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Robert B. Burns

Partner
Burns Anderson Jury & Brenner, L.L.P.

Phone: (512) 338-5322
Fax: (512) 338-5363
E-mail: bburns@bajb.com
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Profile:

Bob Burns brought twenty years of experience and leadership with him when he co-founded BAJB. His background in the oil fields, driving 18-wheelers and structural engineering led him to representing trucking and railroad companies early in his law career.

His hard work, preparedness, and a practical thinking style, combined with a courteous manner, soon won him the lasting trust and respect of his clients, the hard working men and women involved in the cases, and even his adversaries.

Bob’s concentration is representing railroads in a broad scope of administrative and litigation work, much of which involves complex questions of the federal law governing railroads.

He also represents clients before various state agencies and insureds in tort claims, and insurance carriers in first-party claims, both at trial and appellate levels.


Certifications/Accolades:

Personal Injury Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Civil Trial Law and Civil Pre-Trial Law – National Board of Legal Specialty Certification

Texas Super Lawyer 2006-2022
AV rated since 1985
Best Lawyers in America in Railroad Law 2006-present


Professional Affiliations:

American Board of Trial Advocates
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Austin Bar Association
American Bar Association
The College of the State Bar of Texas


Committees:

State Bar Administration of Rules of Evidence Committee
Chair: 2008-2011
Vice-Chair: 2007-2008
Member: 2006-2011

State Bar Court Rules Committee
Member: 2011-present
Chair: 2020-2021
Chair, Trial Sub-Committee: 2012-2017
Member: 2018-present


Reported Decisions as Trial/Appellate Counsel:

Union Pacific Railroad Co. v. Nami, 498 S.W. 3d 890(Tex., 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2118 (2017) reversed and rendered in favor of Union Pacific. Railroad employee filed a complaint under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) against employer for failing to provide him with a safe workplace, after he contracted West Nile virus and encephalitis from mosquitoes. The trial court entered judgment on jury verdict that found both employer and employee negligent, and apportioned 80% of the responsibility to employer and 20% to employee. Court affirmed trials court’s judgment. Texas Supreme Court granted review and held in an 8-1 opinion that the doctrine of ferae naturae a property owner (here the railroad) is not liable for harm from indigenous animals that the owner has not attracted to the property.

Griffin v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., No. 04-12-00824-CV, 2014 WL 1494605, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 4102 (Tex. App. — San Antonio Apr. 16, 2014) Court affirmed trial court’s take-nothing judgment entered in this personal injury lawsuit arising from a crossbuck crossing collision involving an automobile and train, finding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a challenge for cause as to one vinereperson.


J.M. Rankin v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 319 S.W.3d 58 (Tex. App.—San Antonio, 2010)

Court affirmed trial court’s granting of railroad’s summary judgment in grade crossing fatality suit, holding as a matter of law that crossing was not extra-hazardous and that there was no evidence train crew improperly sounded horn.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Navarro, 90 S.W.3d 747 (Tex.App.-San Antonio, 2002) 
Court reversed and rendered take nothing judgment, holding trial court had abused its discretion in admitting opinions of plaintiffs’ experts.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Aldrete, 945 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. App.-San Antonio, 1996)

Appellate Court reformed and reduced excessive ad litem fee award by trial court.

Wormley v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., 863 F. Supp. 382 (E.D.Tex. 1994)
Court denied plaintiffs’ motion to remand their wrongful death action to state court.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 948 F.2d 179, 1992 (5th Cir.(Tex.) 1991)
Affirmed judgment of District Court, which held that the state rail safety regulation requiring walkways to be installed on each side of yard railroad tracks was preempted.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 823 F.Supp 1360 (W.D. Tex., 1990)
The court held that the state rail safety regulation requiring walkways to be installed on each side of yard railroad tracks was preempted by federal regulatory occupation of the subject matter permanently enjoining enforcement of the state statute.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Killam Oil Co., 762 S.W.2d 271 (Tex. App.-San Antonio, 1988)
The court granted appellant railroad’s application for a writ of mandamus to respondent judge, finding that the county court at law had jurisdiction over the condemnation action.

Pollard v. Missouri Pacific Railroad Co., 759 S.W.2d 670 (Tex.1988)
Writ of error granted and summary judgment for defendant reversed because genuine issues of fact existed with respect to contractual retention of a right of control.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 850 F.2d 264 (5th Cir.(Tex.)1988)
The court affirmed the decision of the district court, which found a Texas railroad administrative regulation requiring, under specified circumstances, that all trains have a manned caboose, was preempted by federal law.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 671 F. Supp. 466 (W.D. Tex. 1987)
District Court held federal law preempted state law requiring caboose on trains.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 653 F. Supp. 617 (W.D. Tex. 1987)
District Court granted summary judgment in favor of railroads, holding several Texas Railroad Commission rules were preempted by federal law.

Walding v. Atlas Van Lines, Intern. 632 F. Supp. 703 (W.D. Tex., 1986)
District Court granted Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for want of jurisdiction in Plaintiff’s claim for property loss and damage.

State of Tex. v. U.S., 730 F.2d 339 (5th Cir. (Tex.), 1984)
The court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the suit by appellants, state regulators, challenging railroad deregulation statute. The court ruled that the statute was a valid exercise of the commerce power.

Osuna v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 641 S.W.2d 229 (Tex., 1982)

The court reversed the lower courts’ judgments, which had granted summary judgment in favor of respondent railroad in petitioner driver’s negligence action for damages sustained in a railroad crossing collision. Even if respondent was not legally required to install signal lights, the fact that it had undertaken to install such lights created a duty to maintain the lights in working order.

