The federal lawsuit previously reported by The Hawk’s Eye over a 2023 New Braunfels traffic stop has now reached a point where the court has formally weighed in on which claims survive and which do not. The lawsuit was filed by Robert Nagel, who alleges that a traffic stop on Interstate 35 escalated after he asserted his constitutional rights, ultimately leading to a warrantless search, an arrest, and roughly twelve hours in jail. Nagel is represented by C.J. Grisham, a Texas-based civil-rights attorney known for handling cases involving alleged misconduct and constitutional violations by law enforcement.

The Traffic Stop at the Center of the Lawsuit

As previously reported by The Hawk’s Eye, the encounter began in March 2023 after a license-plate query allegedly returned no state record. According to the lawsuit, the vehicle was properly registered and inspected, with valid stickers clearly visible on the windshield.

Nagel alleges that without first making a request or issuing instructions, an officer attempted to open his car door. After he exited the vehicle, the encounter allegedly grew increasingly confrontational. The lawsuit states Nagel was questioned aggressively about the registration issue, prevented from retrieving paperwork that could have resolved the matter, and subjected to continued questioning after invoking his right to remain silent.

According to the filing, officers searched the vehicle without a warrant, repeatedly suggested criminal activity despite the absence of evidence, and ultimately arrested Nagel for displaying a fictitious motor vehicle registration and unlawfully carrying a firearm. Nagel maintains those accusations were unfounded and that the arrest followed his refusal to continue answering questions.

Why the Case Was Challenged Before Evidence Was Produced

After the lawsuit was filed, the City of New Braunfels and the officers involved moved to dismiss the case before discovery began. The City argued the allegations were insufficient to establish municipal responsibility under federal law. The officers argued they were protected by qualified immunity, a doctrine that can halt lawsuits at an early stage if officers did not violate clearly established constitutional law. Had the motion been granted in full, the case would have ended without body-camera footage, internal reports, or sworn testimony becoming public.

What the Federal Court Decided

In a December 17, 2025 order, David Alan Ezra, a senior judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, granted part of the request and denied the rest. Judge Ezra dismissed the claims against the City of New Braunfels, finding that the lawsuit did not allege enough facts to show a policy, pattern, or custom attributable to city leadership. That dismissal was issued without prejudice, leaving open the possibility those claims could return if additional facts are uncovered.

The claims against the officers were allowed to proceed. At this stage, the court was required to assume the factual allegations were true. Applying that standard, Judge Ezra ruled that the lawsuit plausibly alleges violations of clearly established Fourth Amendment protections, including an arrest and search without probable cause based largely on a disputed license-plate return. The court declined to dismiss those claims and denied qualified immunity at the pleading stage.

Why Dismissal Does Not Resolve the Facts

Civil-rights litigation is shaped by procedural barriers and immunity doctrines that can limit accountability regardless of the underlying conduct. As a result, some cases end without courts ever reaching factual disputes, even where serious allegations are raised.

What Happens Next in the Case

The ruling narrows the lawsuit but keeps its central claims intact. The City is no longer an active party at this stage, while the officers remain defendants. Because qualified immunity was denied, the officers may immediately appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If an appeal is filed, the case could pause while appellate judges decide whether it proceeds further. If no appeal is taken, the case moves into discovery. That phase may bring body-camera footage, dash-camera video, dispatch records, license-plate database queries, internal reports, and sworn testimony into the record for the first time.

Why This Ruling Matters

This order does not determine whether any laws were violated. It determines whether the lawsuit will proceed far enough for evidence to be developed and evaluated. For the public, the next phase will shape what is ultimately known about what occurred during the New Braunfels traffic stop and whether the allegations are supported or contradicted by the record that emerges. 

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