Texas AG Question in Whistleblower Case

8/12/2019 Texas AG Question in Whistleblower Case

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No. _____

In theSupreme Court of Texas

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,Petitioner,

v.

GINGER WEATHERSPOON,Respondent.

On Petition for Review from theFifth Cort of A!!e"#$, %"##"$, Te&"$

PETITION FOR REVIEW

GREG A''OTTAttorne( Gener"# of Te&"$

%ANIEL T.HO%GEFir$t A$$i$t"nt Attorne(

Gener"#

)ONATHAN F.*ITCHELL

So#i+itor Gener"#

'ETH L-S*ANNA$$i$t"nt So#i+itor Gener"#St"te '"r No. /012345

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALP.O. 'o& 46/5 7*C 0638A$tin, Te&"$ 95944:6/5Te#.; 7648 312:434/

F"&; 7648 /9/:239'eth.#$m"nn


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IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Parties Counsel

PetitionerOffi+e of the Attorne( Gener"#of Te&"$

Texas Supreme Court:'eth #$m"nn>eth.?#$m"nn


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I@entit( of P"rtie$ "n@ Con$e# ............................................................................... i

In@e& of Athoritie$ .............................................................................................. iii

St"tement of the C"$e .............................................................................................v

St"tement of )ri$@i+tion ....................................................................................... vi

I$$e Pre$ente@ ..................................................................................................... vii

St"tement of F"+t$ .................................................................................................

Smm"r( of the Ar=ment ...................................................................................... 6

Ar=ment............................................................................................................... 2

I. Em!#o(in= Some In@ivi@"#$ Who C"n Inve$ti="te or Pro$e+teCrime %oe$ Not *"?e A## Em!#o(ee$ A!!ro!ri"te L"w:Enfor+ement Athoritie$. ................................................................... 9

II. OAGB$ Re!ortin= Po#i+( On#( Confirm$ Th"t We"ther$!oonB$S!ervi$or$ Are Not A!!ro!ri"te L"w:Enfor+ement

Athoritie$. ....................................................................................... 40

III. Thi$ C"$e Cont"in$ the S"me I$$e$ Th"t the Cort I$Con$i@erin= in Okoli. ........................................................................ 4/

Pr"(er ................................................................................................................... 42

Certifi+"te of Servi+e............................................................................................. 49

Certifi+"te of Com!#i"n+e ..................................................................................... 49


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iii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Office of the Attorney Gen. of Tex. v. Rodriguez,/0 S.W.1@ 33 7Te&. A!!.E# P"$o 04, no !et.8 ............................... 4, 41

Office of the Attorney Gen. v. Weatherspoon,No. 06:41:0021:CD, 04/ WL 9059637Te&. A!!.%"##"$, )ne 42, 04/, !et. fi#e@8 ......................................passim

tate v. !ueck,30 S.W.1@ 592 7Te&. 0038 ........................................................... vi, 9, 3, 41

Tex. A " # $niv.%&ingsville v. #oreno'133 S.W.1@ 45 7Te&. 0418 7!er +ri"m8 .................................................... 44

Tex. (ep)t of *uman ervs. v. Okoli,149 S.W.1@ 500 7Te&. A!!.Ho$ton 4$t %i$t. 040,!et. fi#e@8 ............................................................................................... 4/, 46

Tex. (ep+t of Transp. v. ,eedham,5 S.W.1@ 14/ 7Te&. 008 ........................................................ vi, 9, 3, 44, 41

$niv. of *ouston v. -arth,/01 S.W.1@ 564 7Te&. 0418 7!er +ri"m8 ...................................... vi, 3, 40, 44

$niv. of Tex. . #ed. /tr. v. Gentilello,135 S.W.1@ 250 7Te&. 0418 ............................................................ 9:5, 44, 41

0ela v. /ity of *ouston,452 S.W.1@ /3 7Te&. A!!.Ho$ton 4$t %i$t. 006, no !et.8 .................. 4

Wichita /nty. v. *art,349 S.W.@ 993 7Te&. 43328 .......................................................................... 9


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Statutes

45 -.S.C. 42 ..................................................................................................... 1

TE.GODBT CO%E .00478 .............................................................................. vi

TE.GODBT CO%E+h. 66/ ................................................................................... v, /

TE.GOBDT CO%E 66/.00 ................................................................................. 3

TE.GODBT CO%E 66/.007"8 ............................................................................. 2

TE.GODBT CO%E 66/.007>8 ......................................................................... 2, 3

TE.GODBT CO%E 66/.007>8748 ........................................................................ 3

TE.PENAL CO%E 13.0 ...................................................................................... 1

TE.PENAL CO%E 13.01 ....................................................................................... 1

Other Authorities

The Governor of the St"te of Te&., E&e+tive Or@er RP 12,

)#( 4, 00/, 3 Te&. Re=. 913:/0 ........................................................... 41


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STATEMENT OF THE CASE

,ature of the /ase; Gin=er We"ther$!oon >ro=ht $it n@er theTe&"$ Whi$t#e>#ower A+t, TE. GODBT CO%E

+h. 66/, "="in$t her former em!#o(er the Offi+eof the Attorne( Gener"# 7OAG8. CR.5:42.

Trial /ourt; The Honor">#e *"rtin ). Hoffm"n25th )@i+i"# %i$tri+t Cort%"##"$ Cont(, Te&"$

Trial /ourt)s (isposition; The tri"# +ort @enie@ OAGB$ !#e" to theri$@i+tion. CR.460:64.

Parties in the /ourt of Appeals; Appellant; Offi+e of the Attorne( Gener"#Appellee; Gin=er We"ther$!oon

/ourt of Appeals; Fifth Cort of A!!e"#$, %"##"$, Te&"$

/ourt of Appeals)s (isposition; The +ort of "!!e"#$ "ffirme@, ho#@in= th"tWe"ther$!oonB$ intern"# re!ort$ to her$!ervi$or$ $"ti$fie@ the reJirement$ of the

Whi$t#e>#ower A+t. Office of the AttorneyGeneral v. Weatherspoon, No. 06:41:0021:CD,04/ WL 905963 7Te&. A!!.%"##"$, )ne 42,04/, !et. fi#e@8 7Ev"n$, )., oine@ >( OBNei##"n@ L"n=:*ier$, )).8 7T"> '8.


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STATEMENT OFURISDICTION

The Cort h"$ ri$@i+tion >e+"$e thi$ i$ " +"$e in whi+h Kone of the +ort$

of "!!e"#$ ho#@$ @ifferent#( from " !rior @e+i$ion . . . of the $!reme +ort on "

Je$tion of #"w m"teri"# to " @e+i$ion of the +"$e. TE.GODBT CO%E .00478.