Osuna v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 627 S.W.2d 245 (Tex. App.-Waco, 1982)
The court affirmed the summary judgment rendered by the trial court in favor of defendant railway company in plaintiff driver’s action for injuries sustained in an automobile-train collision at defendant’s railway crossing.

First Federal Sav. And Loan Association of Navasota v. Community Sav. And Loan Association of College Station, 592 S.W.2d 418 (Tex.Civ.App.-Waco.1979)
The judgment affirming the order of the Savings and Loan Commissioner of Texas granting a branch office to appellee applicant, a savings and loan association, was affirmed.

Southern Pac. Transp. Co. v. Railroad Commission of Texas, 592 S.W.2d 74 (Tex. Civ. App.-Austin, 1979)
The court reversed the decision of the lower court requiring appellant railroad to reestablish and maintain a railroad track to serve local industry.

Vandergriff v. First Federal Sav. And Loan Association of Breckenridge, Tex., 586 S.W. 2d 841 (Tex., 1979)
Supreme Court reversed appellate court, reinstating Commission approval for new savings and loan branch office.

Southern National Bank of Houston v. City of Austin, 582 S.W.2d 229 (Tex. Civ. App.-Tyler, 1979)
Appellate court held all municipal historical landmark ordinances were unconstitutional.

First Federal Sav. and Loan Association of Breckenridge, Tex. v. Vandygriff, 576 S.W.2d 904 (Tex. Civ. App.-Austin, 1979)
The court affirmed the judgment that dismissed appellant savings and loan’s action for lack of jurisdiction, but remanded to provide appellant with another opportunity to properly plead extrinsic fraud.


Publications & Seminars:

Author and Speaker: “Voir Dire”, Courtroom Skills lecture, Austin Volunteer Services, April 2017
Author and Speaker:  “Keeping Ahead with TOES,”  National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Fall 2015.
Author and Speaker: “How to Defend Ballast Claims: Drainage Versus Support Arguments,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2014.
Author and Speaker: “Railroad Liability for Trespasser Injuries,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2013.
Speaker: “Ballast Claims: The Rock and Roll of FELA,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2011.
Author and Speaker: “Aggressive Crossing Case Handling: The Necessity and Benefits of Immediate and Aggressive Investigation,” Union Pacific Railroad Company Claims Meeting, 2011.
Speaker: “Are We Losing Our Footing? Current Defenses of the FELA Ballast Related Claim,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2010.
Speaker: “Opening Statements,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Academy, 2010.
Speaker: “Aggressive Crossing Case Handling—The Necessity and Benefits of Immediate Attorney Involvement and Investigation,” National Railroad Passenger Corporation Directors/Managers Meeting, 2009.
Speaker: “Defending Private Crossing Litigation,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2008.
Author and Speaker: “Private Crossing Issues,” The Burlington and Northern Santa Fe Railway Litigation Conference, 2007.
Speaker: “Recent FRA Hearing Conservation Regulations,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2006.
Speaker: “Going Loco Over Remote Control – RCL Operations and Issues,” National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2005.
Speaker: “Appeal Update, Union Pacific v. Navarro, reversed and rendered,” The Burlington and Northern Santa Fe Claims Conference, 2002.
Author and Speaker: “The Eagle Pass Declaratory Judgment Regarding Blocked Crossings,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2002.
Author and Speaker: “Effect of Compliance with or Violation of CFR on Strict Liability in FELA Cases,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2001.
Author and Speaker: “Diesel Fume Inhalation and the Claim of Cancer,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2000.
Speaker: “Legal Issues and Investigation in FELA and Grade Crossing Cases,” American Shortline and Regional Railroad Assoc., 1999.
Author and Speaker: “Unusual Problems in Handling FELA Cases,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1999.
Speaker: “Panel Review of Plaintiff Experts in Railroad Crossing Cases,” National Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1998.
Speaker: “Automobile Mock Trial and Case Evaluation, II,: United Services Automobile Assoc., 1998
Author and Speaker: “Compliance with Code of Federal Regulations as Basis for Summary Judgment in FELA Cases,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trail Counsel, 1998.
Speaker: “The Hip Bone’s Connected to the Thigh Bone: Jury Charge Preparation, Conference and Preservation of Error,” Masters in Litigation Trial Tactics, Travis County Bar Assoc., 1997.
Speaker: “Understanding and Preventing Bad Faith Claims,” Texas Catastrophic Property Insurance Assoc. and the Government Employees Insurance Co., 1997.
Speaker: “Automobile Mock Trial and Case Evaluation,” Government Employees Insurance Co., 1996.
Author and Speaker: “Violations of CFRs as Negligence per se,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1996.
Author and Speaker: “Know Your Enemy: a Profile of the Current Crop of Plaintiffs’ Experts,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1995.
Author and Speaker: “Drawbars Revisited,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1994.
Author and Speaker: “FELA Mental Trauma – An Update on Buell v. Santa Fe,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1989.
Author and Speaker: “Federal Preemption of State Railroad Regulation,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1987.
Author and Speaker: Panel Discussion, “Recent Developments in Railroad Law,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1986.
Author and Speaker: “Summary Judgments in Railroad Grade Crossing Cases,” Texas Assoc. of Railroad Trial Counsel, 1980.

Education

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence – University of Texas, 1977
  • B.S., Engineering – University of Illinois, 1973

Career

  • Partner, Burns Anderson Jury & Brenner, 1997 to present.
  • Partner, Wilson, Grosenheider & Burns, 1981-1996
  • Partner, McKay & Burns, 1979-1981
  • Associate, McKay & Wash, 1977-1978

Practice Admissions

  • United States District Court Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court
  • State Bar of Texas, 1977

Practice Areas