Texas Department of Human Services v. Okoli

OPINION

TIM TAFT, Justice.

Appellant, the Texas Department of Human Services (“TDHS”), appeals from an interlocutory order denying its plea to the jurisdiction asserted against the claims of appellee, Oliver Okoli. We determine (1) whether TDHS’s challenges to Okoli’s claim under the Texas Whistleblower Act 1 are truly jurisdictional challenges, so that they may be raised by jurisdictional plea, and (2) whether Okoli’s claims for “malice” and fraud are in fact “claims” that could be barred by sovereign immunity from suit or whether they are simply allegations supporting his request for punitive…