Court Opinion

ID: 9403417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-21 06:09:48.684212+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:06.805751
License: Public Domain

REVERSE and RENDER and Opinion Filed June 16, 2023

                                   S  In The
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                               No. 05-22-00730-CV

CITY OF DALLAS AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE CITY
                    OF DALLAS, Appellants
                            V.
PDT HOLDINGS, INC., AND PHILLIP THOMPSON HOMES, INC. D/B/A
        PHILLIP THOMPSON CUSTOM HOMES, Appellees

                On Appeal from the 14th Judicial District Court
                            Dallas County, Texas
                     Trial Court Cause No. DC-18-08484

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
                Before Justices Pedersen, III, Garcia, and Kennedy
                            Opinion by Justice Garcia
      The City of Dallas appeals the trial court’s final judgment applying equitable

estoppel to bar enforcement of a zoning ordinance against PDT Holdings, Inc.

(“PDT”). In two related issues, the City argues the trial court erred in determining

that equitable estoppel bars enforcement of the ordinance because this is not an

exceptional case requiring departure from the general rule against estoppel. The City

further argues that PDT failed to show the Board of Adjustment abused its discretion

in denying a variance. As discussed below, we conclude this is not an exceptional

case where manifest justice demands departure from the general rule precluding
estoppel against a municipality. We reverse the trial court’s judgment and render

judgment that PDT is not entitled to relief on its equitable estoppel claim.

                                  I.   Background

      This case arises from PDT’s construction of a duplex townhome in Dallas (the

“Project”). PDT’s plans called for a thirty-six-foot-high structure. The City approved

the plans and issued a permit for the Project on Oct. 17, 2017.

      In November, 2017, PDT executed a contract to sell the townhome to

residential purchasers. Construction continued without incident until January 2018.

      In January, the city inspector cited PDT for noncompliance with code

requirements for the height of the parapet wall. A stop work order was issued until

PDT fixed the parapet height. There was no mention of the overall thirty-six-foot

height of the building; the notice of noncompliance cited only the height of the

parapet wall. Later that month, the City approved PDT’s amended plans addressing

the parapet wall. The amended plans still showed a thirty-six-foot overall height for

the structure.

      On April 23, 2018, the City issued a second stop work order stating that the

Project did not comply with the City’s Residential Proximity Slope (RPS) ordinance

limiting the maximum height of the structure to twenty-six feet. The Project was

ninety percent complete at the time.

                                         –2–
       On May 21, 2018, PDT appeared before the Board of Adjustment (“BOA”)

seeking a variance from the RPS ordinance. The BOA denied the variance without

prejudice.

       PDT applied for a variance again, and a second BOA hearing was held on

June 18, 2018. Although the City staff recommended that the variance be approved,

the BOA denied the variance without prejudice. The Project was ninety-five percent

complete at the time.

       PDT appealed the BOA decision, and the City filed a plea to the jurisdiction.

An interlocutory appeal to our court followed. Our court’s opinion concluded, inter

alia, that the trial court had jurisdiction under TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 211.011 and

could consider PDT’s equitable defensive theories.1 The case was remanded to the

trial court.

       On remand, the trial court abated the case to remand to the BOA. The BOA

conducted a third variance hearing on May 18, 2020. Again, the City recommended

approval of the variance, and again, it was denied. The case was then returned to the

trial court.

       The trial court conducted a bench trial on PDT’s third amended petition

alleging the City was equitably estopped from enforcing the RPS ordinance. On

   1
     City of Dallas v. PDT, No. 05-21-00018-CV, 2021 WL 3733059 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 24, 2021,
no pet.) (mem. op.), Pedersen, J., concurring, 629 S.W.3d 794.
                                             –3–
conclusion, the court entered a final judgment in favor of PDT estopping the City

from enforcing the ordinance in connection with the Project.2 This appeal followed.

