Albertson's, Inc. v. Ortiz

BEA ANN SMITH, Justice.

Albertson’s, Inc. appeals an adverse judgment rendered on a jury verdict awarding damages to Rachel Ortiz and John Downes (“appellees”). The principal issue presented is whether the Texas Constitution’s bill of rights is self-executing in creating a cause of action for damages for a private entity’s infringement of an individual’s free-speech rights. Concluding that the constitution creates no such tort action, we will reverse the judgment of the trial court and render judgment that appellees take nothing.

BACKGROUND

Since 1984 the United Farm Workers of America 1 (“UFW”)…