Ceellu Williams v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ( 2015 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-15-00005-CV
CEELLU WILLIAMS,
Appellant
v.
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH
SCIENCES CENTER,
Appellee
From the 72nd District Court
Lubbock County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2013-509,298
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Ceellu Williams was a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She failed a clinical internship course
one summer and successfully repeated it the next summer. She then failed another
clinical internship course. TTUHSC dismissed Williams from the program, without
allowing Williams to repeat the second failed course, based on a policy which provided
in part, “a student may repeat a Clinical Internship course only once during his or her
enrollment in the DPT Program.”
Williams filed suit against TTUHSC requesting a declaration by the court
interpreting the policy to her benefit and an order permitting her re-enrollment in the
physical therapy program. TTUHSC filed a plea to the jurisdiction alleging immunity.
The plea was granted.
In two issues on appeal, Williams contends the trial court erred in dismissing her
lawsuit and in failing to give her an opportunity to amend her pleadings. Because the
trial court did not err in granting the plea to the jurisdiction without giving Williams an
opportunity to amend her pleadings, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Sovereign immunity protects the State and its various divisions, such as agencies
and boards, from suit and liability, and governmental immunity provides similar
protection to the political subdivisions of the State, such as counties, cities, and school
districts. Travis Cent. Appraisal Dist. v. Norman, 342 S.W.3d 54, 57-58 (Tex. 2011) (citing
Wichita Falls State Hosp. v. Taylor, 106 S.W.3d 692, 694 n.3 (Tex. 2003)). No one disputes
that TTUHSC is afforded the protections of sovereign or governmental immunity.
When dealing with these immunities, the Legislature has been required to express its
intent to waive immunity clearly and unambiguously. Id. (citing Univ. of Tex. Med.
Branch at Galveston v. York, 871 S.W.2d 175, 177 (Tex. 1994) and TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN. §
311.034 (West 2013) (codifying the clear and unambiguous standard)).
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An order which grants or denies a plea to the jurisdiction is reviewed de novo.
See State v. Holland, 221 S.W.3d 639, 642 (Tex. 2007). When such a plea challenges the
pleadings, we determine if the pleader has alleged facts that affirmatively demonstrate
the court's jurisdiction to hear the case. Tex. Dep't of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133
S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004); Tex. Ass'n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 446
(Tex. 1993). We construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the plaintiff and look to the
pleader's intent. Id.
Initially, Williams pled that the policy of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program
at TTUHSC fell within the scope of section 37.004 of the Texas Civil Practice and
Remedies Code (the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act) because the policy was a part
of a contract Williams had with Texas Tech and was a writing that affected Williams’
rights, status, and legal relationship with Texas Tech. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
ANN. § 37.004(a) (West 2008). Williams also pled a breach of contract claim and
requested damages and attorney’s fees. In response, TTUHSC filed its plea to the
jurisdiction, alleging immunity had not been waived for the declaratory judgment claim
because it was an attempt to control a state action or for the breach of contract and
damages claim. Williams amended her petition to delete her breach of contract and
damages claim. She still, however, alleged that the policy was a contract between the
parties. Three months later, Williams again amended her petition, this time alleging
that the policy fell under the scope of section 37.003(c) of the UDJA and is a writing that
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affects her rights, status, and legal relationship with Texas Tech. See id. § 37.003(c)
(“The enumerations in Sections 37.004 and 37.005 do not limit or restrict the exercise of
the general powers conferred in this section in any proceeding in which declaratory
relief is sought and a judgment or decree will terminate the controversy or remove an
uncertainty.”). Williams also sought an injunction to require TTUHSC to follow the
policy language as interpreted by the court and to credit her for tuition and fees paid for
the semester she was dismissed.
The UDJA generally permits a person who is interested in a deed, or whose
rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute, municipal ordinance,
contract, or franchise to obtain a declaration of rights, status, or other legal relations
thereunder. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 37.004(a) (West 2008); Tex. Parks &
Wildlife Dep't v. Sawyer Trust, 354 S.W.3d 384, 388 (Tex. 2011). And while the UDJA
waives immunity for certain claims, such as challenges to the validity of a municipal
ordinance or statute, it is not a general waiver of immunity. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. § 37.006(b) (West 2008); Sawyer Trust, 354 S.W.3d at 388; City of El Paso v.
Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d 366, 373 n.6 (Tex. 2009). In other words, there is no general right to
sue a state agency for a declaration of rights. Sawyer Trust, 354 S.W.3d at 388. Thus,
immunity will bar even an otherwise proper UDJA suit that has the effect of
establishing a right to relief against the State or its political subdivisions for which the
Legislature has not waived immunity. Id.
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Williams argues that academic policies are the proper subject of court review. In
support of this argument, she cites to the Amarillo Court of Appeals’ opinion in Ackers
v. City of Lubbock, 253 S.W.3d 770 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2007, pet. denied). Without
deciding the propriety of the court’s opinion in Ackers, it is distinguishable from the
situation in this appeal.1 In Ackers, the appellant/plaintiff challenged the
constitutionality of a policy of the City of Lubbock. 2 Here, Williams does not challenge
the constitutionality of TTUHSC’s graduate program policy. Accordingly, Ackers does
not apply to Williams’ claim.
Initially, we note that section 37.003(c) of the UDJA does not relate to the subject
matter of relief covered by the Act. Rather, it pertains to the scope of a court’s general
powers conferred by that particular section of the Act. Nevertheless, while an
underlying claim such as Williams’ may be proper under the UDJA against a private
party, it is not proper as to a state agency such as TTUHSC. The Texas Supreme Court
has only found a waiver of immunity under the UDJA where a claim challenges the
validity of a municipal ordinance or statute; that is because the Act requires the joinder
of the entity if the ordinance or statute is challenged. See Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 373 n.6.
(“For claims challenging the validity of ordinances or statutes, however, the Declaratory
1 This case was transferred to the Tenth Court of Appeals in Waco, Texas. We must, however, apply the
law of the Court from which the appeal was transferred. TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3. Thus, if Ackers is controlling
precedent on the Seventh court of Appeals in Amarillo, Texas, it is binding on this Court.
2Williams also cites to the United States Supreme Court opinion in Fisher v. Univ. of Tex., ___ U.S. ___, 133
S. Ct. 2411, 186 L. Ed. 2d 474 (2013). Like Ackers, this opinion is distinguishable because the plaintiff
challenged the constitutionality of the University of Texas’ admissions process.
Williams v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Page 5
Judgment Act requires that the relevant governmental entities be made parties, and
thereby waives immunity.”). In this case, Williams has not challenged the validity of a
municipal ordinance or statute. She has only challenged TTUHSC’s interpretation of
one of its policies. Thus, immunity is not waived under the UDJA as to Williams’ claim.
Because there is no waiver of immunity for Williams’ claim regarding TTUHSC’s
policy interpretation, TTUHSC is immune from suit. Further, Williams’ pleading
defects cannot be cured. Simply pleading more facts in support of her claim will not
overcome TTUHSC’s immunity from suit. See Tex. A&M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233
S.W.3d 835, 840 (Tex. 2007). The entirety of her complaint involves the resolution of the
interpretation of the school policy. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in granting
TTUHSC’s plea to the jurisdiction without giving Williams an opportunity to amend
her pleadings. Williams’ issues on appeal are overruled.
The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed May 21, 2015
[CV06]
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