The Fifth Cort he#@ th"t We"ther$!oonB$ re!ort of +rimin"# +on@+t to her

$!ervi$or$ in OAG w"$ " re!ort to "n K"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(

n@er the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t >e+"$e 748 other em!#o(ee$ of OAG were

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$M "n@ 78 "n intern"# !o#i+( $t"te@ th"t her

$!ervi$or$ h"@ " re$!on$i>i#it( to refer the m"tter to OAGB$ Offi+e of S!e+i"#

Inve$ti="tion$. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t /, 2. The fir$t !oint i$

+ontr"r( to thi$ CortB$ ho#@in=$ in $niversity of *ouston v. -arth, /01 S.W.1@ 564,

569:65 7Te&. 0418 7!er +ri"m8, "n@ tate v. !ueck, 30 S.W.1@ 592, 556:52 7Te&.

0038. The $e+on@ i$ +ontr"r( to -arth, /01 S.W.1@ "t 569:65, "n@ Texas

(epartment of Transportation v. ,eedham, 5 S.W.1@ 14/, 14 7Te&. 008. The

i$$e$ "re "#$o $imi#"r to tho$e r"i$e@ in Texas (epartment of *uman ervices v.

Okoli, No. 40:0629, +rrent#( !en@in= >efore the Cort.


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ISSUE PRESENTED

We"ther$!oon re!orte@ " !otenti"# +rimin"#:#"w vio#"tion intern"##( to her$!ervi$or$. She now +#"im$ th"t her $!ervi$or$, who @o not h"ve "thorit( to

inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te +rime, "re "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$ for twore"$on$. Fir$t, her $!ervi$or$ wor?e@ for OAG, "n@ other em!#o(ee$ of OAG+o#@ inve$ti="te "n@ !ro$e+te +rime. Se+on@, "n intern"# !o#i+( m"@e her$!ervi$or$ re$!on$i>#e for referrin= re!ort$ of +rimin"# +on@+t to OAGB$ Offi+eof S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$.

%i@ the tri"# +ort err in @en(in= OAGB$ !#e" to the ri$@i+tion


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to invo?e the !rote+tion$ of the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t. 'oth re"$on$ h"ve >een

ree+te@ >( thi$ Cort. The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition "n@ @i$mi$$

We"ther$!oonB$ +#"im$ for #"+? of $>e+t:m"tter ri$@i+tion.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The +ort of "!!e"#$ +orre+t#( $t"te@ the n"tre of the +"$e. Weatherspoon,

04/ WL 905963, "t 4:.

We"ther$!oon >e="n her em!#o(ment with OAG in 002 "$ "n A$$i$t"nt

Attorne( Gener"# in the Chi#@ S!!ort %ivi$ion 7CS%8. CR.41. A++or@in= to

We"ther$!oonB$ "ffi@"vit, in Fe>r"r( 005, $he re!orte@ " +onver$"tion $he h"@

with " @i$tri+t @=e in %"##"$ to )"me$ )one$, "n OAG $enior re=ion"# "ttorne( in

the CS%. CR.41. )one$ "n@ "nother CS% "ttorne( then "$?e@ We"ther$!oon to

$i=n "n "ffi@"vit th"t the( h"@ @r"fte@ +on+ernin= her inter"+tion$ with the @=e.

CR.41:11. We"ther$!oon w"$ "w"re th"t the "ffi@"vit w"$ =oin= to >e $e@ in "n

effort to re+$e the @=e in +"$e$ invo#vin= OAG. CR.411. We"ther$!oon

@e+#ine@ to $i=n the "ffi@"vit, $t"tin= th"t it w"$ in"++r"te. CR.411. )one$ then

or@ere@ We"ther$!oon to $i=n the "ffi@"vit. CR.411. We"ther$!oon +ontine@ to

ref$e "n@ re!orte@ )one$B$ +on@+t to P"#" Cro+?ett, her m"n"=in= "ttorne( "t

the time. CR.411:1/.


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)one$ #"ter or@ere@ We"ther$!oon to "!!e"r "t "n "@mini$tr"tion offi+e to

$i=n the "ffi@"vit. CR.41/. We"ther$!oon "rrive@, >t "="in ref$e@ to $i=n.

CR.41/. At thi$ !oint, We"ther$!oon "##e=e$ th"t )one$ m"@e her w"it in "n

"@"+ent room "n@ wo#@ not "##ow her to #e"ve. CR.41/. We"ther$!oon >e="n to

re!ort )one$B$ +on@+t to )one$B$ $!ervi$or, >t w"$ interr!te@ >( )one$.

CR.41/. She $"($ th"t $he w"$ "##owe@ to #e"ve "fter !re!"rin= her own t(!e:

written $t"tement. CR.41/.

We"ther$!oon "$$ert$ th"t $he re!orte@ the m"tter to Cro+?ett "="in.

CR.416. We"ther$!oon "#$o +#"im$ th"t $he re!orte@ the m"tter to "ren Yon=, "

m"n"=in= "ttorne(, "n@ %e>>ie New#in, " CS% "ttorne( tr"iner. CR.416. She #"ter

to#@ C"ro# C"m!>e##, "n OAG "ttorne( who wor?e@ with the O!en Re+or@$

%ivi$ion. CR.416. We"ther$!oon #tim"te#( $!o?e ">ot the in+i@ent with A#i+i"

e(, the %ire+tor of Chi#@ S!!ort, "n@ Ch"r#e$ Smith, the %e!t( %ire+tor of

Chi#@ S!!ort. CR.416. A++or@in= to We"ther$!oon, )one$B$ +on@+t in

!re$$rin= her to $i=n " f"#$e "ffi@"vit vio#"te@ Te&"$ Pen"# Co@e 13.0 7">$e of

offi+i"# +"!"+it(8, Te&"$ Pen"# Co@e 13.01 7offi+i"# o!!re$$ion8, "n@ 45 -.S.C.

42 7$>orn"tion of !err(8. CR.416.

Fo##owin= her re!ort$, We"ther$!oon w"$ informe@ >( e( th"t Attorne(

Gener"# Gre= A>>ott h"@ "$?e@ e( to +"## "n@ !er$on"##( "!o#o=ie for wh"t h"@


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/

o++rre@. CR.416. e( "$$re@ We"ther$!oon th"t there wo#@ >e " f##

inve$ti="tion. CR.416. We"ther$!oonB$ ori=in"# !etition note@ th"t two of the

in@ivi@"#$ invo#ve@ were @emote@. CR.3.

We"ther$!oon "$$ert$ th"t $he w"$ ret"#i"te@ "="in$t >e+"$e of her re!ort$

of )one$B$ +on@+t. CR.412. S!e+ifi+"##(, We"ther$!oon +#"im$ th"t Yon=

remove@ her from #i=ht:@t( re$tri+tion$, th"t Yon= intention"##( $et @e"@#ine$

th"t $he ?new We"ther$!oon +o#@ not meet, "n@ th"t OAG #tim"te#( termin"te@

her em!#o(ment. CR.412.