                                             I.    Analysis

A.       Standard of Review and Applicable Law

         Whether the equitable estoppel doctrine applies to bar the City’s enforcement

of the ordinance is a question of law. See City of White Settlement v. Super Wash,

Inc., 198 S.W.3d 770, 774 (Tex. 2006). We review questions of law de novo. Walker

v. Anderson, 232 S.W.3d 899, 908 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.).3

         Generally, estoppel is based on the principle that “one who by his conduct has

induced another to act in a particular manner may not be permitted to adopt an

inconsistent position and thereby cause loss to another.” Fabrique v. Corman, 796

S.W.2d 790, 792 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, writ denied). Equitable estoppel is

established when: (1) a false representation or concealment of material facts, (2) is

made with knowledge, actual or constructive, of those facts, (3) with the intention

that it should be acted upon, (4) to a party without knowledge or means of obtaining

knowledge of those facts, (5) who detrimentally relies on the representations. See

     2
      The final judgment does not reverse the BOA’s denials of the variance or in any way address these
actions.
     3
       PDT argues that because there are no findings of fact and conclusions of law, we imply all findings
necessary to support the judgment. See Torrington Co. v. Stutzman, 46 S.W.3d 829, 842 (Tex. 2000). While
this is true, implied findings must have support in the record on a theory of law applicable to the case. See
Affordable Power, L.P. v. Buckeye Ventures, Inc., 347 S.W.3d 825, 830 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.).
Contrary to what PDT seemed to suggest at oral argument, this does not mean we have carte blanche to
craft a remedy based on a theory unsupported by the pleadings or imply findings that have no evidentiary
support in the record.
                                                    –4–
Johnson & Higgins of Tex., Inc. v. Kenneco Energy, Inc., 962 S.W.2d 507, 515–16

(Tex.1998).

      The general rule is that when a governmental unit is exercising its

governmental powers, it is not subject to estoppel. City of Hutchins v. Prasifka, 450

S.W.2d 829, 835 (Tex. 1970). “[T]he rule derives from our structure of government,

in which the interest of the individual must at times yield to the public interest and

in which the responsibility for public policy must rest on decisions officially

authorized by the government’s representatives, rather than on mistakes committed

by its agents.” Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 773 (citing City of San Angelo v. Deutsch,

91 S.W.2d 308, 310 (1936) (“The city’s public or governmental business must go

forward, unimpeded by the fault, negligence, or frailty of those charged with its

administration.”)). “[B]arring estoppel helps preserve separation of powers;

legislative prerogative would be undermined if a government agent could—through

mistake, neglect, or an intentional act—effectively repeal a law by ignoring,

misrepresenting, or misinterpreting a duly enacted statute or regulation.” Id. at 774.

      The Texas Supreme Court has recognized a very limited exception to the

general rule. Specifically, the court has held that “[t]here is authority for the

proposition that a municipality may be estopped in those cases where justice requires

its application, and there is no interference with the exercise of its governmental

functions.” Prasifka, 450 S.W.2d at 836. This exception “is applied with caution and

                                         –5–
only in exceptional cases where circumstances demand its application to prevent

manifest injustice.” Id.; see also Super Wash, Inc., 198 S.W.3d at 773.

B.       Is This an Exceptional Case Where Justice Requires Application of
         Estoppel Against the City?

         The City’s first and third issues argue the trial court erred in applying the

equitable estoppel doctrine against the City to bar enforcement of the RPS

ordinance.4 We therefore consider whether this is an exceptional case where justice

requires departure from the general rule against estopping a municipality.

         Our analysis is informed by the Texas Supreme Court’s opinion in Super

Wash. See Super Wash, Inc., 198 S.W.3d at 773. In that case, the court endeavored

to clarify how courts should distinguish cases where justice requires estoppel from

what is ordinarily regarded as the cost of doing business with the government. In so

doing, the court “reiterated [the exception’s] limited applicability.” See id. at 774.

         In Super Wash, a car wash business sought to estop a city from enforcing an

ordinance requiring it to maintain a continuous fence on the side of its property on

Longfield Drive. Id. at 771. The ordinance was adopted in connection with the

rezoning of the property from residential to commercial use based on area residents’

concerns regarding vehicular traffic in their neighborhood. Id. When the car wash

     4
      The City’s second issue argues PDT failed to show the BOA abused its discretion by rejecting PDT’s
applications for a variance. The City acknowledges, however, that the BOA’s actions are not at issue here.
We therefore reject the City’s second issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1.

                                                  –6–
purchased the property, it was unaware of the ordinance and submitted a site plan

for a curb cut and exit onto Longfield Drive. Id. The city mistakenly approved the

permit but, within a week, after residents complained, informed the car wash that it

had to remove the planned exit onto Longfield Drive. Id. Construction was forty-

five percent complete at the time. Id.

