Voting Station

Melvin M. Belli

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Attorney

The Resume

    (July 29, 1907-July 9, 1996)
    Born in Sonora, California
    Nicknamed the King of Torts
    Clients included Jack Ruby, Sirhan Sirhan, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Mae West, Chuck Berry, Muhammad Ali, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker
    Wrote the books 'The Adequate Award' (1951), 'Medical Malpractice' (1955), 'Ready for the Plaintiff' (1956), 'Trial Tactics' (1967), 'The Law Revolution' (1968) and 'My Life on Trial' (1976)
    Acted in the 'And The Children Shall Lead' episode of Star Trek

Why he might be annoying:

    He said, 'There may be better lawyers than I, but so far I haven't come across any of them in court.'
    His office was described as resembling 'a Gold Rush whorehouse.'
    When he won a case, he would hoist a Jolly Roger flag over his office and fire a cannon from the building roof.
    The Texas Bar Association attempted to have him disbarred over his behavior in the Jack Ruby trial.
    He lost a $3.8 million suit for legal malpractice (1985).
    He was married six times and divorced five.
    His fourth marriage was annulled after 34 days.
    During his fifth divorce, he was fined $1,000 for calling his wife 'El Trampo.'
    He went through 30 legal partners in his career, and allegedly encouraged his dogs to urinate and defecate outside the offices of his estranged partners.

Why he might not be annoying:

    The Houston Post said he was 'gifted by nature with a velvety, hypnotic voice that could charm cobras out of their baskets.'
    In a case concerning an exploding Coca-Cola bottle, he established the principle of implied warranty that underlies modern consumer rights law.
    Willie Brown said, 'No lawyer in America had a more profound impact on what Ralph Nader just talks about.'
    He was a pioneer in using charts and graphics in court.
    After he criticized J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI started a 367-page file on him.
    He said, 'You can't have more fun than practicing law. I love to try cases and I love to do research.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 56.52% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 73.91% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 63 Votes: 66.67% Annoying