'King of Torts' Melvin Belli
leaves controversial legacy

Melvin Mouron Belli, the "King of Torts" who loved the law and the limelight equally, left behind a legacy of both creative and controversial lawyering.

The one-time courtroom giant who represented the famous and the unknown died in his San Francisco home July 9, apparently of pancreatic cancer.

Belli was 88.

As a plaintiff's lawyer, he expanded the rights of consumers to sue rich and powerful corporations, developing tactics that infuriated his more conventional opponents while winning huge verdicts.

He also was a criminal defense attorney, representing famous defendants including Jack Ruby, Caryl Chessman, Sirhan Sirhan and Mario Savio. He was the attorney to many celebrities as well, among them Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Mae West, Errol Flynn and Lana Turner.

"I can love a big rich man as much as a poor little man," he once said, "but there are just a lot more of the poor little men."

Among his many books, the five-volume "Modern Trials" is considered a classic textbook on the demonstrative method of presenting evidence. His unprecedented -- and some thought undignified -- use of graphic evidence and expert witnesses later became common courtroom practice.

Often bombastic and a shameless self-promoter, Belli reveled in his victories. After winning a big case, he raised a Jolly Roger up a mast on the roof of his landmark building and fired off two blasts from a signal cannon.

Eschewing modesty, he once said, "There may be better lawyers than I, but so far I haven't come across any of them in court."

Despite his fame and success, Belli's practice became mired in controversy in his later years. He fought with former partners and employees, was the target of tax evasion charges and malpractice claims, and at the end of last year was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Only a week before his death, a federal judge ordered that his practice be taken over by an independent examiner. He refused to retire despite his professional and health problems.

Born in Sonora in 1907, Belli attended the University of California at Berkeley and, after a short stint as a seaman, enrolled at Boalt Hall.

He got his start representing death row inmates at San Quentin, the first two of whom were hanged.

[MAIN MENU][CALBAR JOURNAL] The California Bar Journal - August, 1996

'King of Torts' Melvin Belli
leaves controversial legacy

Melvin Mouron Belli, the "King of Torts" who loved the law and the limelight equally, left behind a legacy of both creative and controversial lawyering.

The one-time courtroom giant who represented the famous and the unknown died in his San Francisco home July 9, apparently of pancreatic cancer.

Belli was 88.

As a plaintiff's lawyer, he expanded the rights of consumers to sue rich and powerful corporations, developing tactics that infuriated his more conventional opponents while winning huge verdicts.

He also was a criminal defense attorney, representing famous defendants including Jack Ruby, Caryl Chessman, Sirhan Sirhan and Mario Savio. He was the attorney to many celebrities as well, among them Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Mae West, Errol Flynn and Lana Turner.

"I can love a big rich man as much as a poor little man," he once said, "but there are just a lot more of the poor little men."

Among his many books, the five-volume "Modern Trials" is considered a classic textbook on the demonstrative method of presenting evidence. His unprecedented -- and some thought undignified -- use of graphic evidence and expert witnesses later became common courtroom practice.

Often bombastic and a shameless self-promoter, Belli reveled in his victories. After winning a big case, he raised a Jolly Roger up a mast on the roof of his landmark building and fired off two blasts from a signal cannon.

Eschewing modesty, he once said, "There may be better lawyers than I, but so far I haven't come across any of them in court."

Despite his fame and success, Belli's practice became mired in controversy in his later years. He fought with former partners and employees, was the target of tax evasion charges and malpractice claims, and at the end of last year was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Only a week before his death, a federal judge ordered that his practice be taken over by an independent examiner. He refused to retire despite his professional and health problems.

Born in Sonora in 1907, Belli attended the University of California at Berkeley and, after a short stint as a seaman, enrolled at Boalt Hall.

He got his start representing death row inmates at San Quentin, the first two of whom were hanged.

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