Tony Buzbee has handled cases all over the United States, including Texas, California, New York, Tennessee, Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He is particularly interested in catastrophic injury and death cases and multi-million dollar business disputes.

Tony Buzbee has always worked hard to be the best and prides himself on aggressive, smart, and creative work. Buzbee leaves no stone unturned to present the best case for his client. What Tony Buzbee does best is try cases, and, based on his phenomenol successes in that regard, juries love him. 

Mr. Buzbee grew up poor as the son of a butcher and high school cafeteria worker. After earning a ROTC scholarship, Buzbee was able to attend Texas A&M University . While there, he served as a Battalion Commander in the Corps of Cadets. Upon graduation, Buzbee was honored to be 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.

After college, Buzbee entered the United States Marine Corps to serve his country. In his initial Marine Corps training, Buzbee was recognized as an Honor Graduate, receiving the #1 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 infantry units. After rigorous physical and mental screening, Buzbee was later selected by the Marines to become a special forces officer, commanding the elite Recon Company of the historic First Marine Regiment. While a special forces, recon officer, Mr. Buzbee received various awards, including top leadership awards from the rigorous Navy Dive School in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the daunting Amphibious Reconnaissance Course in Coronado Island, California . Ultimately, Buzbee earned the rank of Captain, and during his service was awarded the prestigious Navy Commendation Medal.

After his Marine Corps service, Buzbee entered law school at the University of Houston Law Center. In law school Mr. Buzbee was the Managing Editor of the Houston Law Review. He was also elected Class Captain by his peers. He was a member of the Order of the Coif, Order of the Barristers, and Order of the Barons. Among other awards, Buzbee received the Stephen S. Rudolph Scholarship (ranked #1 in section), the Corpus Juris Secundum Award, the Porter & Hedges Writing Award, the Maurice Howard Treiman Writing Award, the Phi Delta Phi Ethics Writing Award, and the Andrews & Kurth Award. Buzbee ultimately graduated Summa Cum Laude, finishing #2 in his class.

Tony Buzbee understands what it means to work for a living to make ends meet. He also understands the importance of those who, through their efforts, build businesses that create jobs and serve the public good. Mr. Buzbee entered the law profession to speak for those who can't speak for themselves. Because of his successes, Buzbee is able to finance those difficult, but rewarding cases, that interest him. Mr. Buzbee has represented literally hundreds of maritime workers in Jones Act and maritime suits, on claims related to injuries suffered while working offshore and working on dredges.   A veteran of numerous trials, 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. Buzbee has represented a class of offshore workers who alleged that their wages had been suppressed by their employers. That case resulted in a $75 million settlement, following the depositions of several key CEOs who were allegedly part of the alleged consiparacy.  He has represented the holders of various commercial notes who were sued for fraud, resulting in a confidential settlement reported to be in excess of $100 million. He represented a class of maritime workers on claims that their workplace was riddled with asbestos. In that case, as soon as the case was filed, the company immediately agreed to remove all asbestos from its vessels. He represented more than a hundred and fifty clients in claims related to the recent BP explosion in Texas City, Texas.  All of those cases settled under confidential but very favorable terms, prior to trial. Buzbee has been or is currently lead counsel in numerous death cases, resulting from the negligence of others. He has even represented the Basque Government in the largest oil spill in Spain's history.

In the commercial realm, Buzbee has represented the Port of Galveston in a breach of contract and fraud case pertaining to the construction of an offshore vessel facility that was to be built in Galveston, Texas. Prior to hiring Buzbee, the Port had only been offered $280,000 to settle the case. After hiring Buzbee, the case resulted in a $9 million settlement.  Mr. Buzbee subsequently represented a company in a breach of contract case related to that same offshore facility, resulting in a jury verdict for $2.8 million.  Mr. Buzbee has represented individuals and businesses in an antitrust case that alleged monopolization of the payphone industry in several states, resulting in a confidential, multi-million dollar settlement.  He has represented shareholders in businesses on claims that their share values had been improperly undervalued. Mr. Buzbee was even hired by Jimmy Buffett to bring trademark infringement claims against a vendor of Buffett-related merchandise. The alleged infringer in that case ended up literally in jail, forced to give his deposition. The case settled the same day.

Although he has certainly had larger verdicts and settlements in his long and varied career, Tony Buzbee is particularly proud of those verdicts of $16.6 million, $6.2 million, $2.8 million, $1.9 million, $1.4 million, and $1.25 million-because all such verdicts came after the defendant in the case refused to even make a settlement offer. 

In addition to his legal activities, Tony Buzbee is very involved in the community. Buzbee currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hometown Bank, which has branches across Galveston and Brazoria Counties. Buzbee also serves on the board of The Jesse Tree, a nonprofit organization that assists the homeless and those in need in Galveston and Brazoria counties. Buzbee serves on the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M Galveston, and has also served as a Director of the Houston Law Alumni Foundation. Buzbee is also past Chairman of the Galveston County Democratic Party. 

Mr. Buzbee is also President of Buzbee Properties, Inc., a property development and management company that has been recognized in its efforts to revitalize historic, downtown Friendswood.

Published Works: 

• When Arbitrable Claims Are Mixed with Nonarbitrable Claims, What's a Court to Do?, Law Review, South Texas College of Law
• Who Will Speak for the Teachers?, Houston Law Review
• Venue Transfer in Federal Court, Houston Lawyer
• "Appearing on Behalf of Galveston County," in Book "Texas Justice Tall Tales", Red Bandana Publishing

Representative Matters

• Commercial Litigation: Represented commercial note holders sued by payees on the notes, resulting in a confidential settlement exceeding $100 million.
• Toxic Torts: Represents more than seven 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 state-wide 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 drycleaning machines after multimillion dollar settlement.
• Home Owner liability: Represented teen ager who was severely burned while attending a bonfire at a friend's home.
• Trademark Infringement: Representing famed singer Jimmy Buffett.
• 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 a multimillion 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; Multimillion dollar verdict.
• 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: multimillion dollar verdict.
• 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 $75 million 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

News & Seminars

• Suit Accuses Insurance Company of Fraud
• ABC News Exclusive: Torture Tape Implicates UAE Royal Sheikh
• Former Stanford Lawyer Sued
• Windstorm insurance falling short for owners of Ike-damaged homes
• Five Workers File Suit Against Delek After Explosion
• Delek facing litigation after refinery explosion

Professional Affiliations

• University of Houston Law Center, Guest Lecturer, Arbitration;
• Guest Speaker, Vessel Casualties and Oil Spills, Who has the Liability? presented to the Lawyers Association of Cuba upon special invitation
• Various CLE's on topics ranging from jury selection to taking depositions.

Other Experience

• Susman Godfrey LLP, Attorney
• Southern District of Texas, Briefing Attorney
• United States Marine Corps, Captain