        In determining whether the circumstances warranted application of the limited

estoppel exception, the Super Wash court examined Roberts v. Haltom City, 543

S.W.2d 75, 80 (Tex. 1976) and City of San Antonio v. Schautteet, 706 S.W.2d 103,

106 (Tex. 1986) to illustrate the “types of cases that may fall under the ‘justice

requires’ exception.”5 Within this framework, the court concluded that justice did

not require estoppel of the ordinance. 198 S.W.3d at 775.

        There were no misrepresentations by the city in Super Wash. Conversely, both

Roberts and Schautteet involved misrepresentations and assurances that were

deliberately calculated to mislead. Roberts, 543 S.W.2d at 80; Schautteet, 706

S.W.2d at 105. Specifically, the court observed that those cases involved evidence

that “city officials may have affirmatively misled the parties seeking to estop the city

    5
      Both cases involved summary judgment, and the court cited Roberts as the only case in which it had
applied the exception. Id. at 774. In Roberts, the court held that a city could be estopped from enforcing a
law that required a party bringing suit against the city to file a notice of claim within thirty days of injury
when there is evidence that city officials may have affirmatively misled the party seeking to estop the city
and the misleading statements resulted in the permanent loss of the party’s claims against the city. Roberts,
543 S.W.2d at 80. Whether Roberts reasonably relied on these representations was a fact issue precluding
summary judgment. Id. In Schautteet, the court held that “summary judgment is improper where there are
genuine issues of material fact whether a city, through its officials, led the claimant to believe that no further
steps needed to be taken.” 796 S.W.2d at 10.
                                                      –7–
and [those] misleading statements resulted in [the parties’] permanent loss of their

claims against the cities.” Id. Accordingly, the court held that “[e]vidence that city

officials acted deliberately to induce a party to act in a way that benefitted the city

but prejudiced the party weighs in favor of applying the exception . . . .” Id.

      The Super Wash opinion also examined whether there was any evidence the

city received a direct benefit from the car wash in exchange for the permit. Id. at

775–76. Super Wash argued that the city benefitted by adding a commercial business

to its tax base, but the court rejected this argument as “too attenuated to establish

grounds for equitable relief.” Id. at 775–76.

      The court also considered the availability of alternative relief. To this end, the

court noted that had estoppel not been applied, the parties in Roberts and Schautteet

would have been completely denied relief. On the other hand, Super Wash had been

operating for years without a second exit and there were other remedies available

“such as seeking a variance or repeal of the ordinance.” Id. at 775. Therefore, “justice

may require estoppel if it is the only available remedy; conversely, the existence of

alternative remedies weighs strongly against the doctrine.” Id.

      The Super Wash court also considered whether Super Wash had knowledge

or the means of obtaining knowledge of the ordinance and whether its reliance on

the city’s erroneous permit was reasonable. See id. at 775; see also Johnson &

Higgins, 962 S.W.2d at 515–516 (party without knowledge and detrimental reliance

are essential elements of equitable estoppel). The court noted that while the city

                                          –8–
“issued the building permit in error, the ordinance was a matter of public record and

discoverable by Super Wash before it purchased the lot.” Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d

at 775; see also Davis v. City of Abilene, 250 S.W.2d 685, 688 (Tex. App.—Eastland

1952, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (party seeking to estop enforcement of zoning ordinance

charged with constructive notice of ordinance and therefore could not rely on permit

city issued in violation of the ordinance); T & R Assoc., Inc. v. City of Amarillo, 688

S.W.2d 622, 629 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1985, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (holding property

owner “was charged with notice of the provisions of the zoning ordinance” and

property owner relied “at its own peril” on unauthorized actions of building

inspectors); Swain v. Bd. of Adjustment of City of University Park, 433 S.W.2d 727,

732 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1968, writ ref’d n.r.e.)                      (holding unauthorized act in

granting permit cannot create estoppel against the citizens’ right to require

enforcement of zoning ordinance).6

        The actions taken by the City to rectify its error also factored in the Super

Wash analysis. Contrasting an earlier case where a city waited twenty years to

enforce a law, the court noted that the city in Super Wash “acted quickly—within

[four] days of learning of its error—to notify Super Wash of the Ordinance.” Super

    6
      Our prior opinion discussed the existence of an ordinance, albeit in a different context. See PDT
Holdings, 2021 WL 3733059, at *6 (noting that one does not acquire a vested right in a building permit
issued in violation of an ordinance and therefore PDT could not rely on permit in continuing construction).
                                                   –9–
Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775 (citing Krause v. City of El Paso, 106 S.W. 121, 124

(1907)).

