Tex. Codes » Labor Code · TITLE 2. PROTECTION OF LABORERS · SUBTITLE A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION · CHAPTER 21. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
Texas Codes

Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055 (2026)

Retaliation

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 21.055. RETALIATION. An employer, labor union, or employment agency commits an unlawful employment practice if the employer, labor union, or employment agency retaliates or discriminates against a person who, under this chapter:

(1) opposes a discriminatory practice;

(2) makes or files a charge;

(3) files a complaint; or

(4) testifies, assists, or participates in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 326 cases (97 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Catherine Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018).
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Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Catherine Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018). · cites it 3× “TEX. LAB. CODE § 21.055. Title VII also contains an anti-retaliation provision.”
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union No. 988, 23 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 13× “TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.055 (Vernon *526 1996).”
Dias v. Goodman Mfg. Co., 214 S.W.3d 672 (Tex. App. 2007). · cites it 5× “1 Because Goodman did not engage in protected conduct and Texas Labor Code section 21.055 does not recognize a cause of action for retaliation against a person who has not personally engaged in a protected activity, we affirm.”
Univ. of Texas v. Poindexter, 306 S.W.3d 798 (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.055 (West 2006). [5] The majority relies on the omission of the word "retaliation" or an appropriate "synonym" in Poindexter's May 2001 letters and the verification of her June 2001 charge, concluding that she "knew (and should have protested, if…”
Davis v. Educ. Serv. Ctr., 62 S.W.3d 890 (Tex. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “She sued Region VIII and her supervisor, Scott Ferguson, for retaliation under Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.055 (Vernon 1996) 1 and for intentional Infliction of emotional distress.”
Lorenzo Pineda, III v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 360 F.3d 483 (5th Cir. 2004). · cites it 3× “1 See Tex. Lab.Code § 21.055 (Vernon 1996) (“An employer commits an unlawful employment practice if the employer retaliates against a person who (1) opposes a discriminatory practice; (2) makes or files a charge; (3) files a complaint; or (4) testifies, assists, or participates…”
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. v. Zeltwanger, 144 S.W.3d 438 (Tex. 2004). · cites it 2× “("Roche"), for sexual harassment under Texas Labor Code section 21.051, retaliation under Texas Labor Code section 21.”
Donaldson v. Texas Dep't of Aging & Disability Servs., 495 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “It further asserts that even if Donaldson established his prima facie case, he failed to overcome the legitimate non-retaliatory reasons for his termination.”
City of Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147 (Tex. 2008). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Lab.Code § 21.055. Covered “employees” under the Act include public employees (except elected officials), *151 and covered “employers” include counties, municipalities, state agencies, and state in-strumentalities, regardless of the number of individuals employed.”
Exxon Mobil Corp., Whm Custom Servs., Inc., & Disa, Inc. v. Gilberto Rincones, 520 S.W.3d 572 (Tex. 2017). “retaliates or discriminates against a person who, under this chapter: (1) opposes a discriminatory practice; (2) makes or files a charge; (3) files a complaint; or (4) testifies, assists, or participates in any manner in' an investigation, proceeding, or hearing.”
Nairn v. Killeen Indep. Sch. Dist., 366 S.W.3d 229 (Tex. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “between her report objecting to an incident of alleged sexual harassment” and KISD’s proposal for non-renewal; (3) there was no evidence that Nairn had “a reasonable belief of unlawful conduct” when she reported an incident of *238 alleged sexual harassment; (4) Nairn’s contract…”
Wholey v. Roebuck, 803 A.2d 482 (Md. 2002). · cites it 2× “); TEX. LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.055 (West 1996)(declaring retaliation against employees for reporting violation to be an unfair employment practice); VT.”
Show all 326 citing cases →
— Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055(1) — 13 cases
Nairn v. Killeen Indep. Sch. Dist., 366 S.W.3d 229 (Tex. App. 2012). “between her report objecting to an incident of alleged sexual harassment” and KISD’s proposal for non-renewal; (3) there was no evidence that Nairn had “a reasonable belief of unlawful conduct” when she reported an incident of *238 alleged sexual harassment; (4) Nairn’s contract…”
Martin v. Kroger Co., 65 F. Supp. 2d 516 (S.D. Tex. 1999).
Salay v. Baylor Univ., 115 S.W.3d 625 (Tex. App. 2003).
John Gober v. Frankel Fam. Trust, 537 F. App'x 518 (5th Cir. 2013).
San Antonio Water Sys. v. Debra Nicholas, 441 S.W.3d 382 (Tex. App. 2013).
— Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055(2) — 3 cases
Texas Dep't of Transp. v. Albert Lara, Jr. (Tex. 2021).
Dallas Cnty. Hosp. Dist. D/B/A Parkland Health & Hosp. Sys. v. Sheri Kowalski (Tex. App. 2023).
Irene Martinez v. Wilson Cnty., Texas Karnes Cnty., Texas Neva Schmidt in Her Off. Capacity as Chief, Juv. Prob. Officer, & Karnes/Wilson Juv. Prob. Dep't (Tex. App. 2010).
— Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055(3) — 3 cases
McNeel v. Citation Oil & Gas Corp., 526 S.W.3d 750 (Tex. App. 2017).
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Lane, 31 S.W.3d 282 (Tex. App. 2000).
the Univ. of Texas at Dallas v. Richard J. Addante, Ph.D. (Tex. App. 2021).
— Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055(4) — 2 cases
Griggs v. Triple S Indus. Corp., 197 S.W.3d 408 (Tex. App. 2006).
Harris Cnty. v. Rondalina Beatty (Tex. App. 2024).
— Tex. Lab. Code § 21.055(a) — 1 case
Celia D. Miskevitch v. 7-Eleven, Inc. (Tex. App. 2018).
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