Trenton D. Garza

Born & raised in rural Missouri, Attorney Trenton Garza brings an unrelenting work ethic into the practice of law. Guided by down-home values sharpened by professional experience, he serves clients' unique needs and simplifies complicated law into easy explanation.

Brought by family to the Texas Panhandle, Trenton attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At Baylor, he earned a reputation as an advocate, effecting anti-discrimination policy change and leading a statewide organization. He later represented a local community in school district decision-making, consulted community development groups, and was made a candidate for public office.

Trenton trained under a historic Texas Trial Lawyer and later returned home to Missouri to attend law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. In law school he was an editor of the UMKC Law Review and again demonstrated unparalleled advocacy across numerous organizations. He is the founder of the Garza Attorney Group, L.C.

University of Missouri - Kansas City

J.D.

Honors: Editor, UMKC Law Review | CALI Excellence for the Future Award, State & Local Government Law | Dean's Honor List

Activities: Representative, Chancellor's Advisory Council on Sexual Violence & Gender-Based Harassment | Representative, UMKC School of Law Curriculum Committee | President Pro Tempore, Student Government - Senator, Student Bar Association | Vice President, American Constitution Society | Vice President, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys | Exchequer, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society | Board of Barristers | Hispanic Law Student Association

Amarillo College

Professional Certificate | Legal Studies

Honors: Panelist, Symposium on Paralegal Professions

Activities: Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Community Clinic

Baylor University

B.A. | Political Science & Philosophy

Honors: CDA National Rising Star Award | Dissenter of the Year, Baylor Student Government | Dean's Honor List

Activities: President, Texas College Democrats | Senator, Baylor Student Government | President, Baylor Democrats

Attorney & Counselor at Law

Garza Attorney Group, L.C.

2021 - Current

Legal Assistant

Templeton Smithee Hayes Heinrich & Russell, L.L.P.

2016 - 2018

Panelest, Symposium on Paralegal Professions, Amarillo, Texas

2017

Amarillo College

The Missouri Bar

Member

Current

Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society

Current

Missouri

The Missouri Bar

• Free Consultation

Q. In the state of Missouri is it legal for a city worker to come into a privacy fenced backyard, when there are no meters

May 25, 2022

A: Generally, it would not be lawful for a city worker to enter your property without your permission, or to damage your fence. However, there are many circumstances where it is legal for them to enter your property - even against your direction. Having a meter is just one example where a city or utility worker may lawfully enter your property, but there are others such as city code or ordinance enforcement.

A city worker, such as a code enforcement officer, is a government agent subject to certain limitations. Any government agent discovering a code violation, conducting an investigation, or gathering evidence must operate within the limits of the 4th Amendment - namely the prohibitions against unreasonable searches & seizures. An agent entering your or neighboring properties, or observing your backyard is a search.

The legality of the search depends on whether it was reasonable. A search is reasonable if there is an administrative search warrant, or probable cause of an ongoing violation of law. An exception to the warrant requirement is the Plain View Doctrine, which means if there is evidence of a violation observable in plain view then there is probable cause enough to conduct a search without a warrant. What is observable in plain view is pretty broad, and is also determined by whether there was a reasonable expectation of privacy. Having a fence is recognized as establishing a reasonable expectation of privacy, but not a strong one. The US Supreme Court has held that looking through or over a fence, whether chain link or a 10-ft high wood privacy fence, is lawful and anything observed counts towards that plain view doctrine.

So, if a city worker had an administrative search warrant or observed anything indicating the possibility of any violation in plain view, they may have had the lawful ability to enter onto your property directly. ... Read More