Coastal Industrial Water Authority v. Houston Lighting & Power Co.

I respectfully disagree with the majority.

County courts originally had exclusive jurisdiction over condemnation proceedings. Wilson v. Donna Irr. Dist. No. 1, 8 S.W.2d 187 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1928, writ ref’d). In 1971, however, the Legislature enacted article 3266a, which states in part:

The district courts of all counties in the State shall have jurisdiction concurrent with the county courts at law in eminent domain cases. The county courts shall have no jurisdiction in eminent domain cases.

Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 3266a, § 1 (Supp.1978). That statutory provision clearly removes any…