      Finally, the court held that even if justice requires the application of estoppel,

estoppel cannot be applied if it would interfere with the exercise of governmental

functions. Id. “Precluding a city from performing a specific governmental function

in a single instance is not per se interference with its governmental functions.” Id. at

776. “Rather, in determining whether a case presents an appropriate instance in

which to apply the exception, the relevant inquiry is whether estopping the city in a

single instance will bar the future performance of that governmental function or

impede the city’s ability to perform its other governmental functions.” Id.

Specifically, “[a] court should consider whether estoppel will affect public safety,

bar future enforcement of [an] ordinance, or otherwise impede the city’s ability to

serve the general public.” Id. at 777.

      PDT argues the trial court correctly concluded that the estoppel exception

applies in this case because it was “misled” and “reasonably relied on the actions of

city officials approving plans and issuing permits.” Thus, PDT relies on what it

characterizes as the City’s inconsistent positions in issuing the permits rather than

an affirmative misrepresentation. In support of its argument that an inconsistent

position will suffice to establish equitable estoppel, PDT cites Maguire Oil Co. v.

City of Houston, 69 S.W.3d 350, 367 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2002, pet. denied).

Maguire, however, is not controlling or persuasive.

                                         –10–
      Maguire did not involve claims for equitable relief, but rather claims for

damages based on negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. The city

asserted sovereign immunity in response to these claims, and the oil company argued

the city was estopped from asserting immunity. Maguire, 69 S.W.3d at 365.

      The court’s discussion of equitable estoppel is in the context of its application

to sovereign immunity, and involved, among other things, consideration of several

different applications of equitable estoppel, including our prior decision in the

Rosenthal case. 69 S.W.3d at 365–66 (citing City of Dallas v. Rosenthal, 239 S.W.2d

636, 645 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1951). The court recognized that “a party seeking to

invoke estoppel against a city must demonstrate that he or she qualifies under each

element of equitable estoppel.” Id. at 367. Then, the court stated, “though we agree

the elements of equitable estoppel must be present, we note that the equitable

estoppel recognized in Rosenthal was based on the city’s conduct.” Id. In a footnote,

the court explained:

      The equitable estoppel doctrine applied in Rosenthal is closely akin to
      quasi-estoppel, which is a species of equitable estoppel . . . Quasi-
      estoppel precludes a party from asserting, to another’s disadvantage, a
      right inconsistent with a position previously taken . . . Unlike equitable
      estoppel by conduct, however, quasi-estoppel requires no showing
      of a false representation or detrimental reliance.

Maguire, 69 S.W.3d at 367, n. 7 (emphasis added); see also Arrington v. County of

Dallas, 792 S.W.2d 468, 472 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990, writ denied) (distinguishing

quasi-estoppel from equitable estoppel); Forney 921 Lot Devel. Partners I, L.P. v.

                                        –11–
Paul Taylor Homes, Ltd., 349 S.W.3d 258, 268 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, pet.

denied) (discussing quasi-estoppel).

           The instant case, however, does not involve an assertion that the city is

estopped from claiming immunity from damages based on promissory estoppel and

negligent misrepresentation. Moreover, we are not bound by decisions from our

sister courts. See City of Terrell v. Edmonds, No. 05-19-01248-CV, 05-19-01382-

CV, 2020 WL 5361978, at *7 (Tex. App.—Dallas Sept. 8, 2020, pet. denied) (mem.

op.). Most important, Maguire pre-dates Super Wash, the definitive authority on

applying equitable estoppel against a municipality’s enforcement of an ordinance.

