City of Austin v. Rangel

OPINION

BEA ANN SMITH, Justice.

The City of Austin appeals the district court’s order denying its plea to the jurisdiction. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(8) (West 2005). The City asserts that sovereign immunity bars the negligence claims of the appellee, Olga Rangel. Rangel sued the City after she was injured on a public sidewalk by stepping into an uncovered water meter box. She alleged both premise and special defects under the Texas Tort Claims Act (the “Act”). See id. § 101.022 (West Supp. 2005). The City argues that, whether or not the open meter box constituted a premise…