Carla M. Burke - a Dallas, Texas (TX) Water Contamination Lawyer

Dallas Water Contamination Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Water Contamination

Attorney Information

Overview

Carla Burke, an attorney and shareholder with Baron & Budd's water contamination litigation group, began her legal career with the firm's appellate section. She has a gift for writing and oral advocacy that has been very persuasive in the MTBE Multi-District Litigation cases. Carla has also authored and presented numerous papers and presentations on the topics of toxic tort and water contamination litigation and premises liability law.

Carla is a natural teacher, which is perfect for her role as a legal issues attorney in complex water contamination cases. She has also been an adjunct clinical instructor of law at the Southern Methodist University School of Law Legal Clinic and, before law school, an English professor at a local college.

Not long after law school, she successfully briefed and argued, pro bono, the case of Lawson v. Dallas County, 112 F.3d 257 (5th Cir. 2002) before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, where she represented a disabled man whose lack of medical treatment while in the custody of the Dallas county jail amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

Carla's work for her clients is driven by her conviction that "law is a powerful force for social change. What starts with one person can affect an entire nation." Carla found the opportunity to be a part of that force for change at Baron & Budd. "Baron & Budd is, literally, changing lives for the better," she says.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Carla M. Burke included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Fellow, Dallas Bar Association
2016-Present: Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers
2020-Present: Top 10 Environmental Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers
2020-Present: Top 25 Products Liability Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers
2020-Present: Top 25 National Women Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers

Other Sources of Feedback About Carla M. Burke

Included on the 2006 Texas Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, 1999
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Southern Methodist University, 1994
  M.A.
- Southern Methodist University, 1991
  B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Shareholder
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Attorney
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Languages

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French
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Classes and Seminars

Panelist, "Emerging Issues Regarding Toxins Affecting Water", American Association for Justice Annual Convention, 2010
Speaker, "Water Contamination: What Lies Beneath", Harris Martin Oil Spill Litigation Conference, 2010
Panelist, "Are There Synergistic Effects Between Toxic Tort Suits and Environmental Regulations?", Environmental Law Institute, 2006
Speaker, "Update on MTBE Litigation", Energy Litigation Conference, 2005
Co-Presenter, "Premises Liability Cases: What Does the Future Hold?", Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference, 2003
Co-Presenter, "Texas Supreme Court Update", Dallas Court of Appeals Seminar, 2000
Panelist, "Setting the Bar for 'Injury' in Environmental Exposure Cases: How Low Can It Go?", Environmental Law Institute Seminar, 2012 - Present
“Setting the Bar for ‘Injury’ in Environmental Exposure Cases: How Low Can It Go?”, Environmental Law Institute Seminar, 2012
“Scientific Evidence in Environmental and Toxic Torts Litigation” , Mason Judicial Education Program Conference on Environmental Economics, Law, and Litigation, 2013
“Scientific Evidence in Environmental and Toxic Torts Litigation” , Mason Judicial Education Program Conference on Environmental Economics, Law, and Litigation, November 18, 2013
“Best Legal Claims and Defenses”, Harris Martin Lumber Liquidators Flooring Litigation Conference, May 27, 2015
“How to Deal with Other Contaminants in Drinking Water” , Harris Martin Water Contamination Litigation Conference, 2018
“Water Contamination”, Harris Martin MDL Conference: The Significance of Proposed Rule Changes in MDL Procedures & Valsartan Agenda, 2019

Representative Cases

Nelson v. Exxon Mobil Corp.
- Citation: 102 Cal.Rptr.3d 311
- Court: Cal.App. 3 Dist..
- Year: 2009
In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Products Liability Litigation
- Citation: 457 F.Supp.2d 324
- Court: S.D.N.Y.
- Year: 2006
In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Products Liability Litigation
- Citation: 438 F.Supp.2d 291
- Court: S.D.N.Y.
- Year: 2006
In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Products Liability Litigation
- Citation: 415 F.Supp.2d 261
- Court: S.D.N.Y.
- Year: 2005
In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Products Liability Litigation
- Citation: 2005 WL 39918
- Court: S.D.N.Y.
- Year: 2005
Lawson v. Dallas County
- Citation: 112 F.3d 257
- Court: 5th Cir.
- Year: 2002
Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. Bailey
- Citation: 92 S.W.3d 577
- Court: Tex.App.
- Year: 2002
Caudillo ex rel. Caudillo v. Lubbock Independent School Dist.
- Citation: 331 F.Supp.2d 550
- Court: N.D.Tex
- Year: 2004

Published Works

Articles

"Toxic Torts and Mass Torts", 57 SMU Law Review 1267, 2004
"Toxic Torts and Mass Torts", 56 SMU Law Review 2053, 2003
"Toxic Torts and Mass Torts", 55 SMU Law Review 1375, 2002
"Applying Texas Premises Liability Law to Asbestos Cases", COLUMNS, September, 2001
"Poison in the Well", Trial Magazine - American Association for Justice, 2016

Bar Admissions

Texas
New York
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Other Affiliations

American Association for Justice
Public Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Court

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Contact

Dallas, TX

3102 Oak Lawn Avenue
Suite 1100
Dallas, TX 75219 - 4283

Directions

Phone: 866-528-0634

Fax: 214-523-6600

Email: Send a message

Website: http://www.baronandbudd.com

Hours: 24 Hours

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Carla M. Burke - Dallas, TX