Texas Juvenile Justice Department v. PHI, Inc.

OPINION

ELIZABETH KERR, JUSTICE

Despite the saying that “a helicopter doesn’t fly, it just beats the ground into submission,” a chopper can be humbled by the decidedly less-glamorous Ford Econo-line van when they go mano a mano on the ground. That’s what happened here.

' Appellee PHI, Inc.’s parked helicopter was damaged when a van ownéd by Appellant Texas Juvenile Justice Department f/k/a Texas Youth Commission rolled into it. PHI sued TJJD, claiming that the Texas Tort Claims Act waived TJJD’s sovereign immunity because a TJJD employee’s negligent operation or use of a motor vehicle caused…