BEAUMONT – The Ninth Court of Appeals has issued a mandate affirming a ruling dismissing a wrongful termination suit brought against the city of Port Arthur by a former employee.
Court records show the lawsuit was brought by Samer Shobassy. The Ninth Court affirmed the dismissal on Nov. 19 and issued the mandate Jan. 28.
In his suit, Shobassy alleged the city fired him in retaliation for voicing his concerns with practices the city followed in hiring certain contractors.
Shobassy started working for the City of Port Arthur as an assistant city attorney in October 2010. A year in, other city employees began complaining about how Sobassy performed his work.
For example, in 2012 and 2013, officers in the city’s police and fire departments complained to the city attorney that Shobassy appeared in arbitration proceedings for their departments but failed to adequately prepare witnesses to testify before presenting them in the proceedings.
On appeal, Shobassy argued the trial court erred in denying his request to amend his pleadings.
The record shows that following the hearing on the city’s combined plea to the jurisdiction, Shobassy moved to amend his pleadings.
The Ninth Court concluded the trial court did not err in granting the city’s combined plea, affirming the dismissal of the suit.
Appeals case No. 09-18-00363-CV
Jefferson County trial cause No. E-198,231