Students step up in the wake of disaster
Two years ago, when a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, it created an environmental disaster that left the community searching for answers and in need of legal assistance. Amid the confusion and concern, students from Case Western Reserve University’s Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law showed up to help.
Among them was Caren Teague, a rising third-year student at Case Western Reserve’s School of Law whose interest in environmental
justice dates back to her high school years in Philadelphia when her community dealt with a water crisis. Watching the toxic chemical
spill unfold in East Palestine felt eerily familiar to her. “It was deeply troubling to see that such a disaster could happen, and have a long-
lasting impact,” she said.
To assist the community during the crisis, Teague and her classmates from the center met with residents to answer questions about class action and individual lawsuits, as well as how to pursue legal remedies for property damage.
Although the incident occurred more than two years ago, rising third-year law student Maggie Kaniecki said their work in East Palestine continues. “Our clinic was one of the few to keep providing free legal services, and we remain active in the community, fostering support and trust.”
Founded in 2019 with a $10 million endowment from alumnus Coleman P. Burke (LAW ’70), the center’s broad offerings of lectures,
symposia and environmental advocacy quickly garnered national attention, and according to 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings,
CWRU has the highest-rated environmental law program in Ohio. The center aims to develop aspiring leaders in environmental law by
expanding access to education and giving students real-world experience. Since the center’s inception, CWRU law students have earned $4.7 million in scholarship support for their interest in environmental law—a figure believed to be more than any other school in the country.
For Kaniecki—as for many of her peers—her scholarship was the key to unlocking a CWRU education, and her work in East Palestine has reinforced her desire to practice law in rural communities where there is a critical shortage of attorneys.
Burke Center Associate Director and Coleman P. Burke Chair in Environmental Law Victor Flatt describes the East Palestine experience
as not just an extension of classroom learning, but a pivotal moment when students were able to make a direct impact on a community in crisis.
“Students are at the heart of the center’s mission,” said Flatt, “serving as its driving force.”
Originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of Forward Thinking magazine