City of San Antonio et al v. United States of America et al

Filing 1

City of San Antonio's Ex Parte MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Colleen Bridger, City of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg, Erik Walsh. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Filing Fee Receipt)(nm) Modified on 3/2/2020 (nm).

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 1 of 12

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SAN ANTONIO DIVISION

FILED
MAR 0 2

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
§
RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR FOR
§
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO;
§
ERIK WALSH, CITY MANAGER FOR §
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO; AND §
DR. COLLEEN BRIDGER, ASSISTANT §
CITY MANAGER FOR THE
§
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
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Plaintiffs,
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vs.

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CLeRK.

UpS.

2020

DISTRICT CLERK

WESTERN ISTI(COF TEXAS
BY

I\J4V
DEPUTY

S A2OCAO2rD5
CIVIL ACTION NO.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
JOHN F. BASH, UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY FOR THE
WESTERN OF DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WILLIAM P. BARR, ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE;
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES;
ALEX AZAR, SECRETARY OF
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES;
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION;
ROBERT REDFIELD, DIRECTOR OF
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL;
MARK ESPER, SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE;
JEROME ADAMS, UNITED STATES
SURGEON GENERAL
Defendants.

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PLAINTIFF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S
EX PARTE MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page

1

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 2 of 12

TO THE HONORABLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT:

NOW COME Plaintiffs, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR FOR
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO; ERIK WALSH, CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN
ANTONIO; DR. COLLEEN BRIDGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF
SAN ANTONIO ("Plaintiffs"), in the above styled and numbered cause and files this its Original

Complaint and Application for Temporary Restraining Order and would show unto the Court as
follows:

I. PARTIES
1.

PLAINTIFF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ("Plaintiff') is a home rule municipality in the

State of Texas.
2.

RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, is an individual

residing in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
3.

ERIK WALSH, CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, is an individual

residing in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
4.

DR. COLLEEN BRIDGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN

ANTONIO, is an individual residing in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
5.

Defendant UNITED STATES OF AMERICA may be served with process by delivery a

copy of the summons and complaint via certified mail to each of the following:
a.

John F. Bash, Esq. United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas,

b.

William P. Barr Esq., Attorney General of the United States, U.S. Department of

Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, Attn: Civil Process Clerk;
c.

Department of Defense, 1400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1400.

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 2

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 3 of 12

d.

William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States Department of

Defense;
e.

Department Of Health And Human Services;

f.

Alex Azar, Secretary Of Department Of Health And Human Services;

g.

Center For Disease Control And Prevention;

h.

Robert Redfield, Director Of Center For Disease Control;

i.

Mark Esper, Secretary Of Defense; and

j.

Jerome Adams, United States Surgeon General.

II. JURISDICTION and VENUE
6.

This action is brought pursuant to the 42 U.S.C.

§

264 et seq. for equitable relief against

the United States government to take steps allowed by law to prevent the spread of communicable
disease by exercising its quarantine authority.
7.

This action arises out of incidents occurring in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. San

Antonio is in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.
8.

Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§

1402(b) because the incident occurred

in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
9.

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus, now designated COVID-19, was detected in

Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness

of breath. Outcomes have ranged from mild to severe illness, and in some cases death.
10.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General declared the

outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), advising

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page

3

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 4 of 12

countries to prepare for the containment, detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing
and prevention of onward spread of the disease.
11.

United States nationals were transported from Wuhan City, China to several secure

locations within the United States identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), including Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (Lackland) in San Antonio, Texas, in order to
ensure the health and wellbeing of those persons.
12.

On February 7, 2020, 91 Americans evacuated from Wuhan City, China (Cohort 1) arrived

at Lackland, with one person diagnosed with the virus and transported to a local hospital.
13.

On February 17, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control evacuated 144 passengers from a

cruise ship docked in Japan (Cohort 2) to Lackland.
14.

On February 20, 2020, 90 evacuees from Cohort

1

were released from quarantine and

returned to their homes.
15.

Persons in Cohort 2 that have not exhibited symptoms or have tested negative for the virus

were originally set to be released from quarantine at Lackland on March 2, 2020.
16.

To date, ten (10) persons evacuated to Lackland have tested positive for the virus and it is

anticipated that the number of persons diagnosed with the virus is likely to increase, as testing for
the virus continues.
17.

All persons quarantined at Lackland and transported to local hospitals are in zero-pressure

facilities and being attended to by staff following established CDC protocols for handling these

patients in an effort to minimize the potential hazard to the residents of San Antonio and Bexar

County and beyond."
18.

