Texas Landlord Fails To Prove Takings Claim Against Baytown

A landlord who accused the city of Baytown of taking his property after the city put a lien on it for roughly $1,150 over unpaid utilities failed to prove that the city’s actions qualified as an unconstitutional taking, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Instead, the “true nature” of the claims lies in the “wrongful enforcement” by the city of an ordinance that prevents a new utility line at a property with an outstanding bill, the state’s high court said.

Alan Schrock alleged that he lost a tenant and his property eventually fell into disrepair because the city refused to ...