Texas Department of Public Safety v. Bonilla

Merardo Bonilla sustained injuries in an automobile accident that occurred when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper ran a red light while allegedly pursuing a reckless driver. Bonilla sued DPS, relying on the Texas Tort Claims Act’s sovereign-immunity, waiver.1 In a combined motion for summary judgment and plea to the jurisdiction, DPS claimed it retained immunity from suit based on (1) the trooper’s official immunity and (2) the emergency-response exception to the Tort Claims Act’s immunity waiver.2 The trial court denied DPS’s motion and- plea. On interlocutory appeal, the…