Tony Buzbee is an American trial lawyer who has been involved in multiple high-profile cases. In 2014 it was announced that Buzbee would be lead counsel for Governor Rick Perry of Texas after he was indicted on two felony counts which were later dismissed in 2016. In 2009, Buzbee won the largest jury verdict against British Petroleum (BP) in history. Buzbee is the managing partner of the Buzbee Law Firm in Houston, Texas. On November 2, 2015, Buzbee was awarded Attorney Of The Year by Texas Lawyer Magazine.
Buzbee has represented multiple, noted Americans, including respected horse trainer Bob Baffert and recording artist and business man Jimmy Buffett. Buzbee has represented multiple governmental entities, including the State of Louisiana, and the Basque Government in the Kingdom of Spain.
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Early life and education
Born to parents who worked as a butcher and a high school cafeteria worker, Buzbee grew up in Atlanta, Texas.
Buzbee earned a B.S. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. He served as a Battalion Commander in the Corps of Cadets and was named a Distinguished Naval Graduate, Distinguished Student, Outstanding NROTC Senior, and Outstanding Commander in the Corps of Cadets.
Buzbee served as a Marine Corps infantry officer in the Persian Gulf and Somalia. As a Captain, Buzbee commanded the Recon Company of the First Marine Regiment. Buzbee was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
Buzbee graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center. He finished second in his class. Buzbee was the Managing Editor of the Houston Law Review and was the Class Captain. Buzbee was both the Texas and Regional Mock Trial Champion in 1996.
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Professional history
He was a briefing attorney for Judge Samuel B. Kent, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and then began his legal career as an attorney at Susman Godfrey LLP in Houston. Buzbee founded his own law firm in 2000.
Notable cases
2016
- In representing former Texas Governor Rick Perry on an indictment over abuse of power, Buzbee successfully brought the charges to be dismissed after Texas' highest criminal court ordered that they be dropped. The Court of Criminal Appeals also upheld a lower court's ruling dismissing the other charge against Perry. The case against the longest-serving governor in Texas history centered on a threat to veto $7.5 million in state funds for the public integrity unit of the Travis County district attorney's office, and questions about whether he abused his authority -- allegations that he had called a "baseless political attack." The unit was charged with investigating and prosecuting state corruption. After Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested and pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in 2013, Perry threatened to veto state funding for the integrity unit unless she first resigned. She refused to step down, and Perry vetoed the funding. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that courts could not limit veto power and that prosecuting Perry over his action violates "the separation of powers provision of the Texas Constitution" and infringed on his First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
- In a case over breaches of fiduciary duty owed to Rafael Ortega, owner of the grocer chain La Michoacana Meat Market, Buzbee secured a nearly $55 million jury verdict. The trial took 3 weeks and concluded with a 49-page jury charge. This was the second trial Buzbee represented Ortega.
2015
- Representing the parents of Jose Flores, who died as a result of a brown recluse spider bite while working aboard a ship, Buzbee sought damages and punitive damages from the ship's operator for negligence as well as claims of unseaworthiness and maintenance and cure benefits under provisions of U.S. General Maritime Law. After a 6 day trial, a jury verdict of $41 million was awarded against the company that operated the ship.
- Buzbee filed suit against several companies related to an accident at a Valero refinery in Memphis, TN that killed one man and injured several others. Although most of the defendants in the case opted to settle, the one remaining defendant, Critical Path Resources, was found partially negligent in causing the accident, awarding the plaintiffs in the case a total of $159 million for their mental anguish, pain, disfigurement, impairment and medical expenses.
- In his first case representing Rafael Ortega, owner of the grocer chain La Michoacana Meat Market, Buzbee secured a $35 million jury verdict against multiple defendants violating a non-compete agreement.
- Buzbee represented the family of Garland "Rickie" Kelley, 38, who died after a lithium thionyl chloride battery exploded at a Professional Directional Enterprises, Inc. facility in Montgomery County. According to OSHA records, Kelley was testing a battery used for power drilling tools in oil fields and the battery exploded. After a day of deliberations, the Harris County state court jury awarded $4 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages.
2012
- Buzbee filed suit on behalf of ten boys against famed Cadillac Ranch creator and owner Stanley Marsh 3. After much media attention and a feature in Texas Monthly, a special prosecutor was appointed and Marsh was arrested. Marsh was later indicted on twelve counts. Less than six months after the cases were filed, Buzbee and Marsh's attorneys announced a settlement. The statement given at the time of settlement read as follows: "The Plaintiffs and the Marsh entities in this case, to include Gwendolyn Marsh as Guardian for Stanley Marsh 3, have resolved all of their differences. None of the Parties is authorized to comment on the nature or amount of the settlement. The Parties agree that Stanley Marsh 3 does not own the Cadillac Ranch. The Parties will have no further comment."
- Buzbee, along with Oakland attorney John Burris, filed suit on behalf of more than ten thousand Richmond, California residents against Chevron for a fire that allegedly sent thousands to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
2010/2011
- In 2011 Buzbee was retained by the Friendswood, Texas family of Craig Salerno, who was killed when a modified competition plane crashed into spectators at the Reno Air Races. Buzbee, who represented 18 individuals killed or injured at the incident, later questioned the safety of the air races. Buzbee filed the first Air Races lawsuit in the United States. Buzbee was instrumental in setting up a claims resolution facility currently being administered by Kenneth Feinberg.
