Opinions

Justice Devine delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Guzman, Justice Lehrmann, Justice Boyd, Justice Busby, Justice Bland, and Justice Huddle joined. PDF

Justice Blacklock delivered a dissenting opinion.View Electronic Briefs | Oral Argument PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:	1st Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:	Affirmed
COA Docket No.:	01-18-00407-CV
Opinion Author:	Honorable Michael C. Massengale

Trial Court

Trial Court:	151st District Court
County:	Harris
Trial Judge:	Honorable Michael C. Engelhart
Trial Docket:	2018-10478

Date	Event	Outcome
2021-09-08	Case Stored
2021-09-03	Mandate issued
2021-09-03	Motion for Rehearing - Disposed	Denied
	This case was waiting for a decision about a pending motion for rehearing between June 9, 2021 and September 3, 2021.
2021-06-09	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2021-06-04	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2021-06-02	Motion for Rehearing
2021-06-02	Case forwarded to Court
2021-05-12	Call received
2021-04-28	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed	Filing granted
2021-04-28	Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing
2021-04-16	Opinion issued	Court of appeals' judgment affirmed
2021-04-16	Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record	Issued
2021-04-16	Dissenting opinion issued.	Issued
	This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between October 6, 2020 and April 16, 2021.
2020-10-06	Oral argument
2020-10-05	Exhibits in case/cause filed (Petitioner)
2020-10-05	Exhibits in case/cause filed (Petitioner)
2020-09-28	Submission Schedule
2020-09-28	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2020-09-25	Motion to Argue disposed	Filing granted
2020-09-17	Letter sent to parties from Supreme Court - See Remarks
2020-09-17	Phone call from Clerk's Office
2020-09-17	Motion to Argue filed
2020-09-16	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2020-09-11	Motion to re-set submission date disposed	Denied
2020-09-01	Motion to re-set submission date filed.
2020-08-26	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2020-08-25	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2020-08-06	Call received
2020-06-26	Case set for oral argument	Case set for oral argument
2020-06-05	Petition for Review granted
2020-06-05	Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2020-06-05	Supreme Court of Texas Orders Issued
2020-04-30	Reply Brief (Petitioner)
2020-04-20	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2020-04-20	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2020-04-08	Brief on the Merits (Respondent)
2020-03-03	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2020-03-03	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2020-02-18	Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)
2020-01-22	Letter Filed
2020-01-17	Brief on the Merits Requested
2020-01-06	Reply to Response to Petition filed (Petitioner)
2019-11-25	MET to file reply disposed of	Filing granted
2019-11-22	Motion to Extend Time to File Reply filed
2019-11-13	Response to Petition (Respondent)
2019-10-04	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed	Filing granted
2019-10-04	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response
2019-09-13	Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response
2019-08-13	Case forwarded to Court
2019-08-09	Response Waiver filed
2019-07-10	Petition for Review (Petitioner)
2019-07-05	Cases consolidated by Supreme Court
2019-07-05	Motion to Consolidate filed
2019-07-05	Motion to Consolidate disposed	Filing granted
2019-06-04	Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2019-06-04	Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed
2019-06-03	Notice of Appearance
2019-05-10	Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed
2019-05-10	Supplement to Clerk's/Reporter's Record
2019-05-10	Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2019-05-10	Clerk's Record

Party	Counsel	Role
San Jacinto River Authority	Mr. William S. Helfand Mr. J. Mark Breeding Mr. Cameron Phair Pope Mr. Scott A. Brister Mr. Frederick D. Junkin Mr. Shane L. Kotlarsky	Petitioner
Wolf, Rodney M.	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Miles, Sherry K.	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Miller, Sally T.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Daniel, Carolyn F.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Casey, Maureen S.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Nowlin, Jack L.	Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Freeman, John R.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Revel, Louise W.	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Argento, Charles J.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Casey, Charles A.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Medina, Ashley	Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Antoniou, Aris	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Faulkinberry, John	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Lange, Jennifer Wood	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Ryan, Bernard F.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Shepherd, Becky A.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Burgess, Diane	Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Daniel, John M.	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Napier, Junior, William J.	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Sumner, Todd R.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Revel, James R.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Buchan, Kristofer D	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Stegall, Dana M.	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Wherry, Charles H. F.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Wolf, Nancy L.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Nowlin, Linda S.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Wherry, Diane S.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Miles, Robert C.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Shepherd, Barry L.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Faulkinberry, Laurie D.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Stegall, Danny C.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Argento, Katherine	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Medina, Vicente	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Huseman, Kurt V.	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Ensley, Jeff	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Miller, David L.	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Lange, William E.	Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Burgess, Brandon	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Sumner, Kimberly A.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Burney, Ginger R.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Freeman, Barbara	Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Burney, Michael	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Ryan, Cecilia M.	Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Huseman, Debbie L.	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Buchan, Melissa	Daniel P. Barton Mr. Dennis C. Reich Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent
Ensley, Anne	Mr. Dennis C. Reich Daniel P. Barton Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Justin E. VandenBout Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr. Mr. William Fred Hagans	Respondent
Medina, Vicente	Mr. Vincent L. Marable III Mr. Dennis C. Reich Justin E. VandenBout Ms. Jennifer B. Rustay Mr. Carl D. Kulhanek Jr. Mr. W. Fred Hagans Daniel P. Barton Ms. Allison Haver Gabbert Mr. William Fred Hagans Mr. Carl David Kulhanek Jr.	Respondent

Amicus Curiae	Counsel
Velasco Drainage District	Ms. Allison S. Killian Mr. John J. Hightower
North Texas Municipal Water District	Ms. Allison S. Killian Mr. John J. Hightower
Upper Trinity Regional Water District	Mr. John J. Hightower Ms. Allison S. Killian
Gulf Coast Authority	Mr. John J. Hightower Ms. Allison S. Killian
Galveston County Water Control and Improvement Distict No.1	Ms. Allison S. Killian Mr. John J. Hightower
Texas Water Conservation Association	Ms. Jennifer Caughey Mr. Leonard H. Dougal Ms. Danica Lynn Milios
State of Texas	Mr. Kyle D. Hawkins Atty. Gen. W. Kenneth Paxton Jr. Mr. Ryan Lee Bangert Mr. Jeffrey C. Mateer Mr. Jason R. LaFond