Baron & Budd’s dedication to protecting what’s right also extends to protecting our water supply, including our oceans. We have handled major water contamination cases since the mid-1980s, and were a leading force in the historic $450 million national settlement to clean toxic MTBE, a gasoline additive, out of public water supplies around the country.

$450 Million National MTBE Contamination Settlement 2008

Representing over 150 public water providers including municipalities, public water agencies and private water companies from across the country, Baron & Budd shareholder Scott Summy served as co-lead counsel in negotiating a historic $450 million national settlement with the majority of America’s leading oil companies, including BP. The settlement held the oil companies responsible for using Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive, which is a known contaminate of groundwater used for public consumption. Not only were the oil companies forced to take responsibility for the contamination, but were also required to clean up contaminated drinking water. Today, the well protection provided by the settlement protects over 3,600 wells that service millions of Americans. Learn more.

Groundwater Contamination Case in Tucson, Arizona 2006

This case is widely considered to be one of the most important water pollution injury cases in United States history. Baron & Budd filed a lawsuit on behalf of over 1,600 Tucson-area residents against an aircraft manufacturer, the Tucson Airport Authority and the city of Tucson due to TCE contamination in the community’s groundwater. Industrial solvents that contained trichloroethylene (TCE) had been used for decades at the airport and nearby aircraft company, which slowly seeped into the sandy desert soil and polluted wells that were essential to Tucson’s water supply. Because of the TCE, several uncommon forms of cancer, especially among the community’s children, increased to near-epidemic levels. Through the 21-year legal battle, Baron & Budd helped define Arizona pollution law.

City of Santa Monica MTBE Settlement 2004

Baron & Budd represented the city of Santa Monica in a groundbreaking MTBE contamination settlement with the nation’s major oil companies. The settlement provided the city with the necessary funds to build the filtration system needed to clean MTBE from the water supply. The city also received $120 million to continue buying clean water for the residents until the MTBE was successfully removed from their own water supply.