Supreme Court of Texas

Texas' recreational use statute does not effectively reinstate sovereign immunity for premises liability claims arising on state-owned recreational properties. The statute raises the burden of proof by classifying a recreational user of state-owned property as a trespasser and requiring proof of gross negligence, malicious intent, or bad faith, and thus, immunizes the state only to the extent of the elevated standard.

Appellate Information

• Argued 04/12/2005
• Decided 06/23/2006
• Published 06/23/2006

Judges

• Justice MEDINA delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice JEFFERSON, Justice HECHT, Justice O'NEILL, Justice GREEN, and Justice JOHNSON joined.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Danica Lynn Milios, Greg Abbott, Attorney General, Barry Ross McBee, Edward D. Burbach, Rafael Edward Cruz, S. Ronald Keister, Office of the Attorney General, Austin, for petitioners., Luis E. Fierros, Assistant City Attorney, Office of the City Attorney, Fort Worth, Houston, for Amicus Curiae City of Fort Worth., Ramon G. Viada III, Abrams Scott & Bickley, L.L.P., Houston, for Amici Curiae Texas Municipal League and Texas City Attorneys' Association.


• For Appellees:
  
• Les Mendelsohn, Les Mendelsohn & Associates, P.C., Ricky J. Poole, Law Offices of Ricky J. Poole, San Antonio, for respondents.