City of De Soto v. White, No. 07-1031, 52 Tex. S. Ct. J. 893 (Tex. 2009) holds that a failure to give a mandatory notice of appeal rights to a suspended officer merely abates the appeal until proper notice is given, and does not deprive the appellate hearing officer of jurisdiction.  The Supreme Court thus allows a city to continue a case "against a potentially unfit officer."

However, if you need to give notice to a doctor who has maimed your child and your notice is defective, the Supreme Court will stop the lawsuit against the potentially unfit doctor, and your claim is denied on the merits.