There are thousands of nameless, faceless attorneys who fill the top
floors of many of the office buildings in every major city in the United
States — there is no one like
Tony Buzbee. Buzbee is a leader in his
field and at the top of his profession.
Indeed, in the Sixth edition (2013) of
Benchmark Litigation,
the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and
attorneys, Tony Buzbee was named as litigation star for plaintiff’s
litigation in Texas and The Buzbee Law Firm was named as one of
five “Highly Recommended” firms. (
Link to the article can be found here).
The New York Times Magazine described Buzbee as: “
One of the most successful trial lawyers in the country.”
Texas Monthly said of Buzbee: “
Buzbee has made his name going after corporations, and he usually wins big.”
The New York Times stated it best when it described Buzbee like this: “
Mr. Buzbee is a big, mean, ambitious, tenacious, fire-breathing Texas trial lawyer. Really big. Poster boy big.”
The results speak for themselves:
After more than thirty depositions, and three years, Buzbee went to
trial against a General Contractor and Subcontractor who negligently
started a fire resulting in more than $12 million in damages to a condo
project. After two days of trial, the General Contractor settled on
favorable terms. Buzbee kept going and obtained a significant verdict
against the Subcontractor and a finding of “no liability” against his
clients.
Retained by famed recording artist and businessman Jimmy Buffet to
protect various trade marks and intellectual property, Buzbee not only
stopped the infringing company in its tracks, but through his efforts,
had the owner temporarily jailed. The case settled on extremely
favorable terms shortly thereafter.
Offered only $100,000 to settle a hotly disputed, high profile toxic
release case on the day of trial, Buzbee rejected and obtained a
record-setting verdict. The case, which was reported to be one of the
largest of the year in the country, and the largest ever against BP,
settled confidentially thereafter.
Hired to
defend a business client in a contempt hearing,
whereby the Plaintiff in the case was trying to force Buzbee’s client to
turn over customer lists and other proprietary information, Buzbee
stepped in. After a two-hour hearing, the Federal Judge ordered the
Plaintiff
to deposit a significant sum into the registry of the Court, and set a
trial date to determine whether Buzbee’s client was the owner of those
funds: exactly what Buzbee’s client had been trying to accomplish in
over two years of litigation.
Retained to attempt to vacate a two-year injunction preventing the
development of valuable property near protected wetlands, Buzbee
convinced the Court–from the bench–to lift the injunction. The client
was thus able to save his substantial investment, while paying Buzbee in
kind with property for his valuable work.
Hired on a
Thursday to try a commercial dispute on the next Monday, Buzbee went to
work. After a four-day trial, the jury returned a substantial
verdict, over twice Buzbee’s client’s settlement demand. The case
settled shortly after the jury verdict.
Fourteen product liability cases in a row, raising the exact same
issue, had been won by Ford Motor Company across the United States–After
a two and a half week trial, Buzbee obtained a substantial jury
verdict for his clients. The case settled confidentially thereafter.
Hired by the Port of Galveston on a breach of contract case, after
receiving a meager offer of settlement of only $280,000–Buzbee went to
work; the case settled within nine months for a significant amount.
Seeking answers surrounding the death of her husband, and turned down
by five other law firms–Buzbee took the case for a widow whose husband
was killed on an offshore drilling rig off the Coast of Saudi Arabia,
and obtained a significant verdict. The case settled confidentially
thereafter.
Seeking to change how business was done offshore Buzbee took a case
for the family of a young man mysteriously killed due to what the
company described as a “freak accident” on an offshore drilling rig. The
case resulted in a multimillion dollar, confidential settlement and
changed the way business is done offshore.
Tony Buzbee is a former Recon Marine officer. His mettle has been
tested time and again through some of the most demanding training in the
armed services, and due to his involvement in the some of the most
intense Marine operations in various countries. Buzbee didn’t just
survive or endure as a Marine officer, he excelled. In the Marine Corps,
officers are taught to lead from the front, to do more with less, to
work smart, to hit fast and exploit weaknesses and to be creative. Tony
Buzbee, and the firm he has built, use these same principles and
attitudes in the practice of law.
Tony Buzbee is a nationwide figure, who is sought out in every kind
of case, all over the country. He believes in the wisdom of juries. He
deeply respects the practice of law and the system as a whole. Tony
Buzbee has earned the luxury of selecting the cases upon which he
personally chooses to work.
Tony Buzbee is the son of a butcher and high school cafeteria worker.
After earning a ROTC scholarship, Buzbee attended Texas A&M
University. While there, he served as a Battalion Commander in the Corps
of Cadets. Upon graduation, Buzbee was named a Distinguished Naval
Graduate, Distinguished Student, and was recognized as the Outstanding
NROTC Senior in the Corps of Cadets, as well as the Outstanding
Commander in the Corps of Cadets. Buzbee now has the honor of having the
Buzbee Leadership Learning Center named after him.
After college, Buzbee entered the United States Marine Corps. In his
initial Marine Corps training, Buzbee was recognized as an Honor
Graduate, receiving the top leadership score out of more than 200 other
Marine Lieutenants. Buzbee then continued his service as a Marine Corps
infantry officer, serving in the Persian Gulf and Somalian conflicts,
where he commanded various Marine SOC (special operation capable)
infantry units. After rigorous physical and mental screening, Buzbee was
selected by the Marines to become a Recon officer, commanding the elite
Recon Company of the historic First Marine Regiment. While serving as a
Recon officer, Buzbee received various awards, including top leadership
awards from the rigorous Navy Dive School and the daunting Amphibious
Reconnaissance Course. Ultimately, Buzbee earned the rank of Captain,
and for his Marine Corps service was awarded the prestigious Navy
Commendation Medal.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Buzbee entered law school at the
University of Houston Law Center. While there, Buzbee was the Managing
Editor of the Houston Law Review, was elected Class Captain by his
peers, and was also a member of the Order of the Coif, Order of the
Barristers, and Order of the Barons. Buzbee was also state and regional
mock trial champion and was voted best advocate in every competition in
which he competed. Buzbee ultimately graduated
Summa Cum Laude, second in his class.