We"ther$!oon >ro=ht $it n@er the Te&"$ Whi$t#e>#ower A+t. TE.

GODBT CO%E +h. 66/M CR.5:42. OAG fi#e@ " no:evi@en+e motion for $mm"r(

@=ment, CR.4:1, "n@ " !#e" to the ri$@i+tion, CR.95:51. OAG "r=e@ th"t

none of the in@ivi@"#$ to whom We"ther$!oon m"@e her re!ort met the

Whi$t#e>#ower A+tB$ @efinition of K"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(.

RR.6:5. In re$!on$e, We"ther$!oon !ointe@ to "n intern"# OAG !o#i+( th"t

reJire@ em!#o(ee$ to re!ort "##e=e@ +rimin"# vio#"tion$ to their @ivi$ion +hief "n@

m"@e the @ivi$ion +hief re$!on$i>#e for referrin= the m"tter to OAGB$ Offi+e of

S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$. CR.4/2. The !o#i+( "#$o $t"te@ th"t em!#o(ee$ were not to

re!ort +rimin"# m"tter$ to ot$i@e #"w:enfor+ement "=en+ie$ n#e$$ e&i=ent


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+ir+m$t"n+e$ e&[email protected] CR.4/2. The tri"# +ort @enie@ the !#e", CR.460:64, "n@

OAG "!!e"#e@, CR.46:6/.

The Fifth Cort of A!!e"#$ "ffirme@. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t

2. It$ r#in= re$te@ on two !rin+i!#e$; 748 OAG em!#o(e@ $ome in@ivi@"#$ in it$

Offi+e of S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$ who +o#@ inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te +rime, id."t /M

"n@ 78 the OAG !o#i+( in !#"+e "t the time in$tr+te@ We"ther$!oon to re!ort

+rimin"# "+tivit( to her @ivi$ion +hief who, in trn, h"@ " re$!on$i>i#it( to refer it to

the Offi+e of S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$, id."t 6:2. -n@er thi$ re"$onin=, the "!!e"#$

+ort +on$tre@ We"ther$!oonB$ re!ort to her $!ervi$or$ "$ $ffi+ient to $t"te "

+#"im n@er the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t. 1d."t 2.

SUMMARY OF THE AR!UMENT

The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition not on#( >e+"$e it r"i$e$ i$$e$ $imi#"r

to tho$e in Okoli, >t "#$o >e+"$e the$e i$$e$ "re >on@ to re+r. *"n(

=overnment"# entitie$ h"ve @ifferent @e!"rtment$ with @ifferent fn+tion$.

Em!#o(ee$ $ho#@ not re+eive whi$t#e>#ower !rote+tion n#e$$ the( !er$on"##(

re!ort the vio#"tion of #"w to the @e!"rtment +"!">#e of "+t"##( @oin= $omethin=

">ot it >e(on@ intern"# +om!#i"n+e. Li?ewi$e, intern"# !o#i+ie$ th"t +re"te "

4We"ther$!oonB$ initi"# "ffi@"vit "n@ re$!on$e to OAGB$ motion "n@ !#e" m"@e no mention ofthi$ !o#i+(. CR./:/, /6:/5. Two "n@ " h"#f (e"r$ #"ter, We"ther$!oon fi#e@ "n "men@e@re$!on$e th"t in+#@e@ " @i$+$$ion of OAGB$ !o#i+(. CR.405:03, 41:/2.


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$tr+tre for re!ortin= mi$+on@+t $ho#@ not @e!tie $!ervi$or$ with #"w:

enfor+ement "thorit( when it i$ +#e"r th"t the $!ervi$or$ "re mere#( +on@it$ to

$omeone who i$ ">#e to inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te +rime. The te&t of the

Whi$t#e>#ower A+t m"n@"te$ th"t the re!ort >e m"@e to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:

enfor+ement "thorit(, not "n in@ivi@"# who$e on#( ro#e i$ to refer the re!ort to

$omeone e#$e. The$e i$$e$ nee@ re$o#tion. The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition.

AR!UMENT

The Te&"$ Whi$t#e>#ower A+t !rohi>it$ " $t"te or #o+"# =overnment"# entit(

from termin"tin= "n em!#o(ee Kwho in =oo@ f"ith re!ort$ " vio#"tion of #"w >( the

em!#o(in= =overnment"# entit( or "nother !>#i+ em!#o(ee to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w

enfor+ement "thorit(. TE. GODBT CO%E 66/.007"8. A$ with m"n( of the

+"$e$ th"t h"ve +ome >efore the Cort, thi$ +"$e +on+ern$ the @efinition of

K"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(;

" !"rt of " $t"te or #o+"# =overnment"# entit( or of the fe@er"#=overnment th"t the em!#o(ee in =oo@ f"ith >e#ieve$ i$ "thorie@ to;

748 re=#"te n@er or enfor+e the #"w "##e=e@ to >e vio#"te@ in there!ortM or

78 inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te " vio#"tion of +rimin"# #"w.

1d. 66/.007>8. The =oo@:f"ith reJirement me"n$ th"t the em!#o(ee m$t h"ve

>oth " $>e+tive >e#ief "n@ "n o>e+tive#( re"$on">#e >e#ief th"t the in@ivi@"#

re+eivin= the re!ort h"$ the ">i#it( to re=#"te, enfor+e, inve$ti="te, or !ro$e+te.


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,eedham, 5 S.W.1@ "t 14M see also Wichita /nty. v. *art, 349 S.W.@ 993, 95/

7Te&. 43328. Re!ortin= to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( i$ "

ri$@i+tion"# reJirement n@er the A+t. !ueck, 30 S.W.1@ "t 554.

A$ note@ ">ove, the +ort of "!!e"#$B$ @e+i$ion re$te@ on two #e="# theorie$.

Fir$t, >e+"$e OAG h"@ "n Offi+e of S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$ th"t +o#@ inve$ti="te

vio#"tion$ of +rimin"# #"w, We"ther$!oonB$ re!ort$ to her $!ervi$or$ were m"@e to

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$ >e+"$e her $!ervi$or$ were K!"rt of

OAG. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t /. Se+on@, >e+"$e OAG h"@ " !o#i+(

th"t m"@e $!ervi$or$ re$!on$i>#e for referrin= re!ort$ of mi$+on@+t to the Offi+e

of S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$, We"ther$!oonB$ re!ort to her $!ervi$or$ w"$ $ffi+ient.

1d."t 6:2. 'oth of the$e !ro!o$ition$, however, "re +ontr"@i+te@ >( +"$e$ from

thi$ Cort. The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition "n@ @i$mi$$ the +"$e for #"+? of

$>e+t:m"tter ri$@i+tion.

