FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Travis County Jury Sides with AMLI, Cutting $10.32M from TCAD Valuation

Fourth jury win this year for PPG Tax and McDonald Law Firm, reinforcing the power of data-driven litigation in multifamily tax appeals.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – November 11, 2025 – PPG Tax, in partnership with McDonald Law Firm, achieved another significant jury trial victory, this time against the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) on behalf of AMLI Residential for its property AMLI at Mueller in Austin, Texas. The verdict resulted in a final total value of $78.14 million, a 12% reduction from TCAD’s certified value of $87.27 million.

“This verdict reinforces what we’ve proven across multiple counties: when your data is strong and your expert is credible, juries respond. That’s the leverage our clients carry into every negotiation.”

—Jonathan Gilstrap, Principal, PPG Tax

Tried in Travis County’s 459th District Court, the case centered on whether the subject property had been equally and uniformly appraised under Texas law. TCAD’s only defense witness, Chris Griesbach of Lone Star Appraisals & Realty Inc., originally valued the property at $91.06 million, later revising his report to $88.47 million just days before trial after acknowledging an affordable housing error. The jury largely sided with plaintiff’s expert, Cindy Williford of JLL, whose valuation relied on TCAD’s own data for comparable properties, including rental rates, occupancy, and land assessments. Both experts used seven of the same eight comparable properties, making the difference in their opinions of value largely attributable to Griesbach’s adjustment rather than the selection of comps.

Jury Finds AMLI at Mueller Was Not Valued Equally and Uniformly

At numerous points during the trial, the defense asked jurors to rely on their personal impressions of both Mueller, where the subject property sits, and North Campus, where four of the comparable properties are found, to determine whether Griesbach’s location adjustment was appropriate. The jury ultimately rejected that approach in favor of the plaintiff’s objective and verifiable report data.

The jury’s verdict confirmed that market value was not a factor in this Equal & Uniform case. The case was decided entirely on whether AMLI at Mueller was valued fairly and accurately compared to its peers, not on what TCAD believed the property was worth in the market.

“The jury saw through the noise and focused on the facts. They recognized this case wasn’t about opinions or perceptions—it was about the law. Equal & Uniform isn’t a technicality; it’s a standard to which every property owner is entitled. When appraisal districts ignore that, we’ll continue taking these cases to trial.”

—Dan McDonald, Founder, McDonald Law Firm

Impact and Broader Significance

This marks the fourth jury win in 2025 and since the landmark Texas Disposal decision, further validating PPG Tax’s litigation-driven strategy and the advantage of pursuing trial when appraisal districts fail to follow statutory standards. The proposed 23.03% increase in valuation was reduced to an actual 8.68%, resulting in meaningful tax savings for AMLI and setting a precedent for multifamily owners across Travis County.

Representation

The plaintiff was represented by Dan McDonald and Haillie Bowles of McDonald Law Firm, with local counsel Kennon Wooten of Scott Douglass & McConnico. Together with PPG Tax’s litigation support and valuation modeling, the team delivered a clear, data-backed narrative that resonated with jurors and dismantled TCAD’s expert opinion of value.

The verdict reinforces PPG Tax and McDonald Law Firm’s track record of taking complex valuation disputes to trial and winning through disciplined preparation, credible data, and unwavering advocacy for their clients.