On Saturday, February 29, 2020, one of the persons in Cohort

1

who had tested positive

for COVID-19 and subsequently tested negative on two tests was released from quarantine.
Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 4

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 5 of 12

However, this person tested positive for the virus on a third test, with results coming in after her
release. This person visited a local mall, ate at its food court, and spent a few hours among other

persons, potentially exposing the public to the virus.
19.

The person has been returned to quarantine at Lackland while the CDC and local health

authorities are taking steps to ensure the community and the global community at large is kept safe
and the exposure risk is minimized.
20.

It is necessary to the public health of the residents of San Antonio and surrounding areas

that those quarantined persons at Lackland remain within the confines of those safe, secure
facilities during the quarantine period following their exposure to the virus.
21.

Following the release of the person from Cohort

1

and positive test after that release, the

imminent movement of those quarantined at Lackland by the CDC to other facilities within the
City limits or transport to the San Antonio International Airport for travel to another secure
location increases the risks to the residents of the greater San Antonio area, creating a public health
threat, requiring the City to mitigate the risk of disease and manage the concerns of residents.
22.

The identification of "community spread" cases of COVID- 19 in the United States could

potentially signal that transmission of the virus may no longer be limited to travel to China, or
contact with travelers who have visited China.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
23.

A preliminary injunction is "an extraordinary remedy that may only be awarded upon a

clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief." Winter v. Natural Res. Def Council, 555
U.S. 7, 24 (2008). A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish (1) a substantial

likelihood of success on the merits; (2) a substantial threat of irreparable injury if the injunction is
not granted; (3) that their substantial injury outweighs the threatened harm to the party whom they
Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 5

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 6 of 12

seek to enjoin; and (4) that granting the preliminary injunction will not disserve the public interest.

Planned Parenthood Ass'n. of Hidalgo Cty. Tex., Inc.

accord Canal Auth. of F/a.

v.

v.

Suehs, 692 F.3d 343, 348 (5th Cir. 2012);

Callaway, 489 F.2d 567, 572 (5th Cir. 1974). The party seeking the

preliminary injunction bears the burden of persuasion on all four requirements. Bluefield Water
Ass'n, Inc.

v.

City

of Starkville, Miss., 577 F.3d 250, 253 (5th Cir. 2009) (emphasis added). A

plaintiff must establish the same elements for issuance of a permanent injunction. eBay Inc.

v.

MercExchange, L.L.C., 547 U.S. 388, 391 (2006).
24.

The Fifth Circuit applies a "sliding scale" analysis balancing the likelihood of ultimate

success in the end of the case with the "consequences of immediate irreparable injury that possibly
could flow from the denial of preliminary relief." Tex.

v.

Seatrain Int'l., S.A., 518 F.2d 175, 180

(5th Cir.1975) (citing Klitzman, Klitzman & Gallagher v. Krut, 744 F.2d 955, 958 (3d Cir.1984)).

Granting an injunction is an "exception rather than the rule," especially considering it is an

extraordinary remedy. Miss. Power & Light Co.

v.

United Gas Pipe Line Co., 760 F.2d 618, 621

(5th Cir. 1985). In this case, there is no question these extraordinary facts require an extraordinary

remedy.
25.

The City will file a formal complaint as soon as practicable, but the urgency of this situation

requires emergency relief as the City was placed with these factual circumstances based on the
unorganized process and procedures for releasing of the evacuees which were already planned, but
were evidently not proper with the release of an infected evacuee based on lack of communication.
No other relief is appropriate to prevent the grave risk of serious and irreparable harm to the
Citizens of San Antonio and across the country as those evacuees travelling can continue to affect
others to a deadly disease, as acknowledged by Defendants.

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 6

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 7 of 12

Elements of Injunctive Relief

A.

a. Substantial likelihood that the City will prevail on the merits.

The course of conduct by the Defendants to continue to release the COVID-19 evacuees

26.

will introduce an extraordinary public health risk to the City as already evidenced with the one
evacuee who was released, but still was contaminated. The City will likely succeed in at a

minimum requiring more specific procedures to avoid the incredible public health risk by releasing
the evacuee into the densely populated are of San Antonio. The City alleges its due process will
be violated without taking adequate and specific steps to present transmission of COVID- 19 and
the Defendants will violate the City and the other Plaintiffs substantive and procedural due process

rights and civil rights.'

b. There is a substantial threat to the public and Plaintiffs which is 2reater than the
iniury to the Defendants.
The plan violates the Administrative Procedure Act due to the federal Defendants' failure

27.

to consult with and incorporate local government in the planning and implementation process,

and risks imposing a serious burden on the City's emergency services.