I"

EMPLOYIN! SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN INVESTI!ATE OR PROSECUTECRIME DOES NOT MA#E ALL EMPLOYEES APPROPRIATE LAW$ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES"

We"ther$!oon h"$ no "r=ment th"t the OAG "ttorne($ to whom $he m"@e

her re!ort$ h"ve "n( "thorit( to inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te the +rime$ $he "##e=e$

were +ommitte@. An@ "$ "n "ttorne( in the $"me @ivi$ion, We"ther$!oon wo#@

h"ve >een we## "w"re of the #imit$ of their "thorit(. ee $niv. of Tex. . #ed. /tr.


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v. Gentilello, 135 S.W.1@ 250, 251 7Te&. 0418 7$t"tin= th"t the em!#o(eeB$ >e#ief

m$t >e re"$on">#e in #i=ht of the em!#o(eeB$ tr"inin= "n@ e&!erien+e8. The +ort

of "!!e"#$ mi$+on$tre@ the @efinition of "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( to

$i=nifi+"nt#( en#"r=e it$ $+o!e. The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition "n@ =ive effe+t

to the #imit$ im!o$e@ >( the Le=i$#"tre.

The +ort of "!!e"#$B$ re"$onin= i$ "$ fo##ow$; CS% i$ K!"rt of OAG.

Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t /. OAG, thro=h it$ Offi+e of S!e+i"#

Inve$ti="tion$, +o#@ h"ve inve$ti="te@ "n@ !ro$e+te@ +rimin"#:#"w vio#"tion$. 1d.

Therefore, " re!ort to CS% i$ " re!ort to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement

"thorit(. 1d. 't the +ort of "!!e"#$B$ over#( >ro"@ re"$onin= wo#@ tr"n$form

ever( em!#o(ee of OAG into "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(. An@ it i$

not $t OAG th"t wo#@ >e im!"+te@. An( #"r=e $t"te "=en+( th"t em!#o(e@

inve$ti="tor$ of "n( $ort wo#@ $@@en#( fin@ it$e#f fi##e@ with "!!ro!ri"te #"w:

enfor+ement "thoritie$ >e+"$e it$ em!#o(ee$ "re "## K!"rt of the $"me entit(.

The +ort of "!!e"#$B$ o!inion mi$$e$ the !hr"$e K!"rt of from the

@efinition of "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(. The Whi$t#e>#ower A+t

@efine$ "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( "$ K" !"rt of " $t"te or #o+"#

=overnment"# entit( or of the fe@er"# =overnment th"t the em!#o(ee in =oo@ f"ith

>e#ieve$ i$ "thorie@ to . . . inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te " vio#"tion of +rimin"# #"w.


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TE.GODBT CO%E 66/.007>8. With re$!e+t to the fir$t !"rt of the @efinition, "n

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( i$ Ka part of " $t"te . . . entit(. 1d.

7em!h"$i$ "@@e@8. It i$ not the entireentit(. So, "n em!#o(ee who m"?e$ " re!ort

to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( m$t te## the K!"rt of the entit( th"t

h"$ the "thorit( to inve$ti="te "n@ !ro$e+te +rime. 1d. 66/.00.

Otherwi$e, for e&"m!#e, We"ther$!oon +o#@ h"ve re!orte@ her "##e="tion of

$>orn"tion of !err( to "n em!#o(ee of the Li>r"r( of Con=re$$, >e+"$e the

em!#o(ee w"$ K!"rt of the fe@er"# =overnment, "n@ other$ in the fe@er"#

=overnment +"n inve$ti="te "n@ !ro$e+te +rime. ee id. 66/.007>8 7$t"tin= th"t

"n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( m"( >e K!"rt of . . . the fe@er"#

=overnment8. It i$ not re"$on">#e to thin? th"t the Le=i$#"tre wo#@ h"ve $o

+"ref##( "n@ n"rrow#( @efine@ K"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( >t

inten@e@ it to h"ve the e&!"n$ive me"nin= th"t the +ort of "!!e"#$ $==e$t$.

!ueck "n@ -arth +onfirm the +ort of "!!e"#$B$ error. In !ueck, the Cort

note@ th"t the !#"intiff ?new hi$ $!ervi$or Kw"$ not the !ro!er "thorit( ithin

Tx(OTto re=#"te the re!orte@ vio#"tion$. !ueck, 30 S.W.1@ "t 552 7em!h"$i$

"@@e@8. '( @i$mi$$in= the +"$e, the Cort im!#i+it#( re+o=nie@ th"t "n "!!ro!ri"te

The @efinition "#$o in+#@e$ tho$e who +"n Kre=#"te n@er or enfor+e the #"w "##e=e@ to >evio#"te@ in the re!ort. TE. GODBT CO%E 66/.007>8748. 'e+"$e the re!ort in thi$ +"$e+on+erne@ the "##e=e@ vio#"tion of +rimin"# #"w$, OAG wi## refer on#( to the !ortion of the@efinition re="r@in= inve$ti="tin= "n@ !ro$e+tin= +rime.


18/41

40

#"w:enfor+ement "thorit( within T&%OT @i@ not tr"n$form "## T&%OT

em!#o(ee$, $+h "$ Le+?B$ $!ervi$or, into "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement

"thoritie$. An@ in -arth, the Cort he#@ th"t the -niver$it(B$ =ener"# +on$e#,

+hief fin"n+i"# offi+er, intern"# "@itor, "n@ "$$o+i"te !rovo$t were not "!!ro!ri"te

#"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$. /01 S.W.1@ "t 569. The -niver$it( "#$o h"@ " !o#i+e

@e!"rtment"n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(>t it$ e&i$ten+e "n@

">i#it( to inve$ti="te +rime @i@ not m"?e other -niver$it( offi+i"#$ "!!ro!ri"te #"w:

enfor+ement "thoritie$, even tho=h the( were K!"rt of the $"me entit(. ee id.

"t 569:65.

The +ort of "!!e"#$B$ @e+i$ion i$ in+on$i$tent with !re+e@ent from thi$

Cort "n@ the te&t of the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t. If the A+t i$ to >e effe+tive in rootin=

ot +orr!tion "n@ mi$+on@+t, the re!ort$ m$t >e m"@e to in@ivi@"#$ with the

">i#it( to inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te the vio#"tion$ "t i$$e. The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt

the !etition "n@ +#"rif( who m"( re+eive whi$t#e>#ower re!ort$ when, "$ i$

+ommon#( the +"$e, =overnment entitie$ h"ve @ifferent @e!"rtment$ or $e+tion$.