- Also that year, former University of Pittsburgh football coach Michael Haywood, retained Buzbee following his dismissal from the position. Buzbee initially requested a university investigation of the firing and then sued, alleging breach of contract, among other claims. The university countersued the coach early in 2012.
- In 2010, Buzbee's clients were part of a $190 million settlement involving about 2,400 property owner claims against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association related to Hurricane Ike which struck the Texas coast in 2008. Buzbee served as class counsel in the case.
- Also that year, Buzbee obtained the largest verdict for workplace negligence in Texas--$30 million.
2006
- Buzbee obtained the first verdict, $16.6 million, against Ford Motor Company challenging the stability of the Ford Explorer.
2001
- Buzbee filed an antitrust suit on behalf of a class of offshore workers who claimed that their wages were suppressed. The case settled for $75 million.
Cases against BP
- In 2009, a federal jury in Galveston awarded $100 million to ten Buzbee clients who alleged toxic exposure related to a chemical discharge at the BP Texas City plant. The record verdict later was overturned, and Buzbee said BP had won a "free pass" to commit "gross negligence." This is the largest verdict ever recorded against BP.
- In a related 2010 case, Buzbee filed suit on behalf of residents from Texas City, Texas and LaMarque, Texas related to an emission event that occurred at the same BP Texas City refinery. It has been reported that Buzbee now represents more than 47,000 people in the lawsuit = currently on file in Galveston, Texas. Buzbee is the appointed Liaison Counsel.
- Buzbee said clients' settlements related to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico exceeded $150 million. Buzbee represented 19 rig workers, the last of whom settled her injury claims 22 months after the accident. In 2011, Buzbee alleged that rig managers were aware of serious problems before the explosion and that Transocean forced rig workers to sign statements before they were rescued. Buzbee questioned company claims about safety test records lost when the rig went down. Buzbee currently represents thousands of claimants, including hotel and resort owners and fishermen, who allege spill-related property damage and lost revenue.
- Buzbee represented more than 150 people with personal injury or property damage claims related to the March 2005 explosion at the BP Texas City refinery which killed 15 workers and injured at least 170 others. In October 2006, Buzbee reached agreements to settle 114 BP cases. Days before, Buzbee had sought and received a court ordering the deposition testimony of former BP chairman Lord John Browne. It has been reported that the settlement total exceeded $250 million.
Recognition
In 2002, the legal publication Texas Lawyer named Buzbee as a Top 5 "Go To" Lawyer for Commercial Litigation in the State of Texas. He has been selected multiple times as a Texas "Super Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters (2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
Buzbee appeared on the cover of The New York Times magazine in November 2010 regarding his role in the litigation against BP following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The article described Buzbee as "one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country." Buzbee appeared again in The New York Times in March 2013 after his appointment to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, this time the magazine referred to Buzbee as a "big, mean, ambitious, tenacious, fire-breathing Texas trial lawyer."
In May 2013, Texas Monthly profiled Buzbee for his role in the sexual abuse case against wealthy philanthropist, Stanley Marsh, stating, "Buzbee has made his reputation going after corporations, and he usually wins big."
In November 2015, Buzbee was awarded Attorney Of The Year by Texas Lawyer Magazine.
In March 2017, Buzbee was selected as the 2017 Distinguished Aggie Lawyer as part of the 18th Annual Conference of the Aggie Bar Association.
In the University of Houston Law Alumni Association Awards of 2017, Buzbee was awarded the Dean's Award for his work in protecting the school's name and brand in a federal trademark infringement lawsuit in 2016.
Philanthropy
Buzbee is active in several Houston-area charities. In addition to previously serving on the Board of Directors at the Jesse Tree charity, he has also given support to the Star of Hope Mission for the Homeless, Meals on Wheels, the Friendswood Methodist Church, and others.
In 2012, Buzbee donated $3 Million to the Texas A&M Foundation. The Buzbee Leadership Learning Center, the first construction on the quad in 73 years, is named in his honor.
In April 2014 Buzbee donated $1 Million to establish the first ever endowed faculty chair at the new Texas A&M University School of Law. It will be called the Anthony G. Buzbee Dean's Endowed Chair and the incoming dean will use the funds to invest for things such as hiring new faculty and expanding academic programs.
In July 2014 Buzbee contributed $3 million and agreed to an annual contribution of $100,000 to the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M. The donation will help support Aggies Athletics and give Buzbee access to the West Legacy Suite at the recently renovated Kyle Field.
Community service
Buzbee is partial owner and serves on the Board of Directors of Galveston's Hometown Bank. He also has served on the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M Galveston, and The Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
In March 2013, Governor Rick Perry appointed Buzbee to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. He was appointed along with fellow Houston attorney Charles Schwartz and re-appointee Morris Foster. His term expires February 1, 2019.
Business interests
Buzbee is also a property developer, working to revitalize historic downtown Friendswood. He owns Buzbee Properties, a residential and commercial real estate firm focused on the south Texas communities of Friendswood, Pearland, Alvin, Webster, Pasadena, Clear Lake, League City, Kemah and Seabrook. Buzbee also owns various retail entities, commercial buildings, and several hotels in Florida.
Politics
Buzbee has supported Democratic and Republican politicians at the local, state and federal levels.
In 2012, Buzbee supported Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry's presidential campaign with financial support and the use of his private jet. Buzbee also served as one of Perry's debate coaches.
That same year, Buzbee served as debate coach to Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in his unsuccessful run for the United States Senate.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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