NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Melvin Belli

Melvin Mouron Belli (29 July 1907, Sonora, California - 9 July 1996, San Francisco, California) was a prominent American lawyer known as 'The King of Torts'—and by detractors as 'Melvin Bellicose'. He had many celebrity clients, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Errol Flynn, Chuck Berry, Muhammad Ali, Sirhan Sirhan, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Martha Mitchell, Lana Turner, Tony Curtis, and Mae West. July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Area - City 122 kmÂ² (47 sq mi) - Land 121. ... For other uses, see Gabor (disambiguation). ... Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 â€“ October 14, 1959) was an Australian film actor, most famous for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films and his flamboyant lifestyle. ... Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. ... For other persons named Muhammad Ali, see Muhammad Ali (disambiguation). ... Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (born March 19, 1944) was convicted of murdering Senator Robert F. Kennedy. ... James Orsen Bakker (born January 2, 1940 in Muskegon, Michigan) is an American televangelist, a former Assemblies of God minister, and a former host (with his then-wife Tammy Faye Bakker) of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program. ... Tammy Faye Bakker Messner (born March 7, 1942) is the former wife of televangelist and later convicted felon Jim Bakker. ... Martha Mitchell was born Martha Elizabeth Beall on September 2, 1918, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; she was the socialite wife of former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell. ... Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 â€“ June 29, 1995) was an Academy award-nominated American film actress. ... Roger Moore and Tony Curtis in The Persuaders! Tony Curtis (born June 3, 1925) is an American film actor. ... MAE-West is a major Internet peering point located in San Jose, California. ...

Education and early career

Belli graduated from the University of California, Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law in 1933. After graduation, his first job was posing as an hobo for the Works Progress Administration and riding the rails to observe the Depression's impact on the country's vagrant population. His first major legal victory came shortly after graduation, in a personal injury lawsuit representing an injured cable car gripman. Over insurance lawyers' objections, Belli brought a model of a cable car intersection, and the gear box and chain involved in the accident, to demonstrate to jurors exactly what had happened. The University of California, Berkeley (also known as UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, and by other names, see below) is the oldest and flagship campus of the ten-campus University of California system. ... Boalt Hall The UC Berkeley School of Law, commonly referred to as Boalt Hall, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... A performance artist dressed as a hobo Hobo is a term that refers to a subculture of wandering homeless people, particularly those who make a habit of hopping freight trains. ... WPA Graphic The Works Progress Administration (later Works Projects Administration, abbreviated WPA), was created in May 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not set it up). ... The Great Depression was an economic downturn which started in 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s. ... Vagrancy is a crime in some European countries, but most of these laws have been abandoned. ... A personal injury occurs when a person has suffered some form of injury, either physical or psychological, as the result of an accident. ... Cable Car in San Francisco A San Francisco cable car A cable car or cable railway is a mass transit system using rail cars that are propelled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. ... In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the film and video industries. ... Insurance, in law and economics, is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of catastrophic financial loss. ...

King of Torts

Besides his famous personal injury cases, which earned for him his 'King of Torts' nickname, Belli was also instrumental in setting up some of the foundations of modern consumer rights law, arguing several cases in the 1940s and 1950s that formed the basis for later lawsuits and landmark litigation by such figures as Ralph Nader. Belli argued (in cases such as Escola v. Coca-Cola, in 1944, which arose from an incident in which a restaurant manager from Merced, California was severely injured by an exploding Coca-Cola bottle) that all products have an implied warranty, that it is to be foreseen that products will be used by a long chain of people, not just the direct recipient of the manufactured product, and that negligence by a defendant need not be proven if the defendant's product is defective. Belli also was one of the first major attorneys to prominently use demonstrative evidence and courtroom exhibits (such as graphics, charts, photographs, and films). A personal injury occurs when a person has suffered some form of injury, either physical or psychological, as the result of an accident. ... Consumer protection is government regulation to protect the interests of consumers, for example by requiring businesses to disclose detailed information about products, particularly in areas where safety or public health is an issue, such as food. ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... The 1950s was the decade spanning from the 1st of January, 1950 to the 31st of December, 1959. ... Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Merced is the county seat of Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... In common law jurisdictions, an implied warranty is a contract law term for certain assurances that are presumed to be made in the sale of products or real property, due to the circumstances of the sale. ... In tort law, the right to sue and recover damages from another on the basis of negligence, as opposed to numerous other tort theories discussed elsewhere, is based upon proving that the defendant failed to use ordinary care, that is,that degree of care for the protection of the person... Defect is the n00b of the animating world, everybody knows that he cannot and will not animate. ... Demonstrative evidence is evidence used to help the fact-finder gain context for the facts of the case. ...

