Amaya v. City of San Antonio

980 F. Supp. 2d 771, 2013 WL 5923671, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155984
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedOctober 30, 2013
DocketNo. SA-12-CY-00574-DAE
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 980 F. Supp. 2d 771 (Amaya v. City of San Antonio) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Amaya v. City of San Antonio, 980 F. Supp. 2d 771, 2013 WL 5923671, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155984 (W.D. Tex. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER: (1) DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS; (2) GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS; (S) DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT; (h) GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DAVID ALAN EZRA, Senior District Judge.

On October 9, 2013, the Court heard oral argument on the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. # 22) and the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 37) brought by Plaintiff Joseph Amaya. The Court also heard the Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. # 24) and the Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #38) brought by Defendant the City of San Antonio. After reviewing the motions and the supporting and opposing memoranda, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, DENIES Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, and GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

BACKGROUND

I. Factual Background

On April 5, 2007, Dangerous Premises Investigator Alice Guajardo (“Guajardo”)—an employee of the City of San Antonio (the “City”)—inspected the residence located at 429 Devine Street in San Antonio, Texas (the “Subject Property”) following notification from the Fire Department of a fire-damaged structure. (Dkt. # 38-1 (“Guajardo Dec.”) ¶¶ 2-3.) She found a fire-damaged, unsecured, and “dangerous” structure that “possibly warranted emergency demolition.” (Id. ¶ 3.)

On May 17, 2007, Guajardo again inspected the Subject Property and found it was in the same “dangerous,” unsecured condition. (Id. ¶ 4.) According to Guajardo, her assessment revealed “significant” fire damage to the Subject Property’s foundation, exterior walls, and roof system. (Id. ¶ 5.) She took photographs of the damage and advised the Historic Preservation Office of the “dangerous condition” of the fire-damaged property. (Id. ¶¶ 4-5.)

On May 29, 2007, Guajardo spoke with Plaintiff Joseph Amaya (“Plaintiff’), the owner of the Subject Property. (Id. ¶ 6.) [775]*775Plaintiff informed Guajardo that his application for assistance to rebuild the Subject Property had been approved by the Unitarian Universalist Housing Assistance Corporation (“U.U. Housing”) and that he would begin repairs in the near future. (Id.) However, when Guajardo spoke with U.U. Housing on May 31, 2007, she was advised that Plaintiffs application was still pending. (Id. ¶ 7.) Around a month later, Guajardo reinspected the Subject Property and found that no repairs had been conducted. (Id. ¶ 8.)

On June 7, 2007, Building Inspector Ramiro Carrillo (“Carrillo”), also an employee of the City, inspected the Subject Property and agreed with Guajardo that the property was severely fire-damaged and “structurally unsound.” (Id. ¶ 9.) He recommended demolition of the Subject Property. (Id.)

Several weeks later, Guajardo again inspected the Subject Property and found that no repairs had been conducted. (Id. ¶ 9.) On July 2, 2007, she contacted Plaintiff to determine the time frame in which repairs were to be conducted. (Id. ¶ 10.) On July 10, 2007, Plaintiff informed Guajardo that repairs would commence on July 16, 2007. (Id. ¶ 11.) On the same day, the Lavaca Historic District asked that demolition of the structure be stayed because of its potential historical significance. (Id.)

On July 30, 2007, Guajardo conducted yet another inspection of the Subject Property and found it to be in the same “dangerous” condition. (Id. ¶ 12.) At that time, she recommended demolition of the Subject Property. (Id.) On the same day, U.U. Housing requested that demolition proceedings be abated because repairs to the Subject Property were to commence if Plaintiffs application was approved. (Id.) Several months later, on November 27, 2007, Guajardo again visited the Subject Property and found it to be in the same condition. (Id.) According to Guajardo, although she attempted to contact Plaintiff to discuss the matter, she was unable to reach him by telephone. (Id. ¶ 13.)

On March 14, 2008, Guajardo reinspected the Subject Property and found that it had “deteriorated substantially from the initial inspections.” (Id. ¶ 14.) She further found that the severity of the deterioration “posed a clear and imminent threat” to “public safety.” (Id.) After consulting with Carrillo—and subsequently obtaining the approval of Rod Sanchez (“Sanchez”), the Director of the City’s Development Services Department, and of Housing and Neighborhood Services Director David Garza (“Garza”)—the Subject Property was “declared to be an emergency which required demolition.” (See id. ¶ 15.) Both Sanchez and Garza issued sworn affidavits stating that the Subject Property posed a clear and imminent threat to life, safety, and/or property necessitating immediate demolition. (Id. at 20-21.) They further found that there was no “feasible alterative abatement procedure” other than demolition. (See id.)

On March 14, 2008, the City of San Antonio carried out an emergency demolition of the Subject Property. (Id. ¶ 16.) On March 18, 2008, Garza, acting on behalf of the City, sent a letter notifying Plaintiff that the Subject Property had been demolished and that Plaintiff should expect an invoice for the demolition and related expenses. (Id. at 12.) The next month, an invoice for $3480.00 was mailed to Plaintiff. (Id. at 13.)

II. Procedural History

On June 11, 2012, Plaintiff filed suit against the City of San Antonio. (Dkt. #1.) In the Complaint, Plaintiff brings claims for violations of (1) Chapter 6, Article VIII, § 6-175 of the City’s Code of [776]*776Ordinances; (2) Chapter 214 of the Texas Local Government Code; (3) Article 1, § 17 and § 19 of the Texas State Constitution; and (4) 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the deprivation of rights secured by the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. (Id.) Plaintiff also seeks a declaratory judgment under the Texas Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act in addition to punitive and/or exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees. (Id.)

On April 3, 2013, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. (Dkt. # 22.) On April 12, 2013, the City filed a Response in opposition to Plaintiffs Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and a partial Motion to Dismiss. (Dkt. # 24.) On April 25, 2013, Plaintiff filed a Reply in support of his Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and a Response in opposition to the City’s Motion to Dismiss. (Dkt. ## 25-26.)

On August 5, 2013, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. (Dkt. #37.) On the same day, the City filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (Dkt. # 38.) The parties fully briefed both motions. (Dkt. ## 40^13.)

STANDARD OF REVIEW

I. Rule 12(c)

After the pleadings are closed—but early enough not to delay trial'—a party may move for judgment on the pleadings. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c). The standard for deciding a Rule 12(c) motion is the same as a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss.

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980 F. Supp. 2d 771, 2013 WL 5923671, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155984, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/amaya-v-city-of-san-antonio-txwd-2013.