II" OA!%S REPORTIN! POLICY ONLY CONFIRMS THAT WEATHERSPOON%SSUPERVISORS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE LAW$ENFORCEMENTAUTHORITIES"

The +ort of "!!e"#$ "#$o re#ie@ on "n intern"# OAG !o#i+( th"t m"@e

@ivi$ion +hief$ re$!on$i>#e for referrin= re!ort$ of +rimin"# +on@+t to the Offi+e of


19/41

44

S!e+i"# Inve$ti="tion$. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t 6:2. 't the Cort

h"$ never he#@ th"t the ">i#it( or o>#i="tion to !"$$ " re!ort "#on= to "nother !er$on

i$ $ffi+ient to m"?e "n in@ivi@"# "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(. The

+ort of "!!e"#$ erre@ >( $in= th"t !o#i+( to $!!ort We"ther$!oonB$ "##e="tion$

th"t $he h"@ "n o>e+tive#( re"$on">#e >e#ief th"t her $!ervi$or$ +o#@ inve$ti="te

or !ro$e+te +rime. ee Gentilello, 135 S.W.1@ "t 255 7ho#@in= th"t "nti:ret"#i"tion

!o#i+( @i@ not e&!"n@ +over"=e of the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t8.

In ,eedham, the Cort he#@ th"t the ">i#it( to forw"r@ inform"tion to "n

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( for !ro$e+tion @i@ not m"?e $omeone "n

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(. 5 S.W.1@ "t 14. Li?ewi$e, in-arth, the

!#"intiff "r=e@ th"t " -niver$it( !o#i+( Ko>#i="te@ -niver$it( offi+i"#$ to te##

-niver$it( !o#i+e ">ot hi$ re!ort$ of +rimin"#:#"w vio#"tion$. /01 S.W.1@ "t 569:

65. Citin= Texas A " # $niversity%&ingsville v. #oreno'133 S.W.1@ 45, 410 7Te&.

0418 7!er +ri"m8, "n@,eedham, 5 S.W.1@ "t 14, the Cort o>$erve@ th"t none

of the -niver$it( offi+i"#$ to whom the !#"intiff re!orte@ h"@ the "thorit( to

inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te vio#"tion$ of +rimin"# #"w. -arth, /01 S.W.1@ "t 565.

The !o#i+( th"t We"ther$!oon re#ie$ on $t"te$ th"t Kit i$ the re$!on$i>i#it(

of e"+h @ivi$ion +hief . . . to +o##e+t the >"$i+ inform"tion re="r@in= the n"tre of the

+rimin"# vio#"tion, "n@ then refer th"t inform"tion to the Offi+e of S!e+i"#


20/41

4

Inve$ti="tion$ ti#iin= the "!!ro!ri"te form. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t

. R"ther th"n +re"te " =oo@:f"ith >e#ief th"t We"ther$!oonB$ $!ervi$or$ "re

"!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$, thi$ !o#i+( +onfirm$ th"t the( "re not.

The( +"nnot inve$ti="te or !ro$e+te +rime$M the( +"n on#( fi## ot !"!erwor? "n@

refer re!ort$ to other$ with the re#ev"nt "thorit(. We"ther$!oon +"nnot h"ve "

=oo@:f"ith >e#ief th"t her $!ervi$or$ were "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thoritie$

when thi$ !o#i+( m"@e +#e"r th"t $+h "thorit( #"( e#$ewhere. ee 0ela v. /ity of

*ouston, 452 S.W.1@ /3, 6/ 7Te&. A!!.Ho$ton 4$t %i$t. 006, no !et.8

7fin@in= no =oo@:f"ith >e#ief when the !#"intiff w"$ informe@ wh"t @e!"rtment w"$

"n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit( >t f"i#e@ to te## "n(one in th"t

@e!"rtment8.

The +ort of "!!e"#$ erre@ in +itin= Office of the Attorney General of Texas v.

Rodriguez, /0 S.W.1@ 33 7Te&. A!!.E# P"$o 04, no !et.8, for the !ro!o$ition

th"t the e&i$ten+e of "n intern"# !o#i+( @ire+tin= em!#o(ee$ to re!ort +rime$ to their

$!ervi$or$ tr"n$form$ tho$e $!ervi$or$ into "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement

"thoritie$. Weatherspoon, 04/ WL 905963, "t /. A#tho=h the +ort in

Rodriguez $t"te@ th"t OAG !o#i+ie$ reJire@ re!ort$ of fr"@ to >e m"@e to the

Ethi+$ A@vi$or, the +ort "#$o he#@ th"t, in the $!e+ifi+ +onte&t of the Rodriguez

re+or@, it w"$ o>e+tive#( re"$on">#e to >e#ieve th"t the Ethi+$ A@vi$or h"@


21/41

41

"thorit( to inve$ti="te +rimin"# +on@+t. Rodriguez, /0 S.W.1@ "t 401

7KRo@ri=e "#$o !ro@+e@ evi@en+e th"t the Ethi+$ A@vi$or h"@ the "thorit( to

inve$ti="te "##e="tion$ of fr"@ invo#vin= +rimin"# +on@+t, "n@, in f"+t, e&er+i$e@

th"t "thorit(.8. Withot th"t $e+on@ ho#@in= or the evi@en+e to $!!ort it,

Ro@ri=eB$ +#"im $ho#@ h"ve f"i#e@.

If " $!ervi$or Ki$ em!owere@ on#( to refer $$!e+te@ vio#"tion$ e#$ewhere

"n@ #"+?$ free:$t"n@in= re=#"tor(, enfor+ement, or +rime:fi=htin= "thorit(, then

$he i$ not "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(. Gentilello, 135 S.W.1@ "t 25.

The Cort h"$ inter!rete@ the @efinition to reJire "n o>e+tive#( re"$on">#e >e#ief

th"t the !er$on to whom the re!ort w"$ m"@e h"@ inve$ti="tor( or !ro$e+tori"#

!owernot "n o>e+tive#( re"$on">#e >e#ief th"t the !er$on wo#@ !"$$ her

inform"tion "#on= to $omeone e#$e. ee ,eedham, 5 S.W.1@ "t 14M see also !ueck,

30 S.W.1@ "t 552.

Re$!on$i>#e or="ni"tion$ h"ve !o#i+ie$, #i?e the OAG !o#i+( "t i$$e here,

informin= em!#o(ee$ wh"t to @o if the( $$!e+t i##e="# "+tivit(. In@ee@, Governor

Ri+? Perr( h"$ +omm"n@e@ $t"te "=en+ie$ to h"ve fr"@:!revention !ro=r"m$ "n@

!o#i+ie$. The Governor of the St"te of Te&., E&e+tive Or@er RP 12, )#( 4, 00/,

3 Te&. Re=. 913:/0. S+h !o#i+ie$ "re not !roof th"t the or="ni"tion wi$he$ to

hi@e i##e="# "+tivit(, >t r"ther evi@en+e th"t the or="ni"tion t"?e$ $+h re!ort$


22/41

4/

$erio$#(. Cort$ $ho#@ not $e tho$e !o#i+ie$ to e&!"n@ the !rote+tion$ of the

Whi$t#e>#ower A+t >e(on@ wh"t the Le=i$#"tre inten@e@.

