University of the Incarnate Word v. Redus

The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides for an interlocutory appeal *906from an order that “grants or denies a plea to the jurisdiction by a governmental unit.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 51.014(a)(8). The term “governmental unit” has the same meaning here as it does in the Texas Tort Claims Act. Id. §§ 51.104(a)(8), 101.001 (defining the term). The issue we must decide is whether a private university that operates a state-authorized police department is such a “governmental unit.” If it is, the university can pursue this interlocutory appeal from the trial court’s order denying…