Marquis Construction Services, LLC v. Torres – 13-23-00266-CV – Jan 8, 2026

The Corpus Christi–Edinburg Court of Appeals reversed the judgment for the employee in a Texas Labor Code § 451.001 workers’ compensation retaliation case, holding that venue was improper in Hidalgo County. The court concluded that none of the essential events giving rise to the retaliation claim, including the injury, the employer’s knowledge of the injury, or the termination decision, occurred in Hidalgo County. Because Marquis established that its principal office and decision-makers were located in Brazoria County, a proper venue, the trial court erred by denying the motion to transfer venue.

Texas Military Department v. Lopez – 13-25-00150-CV – Dec 18, 2025

The Corpus Christi–Edinburg Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s denial of the Texas Military Department’s plea to the jurisdiction and rendered judgment dismissing the Lopezes’ tort suit for lack of jurisdiction, holding sovereign immunity was not waived under the Texas Tort Claims Act because the crash arose from “activities of the state military forces” while the servicemember was on state active duty under lawful orders. In reaching that result, the court relied heavily on workers’ compensation concepts, especially the personal comfort doctrine and distinct-departure analysis, to conclude that stopping briefly for restroom/food/refueling while on shift did not remove the servicemember from the “activity” of the mission.

Gonzalez v. CS Auto, LTD – 710 S.W.3d 903 – Mar 13, 2025

The 13th Court of Appeals (Corpus Christi) affirmed the lower court’s dismissal, which relied on the Pandemic Liability Protection Act. The Court did not reach the Defendant-Employer’s exclusive remedy argument under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act.

Frausto v. RC Industries LLC – 13-23-00194-CV – Jan 11, 2024

The Thirteenth Court of Appeals (Corpus Christi) affirmed the lower court’s summary judgement in favor of the Employer-Defendant in a workers compensation retaliation claim. The Court noted that the Employee-Plaintiff failed to provide any controverting evidence that the Employer-Defendant did not uniformly enforce the absence-control policy.

The City of Corpus Christi, Texas v. Nickerson – 13-22-00040-CV – Jan 4, 2024

The Thirteenth Court of Appeals reversed the lower court’s denial of Employer-Defendant’s plea to the jurisdiction. The Court reasoned that Employee-Plaintiff received workers’ compensation insurance coverage for a work-related injury, and the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act applied—barring waiver of the City’s immunity under the Texas Torts Claims Act.