After graduation, Buzbee was selected to serve as a briefing attorney
for a federal district judge in the Southern District of Texas,
Galveston Division. Upon completing that assignment, he was hired by one
of the most prestigious litigation boutiques in the country. He then
founded his own firm.
Aside from his legal practice, Buzbee is heavily involved in his
community as a property developer, working to revitalize historic
downtown Friendswood. Buzbee is also a business owner, responsible for
various well-known retail endeavors, commercial buildings, and hotels.
Buzbee also serves on the Board of Directors of Hometown Bank, the Board
of Directors for The Jesse Tree (a nonprofit organization that assists
the homeless and those in need in Galveston and Brazoria counties),
serves on the Board of the Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of
America, and has served on the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M
Galveston. Buzbee is also a member of the Board of Regents of Texas
A&M University.
In 2002, Buzbee was recognized by his peers in the
Texas Lawyer,
as one of the Top 5 “Go To” Lawyers for Commercial Litigation in the
State of Texas. Buzbee was the youngest attorney on the list, in any
category. Tony Buzbee has been repeatedly recognized as a Texas “Super
Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters. Buzbee has been profiled in several books,
and has appeared on the cover of the
New York Times Magazine.
Tony Buzbee is frequently sought out for his courtroom skill and
oratory talent. Buzbee is also a frequent commentator on national news
programs. Due to his skill set, he has been retained to help a U.S
Senate candidate prepare himself for a series of televised debates, and
even was called upon to assist a presidential candidate in multiple,
nationally televised presidential debates.
Tony Buzbee became the trial lawyer he is today by applying the
skills he learned in the Marines—comprehensive preparation and ruthless
execution. Buzbee believes that the only way to reach a fair settlement
for his clients is to prepare each case as if it will be tried. There is
a real difference between those who “litigate” cases and those who try
cases to verdict, in a court of law. Tony Buzbee has a proven track
record of trying and winning cases, period.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Offshore Litigation: Emphasis on offshore explosions and injuries
- Commercial Litigation: Represented commercial note holders sued by payees on the notes, resulting in a confidential settlement.
- Toxic Torts: Record-setting verdict for ten workers exposed to Carbon Disulfide at the BP Texas City plant.
- Toxic
Torts: Represented more than ten thousand FEMA trailer residents who
are suing, claiming formaldehyde exposure while living in FEMA trailers
and serves on MDL Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
- Class Actions: Served as Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel in several statewide and nationwide class actions.
- Pipeline Explosions: Represented several individuals burned or killed due to pipeline explosions.
- Apartment
Explosion: represented apartment resident who was badly burned when
explosion occurred. Case resolved after apartment owner caught altering
documents.
- Products
Liability: represented dry cleaning store owner who was severely burned
when dry cleaning machine spewed boiling dry cleaning fluid over 60% of
his body. Forced nationwide retrofit of dry cleaning machines
after substantial dollar settlement.
- Home Owner Liability: Represented teenager who was severely burned while attending a bonfire at a friend’s home.
- Trademark Infringement: Represented famed singer Jimmy Buffett in litigation in Galveston federal court.
- Breach
of Contract and Fraud Defense: Successfully defended a multimillion
dollar case brought by local celebrity “Mattress Mac” against world
renowned horse traders and trainers.
- Breach of Contract, Plaintiff: Obtained significant settlement for the Port of Galveston.
- Government
Regulation: Represented highly regarded developer Blackard Group
pertaining to multimillion dollar development on Galveston’s West End.
- Environmental Litigation: Represented Spain’s Basque Government in the largest oil spill in Spain’s history.
- Copyright Infringement: Represented Houston rap artist against famed rap star.
- Products
Liability: First verdict in Texas against Ford Motor Company related to
the stability alone of Ford Explorer; significant verdict and
subsequent settlement.
- Offshore death case: Forced offshore company to install guards on all hose reels.
- Negligence/Personal Injury: Forced gas company to change policies relating to safety devices following settlement.
- Offshore
death case: Uncovered deadly mismatch problem in offshore drilling
industry, resulting in an industry wide correction of the problem;
significant verdict and subsequent settlement.
- Wrongful
Death: Represented stepdaughter of infamous murderer Clara Harris,
reaching a favorable settlement for stepdaughter’s share of Harris’s
estate.
- Antitrust/Class
Actions: Represented more than 10,000 offshore drilling workers in a
case alleging wage fixing, resulting in substantial settlement.
- Plant
explosions: Represented more than 160 workers injured in the largest
industrial accident in U.S. history, obtaining extremely favorable
settlements and serving on the Court-Appointed Plaintiffs’ Steering
Committee.
- Note:
These verdicts and settlements are intended to be representative of
cases handled by Tony Buzbee and The Buzbee Law Firm. As the facts and
law on each case differ, these listings are not a guarantee or
prediction of the outcome of any other claims.
-
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Adjunct Professor, University of Houston Law Center, Litigating Commercial Disputes
- University of Houston Law Center, Guest Lecturer, Arbitration, Contracts, Etc.;
- Various CLE’s on topics ranging from trial practice, jury selection, and the taking of depositions.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
- Susman Godfrey LLP, Attorney
- Southern District of Texas, Briefing Attorney
- United States Marine Corps, Captain