III"

THIS CASE CONTAINS THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE COURT ISCONSIDERIN! IN OKOLI"

The i$$e$ in thi$ +"$e mirror tho$e th"t the Cort i$ +on$i@erin= in Okoli. In

Okoli, the Fir$t Cort of A!!e"#$ he#@ th"t the !#"intiffB$ re!ort of mi$+on@+t to

hi$ $!ervi$or$ w"$ $ffi+ient to invo?e the !rote+tion$ of the Whi$t#e>#ower A+t.

Tex. (ep)t of *uman ervs. v. Okoli, 149 S.W.1@ 500, 544 7Te&. A!!.Ho$ton

4$t %i$t. 040, !et. fi#e@8. In $o ho#@in=, the +ort of "!!e"#$ re#ie@ on "n intern"#

!o#i+( $t"tin= th"t K" referr"# to the Offi+e of In$!e+tor Gener"# wo#@ >e m"@e

for !o$$i>#e !ro$e+tion if "n em!#o(ee re!orte@ " vio#"tion of the Pen"# Co@e. 1d.

"t 509. 'e+"$e the Offi+e of In$!e+tor Gener"# w"$ +on$i@ere@ "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:

enfor+ement "thorit( "n@ w"$ !"rt of the Te&"$ %e!"rtment of Hm"n Servi+e$,

the +ort +on+#@e@ th"t the !#"intiffB$ re!ort to hi$ $!ervi$or$, who were not !"rt

of the Offi+e of In$!e+tor Gener"#, $"ti$fie@ the reJirement$ of the Whi$t#e>#ower

A+t. 1d. "t 540:44. Th$, Okoli !re$ent$ the $"me i$$e$ r"i$e@ in thi$ !etition;

whether " re!ort to one !"rt of " $t"te "=en+( i$ $ffi+ient if "nother !"rt of the

"=en+( i$ "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement "thorit(, "n@ whether " !o#i+( th"t

$!ervi$or$ wo#@ refer +rimin"# vio#"tion$ to "n "!!ro!ri"te #"w:enfor+ement

"thorit( !ermit$ in@ivi@"#$ to $ee? whi$t#e>#ower !rote+tion when the( re!ort


23/41

46

+rimin"# vio#"tion$ on#( to their $!ervi$or$. The Cort h"$ "#re"@( =r"nte@ review

"n@ he"r@ "r=ment in Okoli. It $ho#@ =r"nt thi$ !etition "$ we##.


24/41

42

PRAYER

The Cort $ho#@ =r"nt the !etition "n@ @i$mi$$ We"ther$!oonB$

Whi$t#e>#ower A+t +#"im for #"+? of $>e+t:m"tter ri$@i+tion.

Re$!e+tf##( $>mitte@.

GREG A''OTTAttorne( Gener"# of Te&"$

%ANIEL T.HO%GEFir$t A$$i$t"nt Attorne( Gener"#

)ONATHAN F.*ITCHELLSo#i+itor Gener"#

Q$Q 'eth #$m"nn'ETH L-S*ANNA$$i$t"nt So#i+itor Gener"#St"te '"r No. /012345

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALP.O. 'o& 46/5 7*C 0638A$tin, Te&"$ 95944:6/5Te#.; 7648 312:434/F"&; 7648 /9/:239'eth.#$m"nn


25/41

49

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

On )#( 5, 04/, thi$ Petition for Review w"$ $erve@ vi" Fi#e Serve!re$$

on;

Steven '. Thor!e$teve


26/41

APPENDIX


27/41

Appendix Table of Contents

Order Denying Plea to the Jurisdiction,

Apr. 16, 2013 (C.1!0"!1# ......................................................................................A

Judg$ent o% the &i%th Court o% Appeals,June 16, 201' ..........................................................................................................

Office of the Attorney General v. Weatherspoon,)o. 0!"13"00632"C*, 201' + 2-0-!/(e. App.Dallas, June 16, 201', pet. %iled# ........................................................C

4.5O* COD7 !!'.002 .................................................................................D


28/41

A


29/41

150

C

C.

{ \

:202

4 7 ~

CAUSE

NO. 09-06233

GINGER WEATHERSPOON,

Plafutiff,

v.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

OF

TEXAS,

Defendant.

OR ER

IN THE 68th JUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT OF

DALLASCOUKTY,TEXAS

Came on to be heard on the 1st day

of

April 2013 Defendant Office of the Attorney

General of Texas' Plea to the Jurisdiction, No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment,

Objection and Motion to Strike Untimely Petition, and

Motion to

Exclude Experts. After

considering said motions, the evidence, and re$ponses thereto, th Court is of the opinion that

Defendant's

plea .and motion for summary judgment should be denied, the

trial should

be

continued to accommodate any interlocutory appeal, and that Defendant's Objection and Motion

to Strike

Untimely Petition and Motion to Exclude Experts

were not reached.

T

IS THEREFORE ORDERED that

Defendant's

Plea

to

the Jurisdiction is hereby

DENIED, and the Court finds that Plaintiff

in

good faith made reports of alleged violations of

law to the appropriate law enforcement authorities under the \\'histleblower Act;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant's No-Evidence Motion for Summary

Judgment is hereby

DEKIED

on the

same

grounds as the

Plea

to the Jurisdiction;


30/41

151

IT IS

FURTIIER

ORDERED that the bearing scheduled for April 5 h on motion to

compel,

Defendant s

Objection and Motion to Strike Untimely Petition, and Motion to Exclude

_

Experts

is

postponed \llltil the Court

of

Appeals renders a decision on any interlocutory appeal of

the Plea

to

the Jurisdiction denial, and that trial of this case is now re-sch.eduled for August 6,

2013; and

S I G ~ thisi r

pril, 2013.

APPROXED AS

TO

FpR1v1

ONLY:

~ ~ ~

.

Ms.

Carla Hatcher

Pbimift7Jrf

William

T. Deane

Defendant's Attorney

HON. MARTIN J

HOFFMAN

2


31/41

B


32/41

11

SCourt of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

JUDGMENT

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,

Appellant

No. 05-13-00632-CV V.

GINGER WEATHERSPOON, Appellee

On Appeal from the 68th Judicial District

Court, Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. DC09-06233.Opinion delivered by Justice Evans.Justices O'Neill and Lang-Miers

participating.

In accordance with this Courts opinion of this date, the order of the trial court denying

appellant OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALs plea to the jurisdiction is AFFIRMED.

It is ORDERED that appellee GINGER WEATHERSPOON recover her costs of thisappeal from appellant OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Judgment entered this 16th day of June, 2014.

/David Evans/

DAVID EVANSJUSTICE


33/41

C


34/41

Office of Atty. Gen. v. Weatherspoon, --- S.W.3d ---- (2014)

2014 WL 2708759, 38 IER Cases 1028

2014 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. 1

2014 WL 2708759

NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED

FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PERMANENT LAW

REPORTS. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO

REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL.

