341.001(c) of the Texas Local Government Code. See TEX. LOC.

GOV’T CODE ANN. § 341.001(c) (providing that the governing body of a Type A general-

law municipality may pass an ordinance that city police officers serve at the pleasure of

the governing body).

        Additionally, we are mindful that courts are to “strictly construe general-law

municipal authority and ‘[a]ny fair, reasonable substantial doubt concerning the

existence of power is resolved by the courts against the [municipality], and the power is

denied.” Bizios, 493 S.W.3d at 536 (quoting Foster, 225 S.W. at 1106). In the absence of

expressed statutory authority or an ordinance addressing the termination of the

employment of city officers, we are reluctant to recognize such authority as a section

341.001(a) “implied power.”

        Furthermore, the City and Mayor Jones attached a copy of the Buffalo Police

Department Policy & Procedure Manual Version 1.1 (“Policy & Procedure Manual”) to

their combined plea to the jurisdiction and traditional motion for summary judgment.1

        1The Policy & Procedure Manual indicates that it was presented to the Buffalo City Council and
was approved by a unanimous vote on February 9, 2009. However, the manual included in the record was
not signed by the Mayor, Chief of Police, or Moliere, nor did the City Secretary certify the document. In
any event, the Mayor and City Council refer to this manual in their motion and brief as if it was effective
on the date in question.

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                                 Page 11
As stated in the Policy & Procedure Manual, the Chief of Police of the Buffalo Police

Department acts “under the direct supervision of the Mayor/City Council.” The Policy

& Procedure Manual further states that the Chief of Police “[w]ill make recommendations

to the Mayor and city council regarding personnel matters,” among other things.

        Regarding personnel, the Policy & Procedure Manual also provides that:

        Nothing in these general orders shall be construed or is intended to alter
        the at-will status of any employee and no employee or supervisor of the
        City of Buffalo has the authority to make any statement or take any action
        which alters the at-will status of any employee or which creates any
        expectation of future employment.

Also pertinent to our inquiry, the Policy & Procedure Manual states,

        Promotions will be recommended by the Chief of Police and approved by
        the Mayor. Promotional recommendations by the Chief of Police will be
        made only after, and based upon, an interview of the candidate, an
        assessment of the candidate’s prior job performance and any other
        quantifiable factors. The Mayor will make the final decisions regarding
        promotions in the Police Department.

        Pursuant to the Policy and Procedure Manual, evaluations are done at the

discretion of the Chief of Police; however, an officer who receives an unsatisfactory

review that he or she perceives to be unjust may protest to the Chief of Police. The

decision of the Chief of Police may then be appealed to the City Council.

        Under the Policy & Procedural Manual, discipline of police officers is handled as

follows:

        C. Level I Infractions

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                   Page 12
        Level I infractions which are classified as sustained are subject to the
        following types of disciplinary action which can only be assessed by the
        Chief of Police subject to appeal and approval by the City Council.

             1. Written reprimand—Upon request of the employee the form may be
                removed from the file and destroyed after a period of two years;

             2. Suspension;

             3. Demotion;

             4. Termination.

        Disciplinary action involving potential monetary loss by the employee,
        including suspension, demotion and termination shall only be assessed
        subsequent to a formal internal investigation and subsequent to the affected
        employee being given an opportunity to provide any mitigating
        information.

        The Chief of Police may solicit recommendations for disciplinary action as
        he deems necessary.

        In a situation involving emergency relief from duty, suspension, or discharge, the

Policy & Procedure Manual states,

        1. Any supervisor has the authority to impose emergency relief from duty
           for an employee until the next business day when it appears that such
           action is in the best interest of the Department and/or the employee.
           Whenever an employee is relieved from duty, the Chief of Police shall
           be immediately notified.

        2. Only the Chief of Police has the authority to place an employee on
           administrative leave with pay.

        3. When an employee is temporary relieved from duty, his supervisor
           shall collect the employee’s badge(s), Department issued weapon(s) and
           police identification card. When an employee is discharged, the
           supervisor shall ensure that all city-issued property and equipment
           used by the employee is turned in. In either case, the supervisor shall

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                     Page 13
             forward, through the chain of command, a written report detailing the
             items that he has collected.