            Further, to the extent PDT relies on Maguire to argue a quasi-estoppel

theory, it is misplaced. PDT pleaded equitable estoppel, not quasi-estoppel. The

parties agree that equitable estoppel was the only issue before the trial court, and the

applicability of the exception to applying equitable estoppel forms the basis for this

appeal.7 Moreover, PDT has cited no Texas Supreme Court authority, nor are we

aware of any, applying quasi-estoppel against a city seeking to enforce a zoning

ordinance. Notably, an erroneous permit was also at issue in Super Wash, and the

court did not equate the mistakenly issued permit with an affirmative reliance

inducing misrepresentation. See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775 (observing only

that permit was issued in error). Equitable estoppel, the theory on which the case

    7
        Further, the prior panel opinion remanded solely to resolve whether equitable defenses applied to this
case.
                                                     –12–
was tried, requires an affirmative misrepresentation or concealment of material facts,

and those elements are not present here. See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775

(discussing affirmative misrepresentations that induce a party to act); Tex. Dept. of

Transp. v. A.P.I. Pipe & Supply, L.L.C., 397 S.W.3d 162, 170 (Tex. 2013) (equitable

estoppel exception not applied because there was no evidence of deliberate

inducement or that city benefitted from mistake); Murphy v. City of Galveston, 557

S.W.3d 235, 242 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018, pet. denied) (justice did

not require estoppel because city did not affirmatively mislead property owners);

Luce Bayou Public. Util. Dist. v. Kilpatrick, 653 S.W.3d 323, 328 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] 2022, no pet.) (exception may apply where there is evidence

that government officials affirmatively misled the parties and misleading statements

resulted in permanent loss of their claims); Trudy’s Texas Star, Inc. v. City of Austin,

307 S.W.3d 894, 910 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, no pet.) (no evidence that city’s

representations and assurances were deliberately calculated to mislead).

        While we do not endorse the City’s erroneous issuance of two permits, the

errors cannot properly be characterized as affirmative misrepresentations or

deliberate actions calculated to induce PDT’s reliance. In sharp contrast to Roberts

and Schautteet, there is nothing to suggest the City made any affirmative

representations at all.8 There is no evidence the City represented that the RPS

    8
      In fact, the inspectors’ issuance of the permits included the caveat that the permits did not excuse
failure to follow applicable ordinances.
                                                 –13–
ordinance was inapplicable or would not be enforced. There is nothing to suggest

that any City official assured PDT the BOA would approve a variance. Nothing

caused PDT to forego the opportunity to cure its code violations or pursue a variance.

And unlike the city in the Trudy’s case, there is no indication that the City “altered

the rules as it went along and abruptly changed them in the face of political

pressure.” See Trudy’s, 307 S.W.3d at 912.9 The issuance of the permits here was a

mistake, albeit costly and significant, but a mistake nonetheless.

        PDT’s argument that it reasonably relied on the City’s erroneous permits is

similarly unpersuasive. The RPS ordinance is a matter of public record and PDT is

charged with notice of its provisions. Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775; Davis, 250

S.W.2d at 688; T & R Assoc., Inc., 688 S.W.2d at 629; Board of Adjustment for the

City of San Antonio v. East Central I.S.D., No. 04-14-00341-CV, 2015 WL 1244665,

at *6 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (no reliance where

ordinance a matter of public record and erroneous certificate of occupancy not issued

until investment on the property completed). PDT’s alleged “subjective lack of

knowledge” resulting from its reliance on the City’s “expertise and authority” stems

from its own inaction and cannot be invoked now to argue that justice requires

estoppel. Indeed, PDT was charged with notice of all applicable ordinances when it

    9
      Despite these facts, the Trudy’s court ultimately concluded that estoppel could not be applied against
the city. The court observed, however, that Trudy’s was not charged with constructive notice that the city
would change the rules of the game. Id at 913.
                                                  –14–
first applied for a permit and began construction. The City’s failure to mention the

RPS ordinance when it issued the first stop work order was not license for PDT to

remain uninformed. And construction continued even after the City issued the

second stop work order referencing the RPS ordinance. PDT fails to explain how

this continued construction demonstrates reasonable reliance.

      PDT also fails to address whether the City received a direct benefit from

issuing the permits. See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775–76, Trudy’s, 307 S.W.3d

at 910; see also City of Austin v. Garza, 124 S.W.3d 867, 875 (Tex. App.—Austin

2003, no pet.) (city received direct donation of land in exchange of land subject to

an erroneous plat); Meuth v. City of Seguin, No. 04-16-00183-CV, 2017 WL 603646,

at *7 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Feb. 15, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (city did not

receive benefit from alleged misrepresentation). We find nothing in the record to

establish that the City benefitted from its mistakes in any way. Thus, this case is not

one in which the City deliberately acted to induce PDT to act in a way that benefited

the City and caused PDT to suffer prejudice. See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775.

