Swartz, Joseph A.

Scott Summy is a shareholder at Baron & Budd, one of the largest and oldest firms in the United States that specializes in environmental litigation. Mr. Summy heads up the firm’s Water Contamination Practice Group, whose practice is dedicated to complex water contamination cases all over the country. Mr. Summy primarily represents public water providers, i.e. municipalities, water districts and utilities, and school districts whose water is contaminated by an intrusive chemical. On behalf of these clients, Mr. Summy seeks cost recovery for treatment facilities, operation and maintenance costs of the treatment facility, out of pocket expenses and administrative costs. Mr. Summy also represents private well owners around the country whose wells are contaminated. Mr. Summy and the Water Contamination Practice Group currently represent approximately 200 public water providers across the country with MTBE contamination. He is designated Co-Lead Counsel for all Plaintiffs. Mr. Summy has reached settlements with most of the defendants in these cases totaling over $450 million including BP. Mr. Summy fought very hard against BP and its every effort to thwart the cases in US Congress and in Court.

Mr. Summy is continuing to file new MTBE cases across the country. He was also lead counsel in landmark environmental cases in California designed to protect natural resources. These cases were brought against all major oil companies and were successfully resolved and resulted in Mr. Summy and his legal team earning the "Attorneys of the Year" award from California Lawyer in 2001.

Mr. Summy and the Water Contamination Practice Group are currently representing over 30 water providers in atrazine litigation. Other chemicals of concern involved in Baron & Budd's practice include: TCP, TCE, PCE, and PFOA/PFOS. Baron & Budd is the largest firm in the United States representing public water providers and private well owners on a contingency fee basis. Through his work in water cases across the country, Mr. Summy has obtained recoveries in excess of a billion dollars against major oil companies, including BP. Mr. Summy has been selected to be included in The Best Lawyers in America from 2006-2010. He and his team were also Finalists for the Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year Award in 2009. Mr. Summy is licensed to practice law in Texas, North Carolina and New York. He is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.