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Legal Experts on Water Contamination and Clean Up Available For Comment

WHAT: It has been nearly two weeks since The Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and causing 5,000 barrels of oil a day to leak into the gulf. While BP tries to cap the underwater well, at least four states are feeling the effects of this environmental catastrophe. What was at first a tale of explosion and oil spill is transitioning into a complex legal story of water contamination and clean-up efforts.

WHO: Baron and Budd, P.C., with more than three decades of experience, is the "Lawyer's Lawyer" for Environmental Cases and has been chosen by the attorneys of many states, municipalities and water districts to represent them in water cases. Through this work across the country, Baron and Budd has obtained recoveries in excess of a billion dollars against major oil companies, including commitments not just to pay up but also to help clean up.

The following experts are available for interview:

• Scott Summy, water contamination legal specialist: Summy leads Baron & Budd, P.C.'s water contamination legal practice. In 2008, he successfully litigated the first multi-jurisdictional MTBE groundwater cases in the U.S. Working on behalf of over 150 plaintiff public water systems in 17 states, he won nearly $450 million in cash to settle and to pay future clean-up costs from defendants. Held to account were nearly all of the world's largest oil companies, including BP.
• Burton LeBlanc, environmental legal specialist: LeBlanc runs Baron & Budd, P.C.'s Louisiana practice from his office in Baton Rouge. His practice concentration is environmental law and he has represented the state of Louisiana in cases against the oil and gas industry. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured workers in Louisiana, including multiple jury verdicts over $1 million.
• Bruce Steckler, Gulf Coast legal specialist: Steckler is a lead attorney representing individuals, municipalities and businesses in cases involving large-scale disasters and is a legal expert on the Gulf Coast area's trio of economic drivers - tourism, fishing and drilling.

WHEN: Available upon request. To schedule an interview, contact Greg Schmalz, Kalligeros Communications, 732-785-9317 or via e-mail at gschmalz@kalligeros.com.

WHY: Baron & Budd has a long history of working on water contamination cases. In 1985, Baron & Budd filed suit on behalf of more than 1,600 Tucson, Arizona residents against an aircraft manufacturer, the City of Tucson and the Tucson Airport Authority over TCE contamination of the community's groundwater. The total recovery was more than $150 million and Baron & Budd helped define Arizona law on pollution coverage issues. The case is widely considered among the most important in U.S. history involving personal injuries caused by water pollution. In 2003, Baron & Budd represented the City of Santa Monica in a landmark MTBE contamination settlement with the major oil companies. The oil companies paid $250 million, which provided the city with money to build a water treatment system to clean MTBE from the water supply.

BACKGROUND: Since it was founded in Dallas in 1977, Baron & Budd has garnered national acclaim for championing the rights of people and communities harmed by corporate misconduct. With over 60 attorneys and 200 staff, Baron & Budd's size and resources have enabled the firm to take on some of the largest and most complex cases of their kind. The cornerstone of the firm is toxic tort litigation, representing individuals, municipalities and water providers seeking redress from manufacturers of hazardous products and corporate polluters. The firm handles cases for injuries caused by exposure to asbestos, benzene and other toxic substances. Baron and Budd's work includes representation of securities investors defrauded by corporate wrongdoing and consumers and businesses in class actions and insurance litigation.

Kalligeros Communications
Greg Schmalz, 732-785-9317
gschmalz@kalligeros.com