Court of Appeals of Texas,

Dallas.

OFFICE OF the ATTORNEY GENERAL, Appellant

v.

Ginger WEATHERSPOON, Appellee.

No. 051300632CV. | June 16, 2014.

Synopsis

Background:Assistant attorney general who worked in the

Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General(OAG) brought action against OAG, alleging violation of

Whistleblower Act after she was allegedly terminated for

reporting suspected criminal violations by a co-worker to

her Division head. The 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas

County, Martin Hoffman, J., denied OAG's plea to the

jurisdiction. OAG appealed.

[Holding:] The Court of Appeals, Evans, J., held that

assistant attorney general's report to Division head was made

to an appropriate law enforcement authority under Act.

Affirmed.

West Headnotes (8)

[1] Courts

Determination of Questions of Jurisdiction

in GeneralWhether a trial court has subject matter

jurisdiction is a question of law.

Cases that cite this headnote

[2] Appeal and Error

Cases Triable in Appellate Court

Court of Appeals reviews de novo whether a

plaintiff has set forth facts that affirmatively

demonstrate a trial court's subject matter

jurisdiction.


[3] Pleading

Scope of Inquiry and Matters Considered in

General

Pleading

Questions of Law and Fact

Where a plea to the jurisdiction challenges the

existence of jurisdictional facts, the trial court

considers the relevant evidence submitted by the

parties to resolve the jurisdictional issues, and

if the evidence does not negate jurisdiction as a

matter of law or if it creates a fact issue, the courtshould deny the plea.


[4] Officers and Public Employees

Grounds for Removal or Other Adverse

Action

For sovereign immunity for claims brought

under the Whistleblower Act to be waived,

the plaintiff must be a public employee and

properly allege a violation of the Act. V.T.C.A.,Government Code 554.0035.




Action

Court of Appeals determines whether the

jurisdictional prerequisite of alleging a violation

of the Whistleblower Act, as element of waiver

of sovereign immunity, has been met by

examining the elements of a whistleblower claim

as set forth in the Act. V.T.C.A., Government

Code 554.002(a, b), 554.0035.


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35/41


2014 WL 2708759, 38 IER Cases 1028



Action

Reports made internally by a public

employee may satisfy the requirements of the

Whistleblower Act if the employer has not only

internal authority to require compliance, but also

the power to enforce, investigate, or prosecute

violations against third parties outside the public

employer itself. V.T.C.A., Government Code

554.002(a, b).


[7] Attorney General

Deputies, Assistants, and Substitutes

Report that assistant attorney general in the

Child Support Division of Office of the

Attorney General (OAG) made to head ofDivision concerning fellow employee's alleged

criminal violations was made to an appropriate

law enforcement authority as required by

Whistleblower Act; assistant attorney general

was required to report suspected criminal

violations only to her Division head, who was

required to forward report to Office of Special

Investigations, and the Division and its head

were part of the OAG, which was authorized

through its Office of Special Investigations to

investigate or prosecute violations of criminallaw. V.T.C.A., Government Code 554.002(a,

b); V.T.C.A., Penal Code 39.015.




Action

The power of the Office of the Attorney General

(OAG) to investigate allegations of criminal

conduct is, standing alone, sufficient to makeit an appropriate law enforcement authority

to receive a report of a violation within the

meaning of the Whistleblower Act. V.T.C.A.,

Government Code 554.002.


Attorneys and Law Firms

Amanda CochranMcCall, James B. Eccles, Shelley Alisa

Dahlberg, Daniel T. Hodge, William T. Deane, David C.

Mattax, Greg Abbott, Austin, for Appellant.

Steven B. Thorpe, Carla S. Hatcher, Dallas, for Appellee.

Before Justices O'NEILL, LANGMIERS, and EVANS.

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by Justice EVANS.

*1 The Office of the Attorney General appeals the denial of

its plea to the jurisdiction in this suit under the Whistleblower

Act. The OAG contends the trial court erred in concludingGinger Weatherspoon made a good faith report of a violation

of law to an appropriate law enforcement authority and

in determining that it had subject matter jurisdiction over

Weatherspoon's claims. Because we conclude Weatherspoon

sufficiently alleged a claim under the Act to invoke subject

matter jurisdiction, we affirm the trial court's order.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

As the basis for her whistleblower suit, Ginger Weatherspoonalleged the following facts. Weatherspoon began working

for the OAG as an assistant attorney general in the Child

Support Division in July 2006. According to Weatherspoon,

on February 1, 2008, two senior regional attorneys with the

OAG, James Jones and Harry Monck, ordered her to report

her recent interactions with a district judge. In response,

Weatherspoon sent them an e-mail containing facts about a

conversation with the judge. Four days later, Weatherspoon

received an e-mail with an attached affidavit for her to sign

concerning her conversation. A managing attorney with the

OAG, Paula Crockett, told her they intended to use theaffidavit as evidence to have the judge recused from hearing

cases involving the OAG. The affidavit was also going to

be used to support a judicial misconduct complaint against

the judge. Weatherspoon refused to sign the affidavit stating

that she believed it misrepresented various facts regarding her

conversation with the judge and mischaracterized the tone and

nature of the conversation.
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2014 WL 2708759, 38 IER Cases 1028


According to Weatherspoon, on February 11, Jones sent

Weatherspoon an e-mail ordering her to sign the affidavit.

Weatherspoon responded that the affidavit was false as

written and asked if she could revise it. Jones rejected

Weatherspoon's request and Weatherspoon again refused

to sign the affidavit. When Jones continued to insist that

Weatherspoon sign the affidavit, Weatherspoon reported the

matter to Crockett.

Weatherspoon alleged that the next day, Jones ordered her to

appear at the OAG administrative office to sign the affidavit.

When Weatherspoon continued to refuse to sign, Jones began

to yell and slammed his fist on the desk. Weatherspoon was

then ordered into a separate room and was told she could

not leave until she had prepared a written statement against

the judge. Weatherspoon attempted to make a report about

Jones's conduct to his direct supervisor, but Jones prevented

her from doing so. Weatherspoon was finally allowed to

leave after she prepared a written statement concerning her

conversation with the judge. According to Weatherspoon, the

report she created was accurate.

Weatherspoon stated that, immediately after being allowed

to leave, she contacted Crockett to report Jones's attempts to

force her to sign the allegedly false affidavit. Weatherspoon

asserted that Jones was exerting pressure in his official

capacity in violation of the Texas Penal Code provisions

concerning abuse of official capacity and official oppression.