      PDT appears to suggest that the Maguire and Rosenthal cases, both of which

pre-date the Supreme Court’s clarification in Super Wash, allow application of the

estoppel exception solely because a party has incurred substantial expense. Super

Wash did not address to what extent, if any, we consider the economic harm to PDT.

See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775–777; Trudy’s, 307 S.W.3d at 913. We are not

unsympathetic to PDT’s argument that the City’s mistakes caused it to incur

                                        –15–
significant expense.10 But if the Supreme Court had intended that estoppel apply

only upon a showing of economic harm, it would have so stated rather than carefully

detailing the other factors relevant to when the limited exception may apply. See

Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775–777. Subsequent Supreme Court cases have also

applied these factors. See A.P.I. Pipe & Supply, 397 S.W.3d 170 (considering other

factors).

         PDT recognizes these other factors in its insistence that this case is

distinguishable from Super Wash. Specifically, PDT maintains the equities weigh in

its favor because the construction in Super Wash was only forty-five percent

complete, whereas the Project here was ninety percent complete by the time the City

discovered its error. In further distinction, PDT argues that unlike Super Wash,

estoppel is the only available remedy because its request for a variance has been

denied three times.11 We agree that these factors weigh in favor of applying the

exception to the general rule, but they do not overcome the absence of an affirmative

    10
         PDT’s brief describes this expense as “hundreds of thousands of dollars.” PDT’s corporate
representative testified at trial that PDT spent a million dollars for construction materials when the Project
commenced, and those materials would now cost approximately $500,000 more. The representative further
testified that it would be more cost effective to raze the property rather than attempt to bring it into
compliance.
    11
        Without commenting on whether such a remedy offers a viable, realistic alternative, we note that
Super Wash also suggested that the car wash could pursue repeal of the ordinance. Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d
at 775. Moreover, that PDT was able to seek a variance three times demonstrates that the City’s issuance
of the permits did not extinguish PDT’s right to pursue a claim. See Luce Bayou, 653 S.W.3d at 328; Meuth,
2017 WL 603646, at *7.
                                                   –16–
misrepresentation upon which equitable estoppel must be based, or that PDT’s own

conduct contributed to the predicament in which it now seeks equitable relief.

      Super Wash instructs that the exception to the general rule is limited and

available “only in exceptional cases where the circumstances clearly demand its

application to prevent manifest injustice.” Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 774; see also

Prasifka, 450 S.W.2d at 836. Neither the exception, nor equitable estoppel generally,

can be applied in the absence of an affirmative misrepresentation inducing

reasonable reliance. See Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 775; Trudy’s, 307 S.W.3d at

913 (noting the case was not one in which the city acted deliberately or misled an

innocent party). Accordingly, on this record, the trial court erred in concluding that

manifest injustice demands its application here.

      Because we have concluded that justice does not require the application of the

exception to the general rule against estoppel, we need not also consider whether

such application would interfere with the exercise of government functions. See

Super Wash, 198 S.W.3d at 776; Trudy’s 307 S.W.3d at 913. The City’s first and

third issues are sustained.

                                        –17–
                                   III.   Conclusion

      We reverse the trial court’s judgment and render judgment that PDT is not

entitled to relief on its equitable estoppel claim.

                                             /Dennise Garcia/
                                             DENNISE GARCIA
                                             JUSTICE

220730F.P05

                                          –18–
                                    S
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

CITY OF DALLAS AND THE                         On Appeal from the 14th Judicial
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF                         District Court, Dallas County, Texas
THE CITY OF DALLAS, Appellants                 Trial Court Cause No. DC-18-08484.
                                               Opinion delivered by Justice Garcia.
No. 05-22-00730-CV           V.                Justices Pedersen, III and Kennedy
                                               participating.
PDT HOLDINGS, INC., AND
PHILLIP THOMPSON HOMES,
INC. D/B/A PHILLIP THOMPSON
CUSTOM HOMES, Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial
court is REVERSED and judgment is RENDERED that: PDT HOLDINGS, INC.,
AND PHILLIP THOMPSON HOMES, INC. D/B/A PHILLIP THOMPSON
CUSTOM HOMES are not entitled to relief on their equitable estoppel claim.

      It is ORDERED that each party bear its own costs of this appeal.

Judgment entered this 16th day of June 2023.

                                        –19–