In his best known case, Belli represented Jack Ruby, for free, after Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald. Belli attempted to prove that Ruby was legally insane and had a history of mental illness in his family. On 14 March 1964, Ruby was convicted of 'murder with malice', and later received a death sentence. However, in late 1966, Ruby's conviction was overturned, on the grounds that he did not receive a fair trial and a retrial was scheduled outside of Dallas, but Ruby died of a stroke before the retrial could take place. Belli became very critical of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover; the agency compiled at least 367 pages of evidence about Belli's activities accessible here. Dallas Police Department mugshot of Ruby Jack Leon Ruby (born Jacob Rubenstein on March 25?, 1911 â€“ January 3, 1967) was a Dallas nightclub owner who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald was arrested for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Lee Harvey Oswald diary Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 â€“ November 24, 1963) was, according to four United States government investigations, responsible for the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. ... Inmates at Bedlam Asylum, as portrayed by William Hogarth Insanity, or madness, is a semi-permanent, severe mental disorder typically stemming from a form of mental illness. ... Mental Illness is a concept in psychiatry and other mental health professions referring to mental abnormality associated with distress and/or dysfunction. ... March 14 is the 73rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (74th in leap years) with 292 days remaining in the year. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Capital punishment, also referred to as the death penalty, is the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a capital offense or a capital crime. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Dallas redirects here. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... Hoover in 1961 John Edgar Hoover KBE (January 23, 1895 â€“ May 2, 1972) was an influential but controversial director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ...

Film and television roles

Belli appeared in numerous films and television shows, frequently as himself, and is set to be played by Brian Cox in the 2006 film Zodiac (Belli received a letter from the Zodiac Killer in 1969). Image File history File links Melvin Belli as Star Trek Character Gorgan File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecktor from Michael Manns Manhunter. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the 2005 film starring Justin Chambers and Robin Tunney see The Zodiac Zodiac, a Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. ... The cross-like symbol used by the Zodiac Killer. ... Year 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

In perhaps his best-known role, other than as himself, Belli appeared in a 1968 episode, "And the Children Shall Lead", of Star Trek, which has often been labeled "the worst Star Trek episode of the entire series." ^{[citation needed]} In it he played Gorgan, an evil being who corrupted a group of children. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... And the Children Shall Lead is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast October 11, 1968. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ...

In 1970, he appeared in The Rolling Stones movie Gimme Shelter, reprising his real-life role as the person responsible for the disastrous decision to stage the rock group's Altamont Free Concert. Belli enjoyed his frequent television and movie appearances; in 1965, he told an interviewer for Playboy that he "might have been an actor" if he had not become an attorney. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Gimme Shelter is the name of a documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles, chronicling the Rolling Stones 1969 U.S. tour. ... Promotional poster for concert. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The first issue of Playboy. ...

Author

Belli was the author of several books, including the six-volume Modern Trials (written between 1954 and 1960) which has become a classic textbook on the demonstrative method of presenting evidence. Belli's unprecedented -- and some thought undignified -- use of graphic evidence and expert witnesses later became common courtroom practice. His autobiography, "My Life on Trial" is an entertaining account of his life and famous events he was involved in during most of the 20th century. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... An expert witness is a witness, who by virtue of education, or profession, or experience, is believed to have special knowledge of his subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially (and legally) rely upon his opinion. ...

Personal life and finances

Belli was married five times. His marriage to the former Lia Triff ended with a scandalous, acrimonious and bitter divorce proceeding in 1988, in which Belli was fined $1000 for calling his wife "El Trampo", accused his wife of throwing their pet dog off the Golden Gate Bridge, and was ultimately compelled to pay her an estimated $15 million. Belli married his fifth wife, Nancy Ho, eleven weeks before he died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 88. It has been suggested that Divorcee be merged into this article or section. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening into the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. ...

Belli's firm filed for bankruptcy protection in December, 1995, not long before his death. Belli was representing 800 women in a class action lawsuit against breast implant manufacturer Dow Corning. Belli won the lawsuit, but when Dow Corning declared bankruptcy, Belli had no way to recover the $5,000,000 (USD) his firm had advanced to doctors and expert witneses. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In law, a class action is an equitable procedural device used in litigation for determining the rights of and remedies, if any, for large numbers of people whose cases involve common questions of law and fact. ... A breast implant is a prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a womans breasts (known as breast augmentation) for cosmetic reasons, to reconstruct the breast (e. ... Dow Corning is a multinational corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, USA. Dow Corning specializes in silicon and silicone-based technology, offering more than 7,000 products and services. ...

In June, 1996, two weeks before his passing, Melvin Belli recited the oratory to David Woodard's brass fanfare setting of Mark Twain's "The War Prayer", at San Francisco's Old First Church.

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Bibliography

1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Filmography (as actor)

1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an epic American science fiction franchise. ... And the Children Shall Lead is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast October 11, 1968. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

External links

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | American legal writers | California lawyers | John F. Kennedy assassination | American television actors | Star Trek: The Original Series actors | People from the San Francisco Bay Area | Delta Tau Delta brothers | 1907 births | 1996 deaths | Pancreatic cancer deaths Nearly sixty countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about actors, films, television shows, television stars, video games and production crew personnel. ... Memory Alpha (often abbreviated to MA) is a collaborative project to create the most definitive, accurate and accessible encyclopedic reference for topics related to the Star Trek fictional universe. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an epic American science fiction franchise. ... For other uses, see Wiki (disambiguation). ...

Contents

Education and early career GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");