Weatherspoon further asserted that Jones's insistence that she

sign a false affidavit constituted subornation of perjury inviolation of federal law. Weatherspoon reported the same

violations to her managing attorney, an attorney trainer,

an attorney in the open records department, and to Alicia

Key, the Child Support Director for the OAG, and Charles

Smith, the Deputy Director of Child Support. Key told

Weatherspoon that the Attorney General wanted Key to

personally apologize for what happened and that they would

look into it and there would be a full investigation.Key also

told Weatherspoon not to discuss the matter with anyone.

*2 The OAG has mandatory procedures for reportingviolations of law occurring within its office. The OAG

Policies and Procedures Manual states that,

[i]t is the policy of the Office of

the Attorney General that all potential

criminal violations be referred to the

appropriate division of the Office

of Special Investigations. Employees

shall notify their division chief upon

learning of a potential criminal

violation. This includes violations

discovered in the performance of their

regular duties or assignments and/or

requests for assistance from outside

agencies. It is the responsibility

of each division chief, or their

designee, to collect the basic

information regarding the nature of the

criminal violation, and then refer that

information to the Office of Special

Investigations utilizing the appropriate

form.... Under no circumstances shall

an employee not assigned to OSI refer

a criminal violation encountered in

the course of their official duties to

an outside law enforcement agency

unless exigent circumstances exist that

threaten the immediate loss of life,

and then only with the knowledge and

approval of Executive Administration.

Weatherspoon claimed that, after she reported the alleged

violations in compliance with the OAG's policy, she

was retaliated against and eventually terminated from her

position. Weatherspoon exhausted the OAG's grievance

procedures and filed this suit asserting that her termination

was done in violation of the Whistleblower Act.

The OAG filed a plea to the jurisdiction contending thatWeatherspoon failed to allege sufficient facts to establish

a whistleblower violation and a consequent waiver of the

OAG's sovereign immunity. The OAG also filed a no-

evidence motion for summary judgment on the same grounds.

Weatherspoon responded and submitted an affidavit setting

forth the facts she contended formed the basis of her claims.

The trial court denied the OAG's plea and motion for

summary judgment. The OAG then brought this interlocutory

appeal from the trial court's denial of its plea to the

jurisdiction.

ANALYSIS

[1] [2] [3] Whether a trial court has subject matter

jurisdiction is a question of law. See Tex. Natural Res.

Conservation Comm'n v. ITDavy, 74 S.W.3d 849, 855

(Tex.2002). We review de novowhether a plaintiff has set

forth facts that affirmatively demonstrate a trial court's subject
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2014 WL 2708759, 38 IER Cases 1028


matter jurisdiction. See Tex. Dep't. of Parks and Wildlife v.

Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex.2004). Where a plea

to the jurisdiction challenges the existence of jurisdictional

facts, as is the case here, the court considers the relevant

evidence submitted by the parties to resolve the jurisdictional

issues.Id.at 227.If the evidence does not negate jurisdiction

as a matter of law or if it creates a fact issue, the trial court

should deny the plea. See Office of Attorney Gen. of Tex. v.

Rodriguez,420 S.W.3d 99, 102 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2012, no

pet.).

[4] [5] Section 554.0035 of the Texas Government Code

expressly waives sovereign immunity for claims brought

under the Texas Whistleblower Act. SeeTEX. GOV'T CODE

ANN. 554.0035 (West 2012). For immunity to be waived,

however, the plaintiff must be a public employee and properly

allege a violation of the Act. See State v. Lueck,290 S.W.3d

876, 881 (Tex.2009). We determine whether the jurisdictional

prerequisite of alleging a violation has been met by examining

the elements of a whistleblower claim as set forth in section

554.002 of the government code. SeeMullins v. Dallas Indep.

Sch. Dist.,357 S.W.3d 182, 186 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2012, pet.

denied).

*3 Under section 554.002, a state or local governmental

entity may not suspend or terminate the employment of,

or take other adverse personnel action against, a public

employee who in good faith reports a violation of law by the

employing governmental entity or another public employee to

an appropriate law enforcement authority.SeeTEX. GOV'TCODE ANN. 554.002(a). A report is made to an appropriate

law enforcement authority if the authority is a part of a state

or local governmental entity or of the federal government

that the employee in good faith believes is authorized to: (1)

regulate under or enforce the law alleged to be violated in the

report; or (2) investigate or prosecute a violation of criminal

law.Id. 554.002(b).

[6] In this case, Weatherspoon alleged that she made

a report concerning a fellow public employee who had

allegedly committed violations of criminal law, includingabuse of official capacity, official oppression, and suborning

perjury, and that her employment was terminated as a

result. Weatherspoon further alleged that she made her

reports to numerous people including the head of her

division at the OAG as required by the OAG's policies

and procedures manual. On appeal, the OAG presents a

single issue contending these allegations fail to show that

Weatherspoon made her report to an appropriate law

enforcement authority as required by the Act. In making

this argument, the OAG relies heavily on cases holding that

reports made internally to one's own employer are generally

insufficient to invoke the Act's protections. See e.g. Univ.

of Tex. Sw. Med. Ctr. at Dallas v. Gentilello,398 S.W.3d

680, 68586 (Tex.2013). This is because an employer's ability

to require internal compliance with a law does not equate

with the power to regulate or enforce the law, or investigate

or prosecute violations of the law as required by the Act's

definition of appropriate law enforcement authority. See

id.As noted by the Texas Supreme Court, however, reports

made internally may satisfy the requirements of the Act

if the employer has not only internal authority to require

compliance, but also the power to enforce, investigate, or

prosecute violations against third parties outside the entity

itself. Id. at 686.For example, a police officer may report

a criminal act committed by her partner to the appropriate

supervisor or division of the police department and come

under the protections of the Act.Id.

[7] [8] The OAG argues that Weatherspoon did not

make her report to an appropriate law enforcement authority

because she reported the alleged criminal violations only to

her division head and others in the Child Support Division.

It is undisputed that the Child Support Division does not

address allegations against third parties of criminal fraud and

abuse of office. It is also undisputed, however, that the Child

Support Division is part of the OAG. The evidence presented

by Weatherspoon shows that the OAG, through its Office

of Special Investigations, has the authority to investigatecomplaints not only of internal fraud and corruption, but

also fraud and corruption by third parties. Furthermore, the

OAG has concurrent jurisdiction with the consent of the local

prosecutor to prosecute abuses of official capacity and official

oppression by third parties.1

SeeTEX. PENAL CODE ANN.

39.015 (West 2011).

*4 Pursuant to the OAG's own policies and procedures,

Weatherspoon's division head at the OAG was required to

refer Weatherspoon's report to the OAG's Office of Special

Investigations. As stated above, section 554.002(b) of the

government code provides that a report is made to an

appropriate law enforcement authority if the authority to

whom the report is made is part of a governmental entity

that the employee believes in good faith is authorized to

investigate or prosecute a violation of criminal law. Because

the Child Support Division and, consequently, its division

head are part of the OAG, and the OAG, through its

Office of Special Investigations, is authorized to investigate
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