There is no question the public interest is served by granting a preliminary
in junction.
c.

28.

There is no greater interest than the public health, safety and welfare to the citizens of San

Antonio, and the greater community at large by granting the injunctive relief.

Municipalities have standing to sue for due process violations. See Gomillion V. Lightfoot, 364 U.S. 339, 344-45
(observing that "the Court has never acknowledged that the States have power to do as they will with municipal
corporations regardless of consequences. Legislative control of municipalities, no less than other state power, lies
within the scope of relevant limitations imposed by the United States Constitution").
Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
Page 7
And Motion for TRO
(1960)

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 8 of 12

REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
29.

Pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the City requests the Court

grant this Preliminary Injunction.
30.

Specifically, the City of San Antonio prays the Court maintain the status quo of the Surgeon

General's exercise of quarantine authority to protect the health and safety of the residents of San
Antonio, Texas.
31.

The City of San Antonio prays the Court require three tests for COVID- 19 be required of

all individuals currently housed under such Orders.
32.

That the Court require Defendants to specifically outline the required protocols prior to

releasing the individuals under such Orders, between the CDC, the State of Texas, and the City of
San Antonio, including communication of the results of the three tests no less than 24 hours prior
to release among all three entities.
33.

The Plaintiffs recognize that due process is required for these individuals, but until we can

confirm they are indeed negative communicators, they need to continue to be quarantined (thinking
at least 28 days) before traveling all over the City and then traveling all over the country which

will cause irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs, let alone the community at large.

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 8

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 9 of 12

Respectfully submitted,
DENTON NAVARRO ROCHA BERNAL & ZECH
A Professional Corporation
2517 N. Main Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Telephone:
[phone]
Facsimile:
[phone]
[e-mail]
clarissa.rodri uez(ramDae-sa. corn
í

/ Lfl

il/I

I

PATRICK C.'BR4AL
State Bar No. 022Ø750
CLARISSA M. RIQbRIGUEZ
State Bar No. 240'6222
Deborah Lynne Klein
Deputy City Attorney for
The City of Antonio
100. W. Houston Street, Floor 18
Frost Bank Tower
San Antonio, Texas 78205
State Bar No. 11556750
Deborah. Klein(sanantonio .gov

Donna K. McElroy
Dykema
112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 1800
San Antonio, Texas 78205
State Bar No. 13582050
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO

Plaintiff City of San Antonio's
And Motion for TRO

Page 9

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 10 of 12

AFFIDAVIT OF MARIO MARTINEZ
STATE OF TEXAS

§
§

COUNTY OF BEXAR

§

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority,

personally appeared Mario Martinez, who,

after

being duly sworn, deposes and says:

to testify
the age of 18, of sound mind, am competent
"My name is Mario Martinez. I am over
of the San
Director
contained herein. I am an Assistant
and have personal knowledge of the facts
Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan City,
2019 a novel coronavirus, now designated
In December
shortness of breath.
COVID-19 include fever, cough, and
Hubei Province, China. Symptoms of
in some cases death. On January 30, 2020,
ranged from mild to severe illness, and
Outcomes have
19 as a Public
General declared the outbreak of COVIDthe World Health Organization Director
advising countries to prepare for the
of International Concern (PHEIC),
of onward
Health Emergency
management, contact tracing and prevention
several
containment, detection, isolation and case
transported from Wuhan City, China to
of the disease. United States nationals were
spread
Centers for Disease Control and
the United States identified by the
secure locations within
(Lackland) in San Antonio, Texas,
(CDC), including Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
Prevention
of those persons.
in order to ensure the health and wellbeing
arrived at
from Wuhan City, China (Cohort 1)
7, 2020, 91 Americans evacuated
to a local
On February
person developed symptoms and transported
Lackland. On February 11, 2020, one
144 passengers
the Centers for Disease Control evacuated
medical center. On February 17, 2020,
20, 2020, 90 evacuees
(Cohort 2) to Lackland. On February
from a cruise ship docked in Japan
Cohort 2 that
and returned to their homes. Persons in
1 were released from quarantine
from Cohort
to be released
negative for the virus were originally set
have not exhibited symptoms or have tested
eleven (11) persons evacuated to Lackland
at Lackland on March 2, 2020. To date,
from quarantine
quarantined
persons are pending test results. All persons
have tested positive for the virus and two
are in negative-pressure rooms and being
and transported to a local medical center
at Lackland
for handling these patients in an effort to
following established CDC protocols
attended to by staff
of San Antonio and Bexar County.
minimize the potential hazard to the residents
positive for
persons in Cohort 1 who had tested
Saturday, February 29, 2020, one bf the
On
from quarantine.
negative on two tests, was released
COVID-19, and subsequently tested
coming in after
for the virus on a third test, with results
However, this person later tested positive
its food court, and spent a few hours among
This person visited a local mall, ate at
her release.
returned to
public to the virus. This person has been
other persons, potentially exposing the
authorities are taking steps to ensure the
at a medical center while the local health
quarantine
public health of
risk is minimized. It is necessary for the
community is kept safe and the exposure
those quarantined persons at Lackland
of San Antonio and surrounding areas that
the residents
period following
secure facilities during the quarantine
remain within the confines of those safe,
pose a risk
testing has determined that they do not
exposure to the virus, and until sufficient
their