        And finally, the Policy & Procedure Manual emphasizes that: “Appeals and

grievances may be filed by any employee in accordance with the City of Buffalo Personnel

Policies and Procedures. Employees may appeal disciplinary actions of the Chief of

Police to the Mayor.”

        The gist of the Policy & Procedure Manual appears to be that the Chief of Police

has sole disciplinary power up to and including termination of the employment of city

police officers, although the Chief of Police may consult and receive recommendations

from the Mayor or City Council. The City Council’s role under the Policy & Procedure

Manual appears to be in an advisory capacity to the Chief of Police, as well as an appellate

option for a city police officer dissatisfied with the Chief of Police’s disciplinary decision.

        Despite the foregoing, the record also includes an excerpt from the City of Buffalo

Employee Manual, which Moliere signed on June 23, 2020. This manual does not address

the day-to-day duties and activities of city police officers. Nevertheless, this manual

provides the following:

        THIS EMPLOYEE MANUAL DOES NOT CREATE A CONTRACT OF
        EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN YOU AND CITY OF BUFFALO.

        YOUR EMPLOYMENT WITH CITY OF BUFFALO IS “AT-WILL”
        MEANING THAT EITHER YOU OR CITY MAY TERMINATE YOUR
        EMPLOYMENT AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

        THIS EMPLOYMENT MANUAL SUPERSEDES AND REVOKES ANY
        PREVIOUSLY ISSUED EMPLOYEEE MANUAL(S) OR HANDBOOK(S).
Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                      Page 14
        NO ONE, OTHER THAN THE CITY’S GOVERNING BODY, HAS THE
        AUTHORITY TO CREATE A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN
        YOU AND CITY OR TO ALTER THE “AT-WILL” NATURE OF YOUR
        EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH CITY.

        The City of Buffalo Employee Manual purports to supersede and revoke any

previously issued employee manuals or handbooks. However, the manual does not

specify which manuals are superseded and revoked. Does this apply only to prior

iterations of the City of Buffalo Employee Manual? Or does this provision apply the

Policy & Procedure Manual that specifically addresses the operations of the City of

Buffalo Police Department?           If this manual supersedes and revokes the Policy &

Procedure Manual, what governs the day-to-day operations of the City of Buffalo Police

Department?

        Additionally, the City of Buffalo Employee Manual also appears to vest the power

to terminate the employment of city employees with the City. The last provision above

mentions the power of the City’s governing body—presumably, the City Council—with

regard to altering the contract of employment. However, the second provision regarding

termination of employment merely mentions the City, not the City’s governing body or

the City Council. In other words, the language used in the City of Buffalo Employee

Manual is ambiguous and does not definitively resolve the issue of whether the Mayor

or City Council had the power to terminate the employment of Moliere when he did not

appeal the written reprimand of Chief Pavelka and where the City of Buffalo Employee

Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                               Page 15
Manual appears to conflict with the Policy & Procedure Manual of the City of Buffalo

Police Department.

        Taking as true all evidence favorable to Moliere and indulging every reasonable

inference and resolving any doubts in his favor, we conclude that a fact issue exists as to

whether the City Council had the authority to terminate the employment of Moliere and,

thus, was entitled to governmental immunity. See Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 227-28 (noting

that if the evidence raises a fact issue regarding jurisdiction, the plea cannot be granted,

and a factfinder must resolve the issue); see also Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co., 487

S.W.3d at 158, 161; Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 370-72. Accordingly, we sustain Moliere’s first

four issues on appeal.

                                       Conclusion

        Having sustained Moliere’s first four issues on appeal, we need not address his

fifth issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1, 47.4. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and

remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                 STEVE SMITH
                                                 Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Johnson,
       and Justice Smith
(Chief Justice Gray dissenting without a note.)
Reversed and remanded
Opinion delivered and filed September 28, 2023
[CV06]
Moliere v. City of Buffalo, et al.                                                   Page 16