The General Litigation group defends the City of Austin and its employees in all civil litigation cases. The types of cases managed by the General Litigation Division include civil rights, contract disputes, personal injury, employment, and land use matters.

The General Litigation group has two claims investigators who investigate and process approximately 700 claims against the City per year.

AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

The City Attorney created the Affirmative Litigation group in November 2008. This Division focuses on protecting the health and safety of Austin citizens. The Affirmative Litigation Division initiates legal action to recover damages to city property, to enforce code requirements, to condemn property needed for a public purpose, to collect delinquent hotel taxes and to protect the environment. The Division also assists Austin Police Department with nuisance abatement cases, and assists the Fair Housing Office with discrimination complaints.

About Meghan Riley, General Litigation Division Chief

Meghan received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1999.  After law school, she joined the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office as an Assistant City Attorney in the General Counsel Division. In Saint Paul, Meghan litigated numerous City cases in the state and federal courts.  In 2007, Meghan joined the City of Austin Law Department.  As an Assistant City Attorney in the Employment Division, Meghan dealt with labor and employment issues, as well as litigation.  She was promoted to Division Chief of the Litigation Division in 2012.