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 11 of 12

AFFIDAVIT OF MARIO MARTINEZ
STATE OFTEXAS

§
§

COUNTY OF BEXAR

§

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Mario Martinez, who, after
being duly sworn, deposes and says:
"My name is Mario Martinez. I am over the age of 18, of sound mind, am competent to testify
and have personal knowledge of the facts contained herein. I am an Assistant Director of the San
Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
In December 2019 a novel coronavirus, now designated COVID-19, was detected inWuhan City,
Hubei Province, China Symptoms of COVID-19 include fevei, cough, and shortness of breath
Outcomes have ranged from mild to severe illness, and in some cases death. On January 30, 2020,
the World Health Organization Director General declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public
Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), advising countries to prepare for the
containment, detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward
spread of the disease United States nationals were tiansported from Wuhan City, China to several
secure locations within the United States identified by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), including Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (Lackland) in San Antonio, Texas,
in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of those persons.
On February 7, 2020, 91 Americans evacuated from Wuhan City, China (Cohort 1) arrived at
Lackland. On February 11, 2020, one person developed symptoms and transported to a local
medical center. On February 17, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control evacuated 144 passengers
from a cruise ship docked in Japan (Cohort 2) to Lackland. On February 20, 2020, 90 evacuees
from Cohort 1 were released from quarantine and returned to their homes. Persons in Cohort 2 that
have not exhibited symptoms or have tested negative for the virus were originally set to be released
from quarantine at Lackland on March 2,2020. To date, eleven (11) persons evacuated to Lackland
have tested positive for the virus and two persons are pending test results. All persons quarantined
at Lackland and transported to a local medical center are in negative-pressure rooms and being
attended to by staff following established CDC protocols for handling these patients in an effort to
minimize the potential hazard to the residents of San Antonio and Bexar County.
On Saturday, February 29, 2020, one of the persons in Cohort 1 who had tested positive for
COVID-19, and subsequently tested negative on two tests, was released from quarantine.
However, this person later tested positive for the virus on a third test, with results coming in after
her release. This person visited a local mall, ate at its food cdurt, and spent a few hours among
other persons, potentially exposing the public to the virus. This person has been returned to
quarantine at a medical center while the local health authorities are taking steps to ensure the
community is kept safe and the exposure risk is minimized. It is necessary for the public health of
the residents of San Antonio and surrounding areas that those quarantined persons at Lackland
remain within the confines of those safe, secure facilities during the quarantine period following
their exposure to the virus, and until sufficient testing has determined that they do not pose a risk

Case 5:20-cv-00255-XR Document 1 Filed 03/02/20 Page 12 of 12

to the residents of San Antonio, the surrounding area, and I1iow travelers throughout the United

States.
The identification of "community spread" cases of COVID-i9 in the United States could
potentially signal thai transmission of the virus may no longer be limited to travel to China, or
contact with travelers who have visited China. When coupled with recent local events it is
imperative that quarantined persons remain at Lacldand until it has been determined that they pose
no threat of contributing to the spread of COVID- 9.
I

Afflant says nothing further"

Mario Martinez

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, by the said
day of March, A.D.,
Mario Martinez, to certi ly which, witness my hand and seal of office, this
2020

2'

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'b'

MARLENAGUAIARDO
My Notary JD # 10002560
Expires t4ovemberl5,2022

-

I

Notar Public, State of Texa: