Property owner sues city of Plano for disregard of civil rights

A businessman brought a lawsuit against a municipality for alleged unlawful property infringement in 2014.

Bill Lisle III and Smith-Lisle Holdings filed suit against the city of Plano in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas on May 28, claiming property violation in January 2014.

The suit states that the defendant sought to deprive plaintiffs the use of their property and improperly fined them. Smith-Lisle owns property at 813 18th Street, Plano, where Lisle constructed a driveway on or about Jan. 14, 2014.

According to the filing, the defendant issued a stop-work order pursuant to a city ordinance regarding building code based on a neighbor’s complaint without inspecting the premises. The plaintiff contends that driveways are exempt from the building code regulation.

Alleging that the city cited him for failure to obey the order and found him guilty at a Nov. 5, 2014 trial in Plano Municipal Court; and arguing that the defendant signed the stop work order after admitting said order was improper, the plaintiff further cites the defendant for ignoring the decisions of additional authorities called in the matter.

Claiming denial of due process and fourteenth amendment rights; loss of business; and monetary losses in fines and court costs, Lisle requests general, special and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest; attorney’s fees; expenses, and costs.

He is represented by The Law Offices of Dan Chern of Dallas.

Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case 4:15-cv-00372-ALM