www.plaintiffmagazine.com NOVEMBER 2009 Artist reveals the multifaceted King of Torts “To admirers, he was a tireless fighter for the little people. To detractors, he was a shameless self-promoter.” BY TREVOR GORING idea had been distilling in my mind for many years, and I was Editor’s note: The 62nd Annual convinced that Mel would cer­ Melvin Belli Seminar was held this past tainly approve of anything to do July 24 in San Francisco. To mark the with distilling, I embarked upon occasion, international artist and author the necessary research. Family Trevor Goring exhibited two portraits of members, friends and colleagues Melvin Belli. Here, he shares reminis­ were most helpful in providing cences and thoughts on the iconic figure background and context, culmi­ (for more information on the Belli Society: nating in a marvelous visit with www.bellisociety.org). Mel’s son Caesar to visit his mother Joy, in her Palm Springs New York City, July 1995. The home, a treasure trove of Belli O.J. Simpson trial is dominating the memorabilia. media. I have just finished installing Eventually I decided on paint­ an exhibition of my Images of Justice ing two portraits and completed paintings and prints at the Associa­ them in my Montreal studio in tion of Trial Lawyers of America time to unveil the largest one at (ATLA). Next to my booth is a med­ the Belli Society meeting being ical-legal consulting firm represented held that year in Toronto. Two by a stunningly beautiful, petite portraits because Mel was noth­ blonde. Within minutes a sprightly, ing if not complex and multifac­ dynamic, silver-haired octogenarian eted, and I knew there were suavely presents himself and his con­ those who saw him as Melvin Bel­ siderable entourage to my attractive licose and those who favored the neighbor and asks her out to lunch. more caring image of this great Melvin Belli has arrived. Melvin Belli, the tough litigator, pictured with his trademark, controversial figure. To admirers, Over the next five days, between fine tooled cowboy boots and “bordello red” silk lining of he was a tireless fighter for the numerous media appearances and so­ an immaculate suit. A selection of his most popular books little people. To detractors, he cial events Mel returned again and is arrayed behind. (Private collection of the artist.) was a shameless self-promoter. again to woo my charming neighbor, The making of an icon and as she was most often absent from her station, he seated himself com­ Painting portraits posthumously is a Unquestionably, Melvin Belli built fortably in my space and engaged me in risky business. If you don’t get it right, his career by defending the rights of the some of the most wide-ranging and fasci­ your subject may well come back to haunt individual. Representing individuals in nating conversation I have had the pleas­ you. Conscious of this daunting prospect, personal injury cases and raising awards ure to share throughout my 20 years of I placed the idea of creating Mel’s por­ to then-unprecedented heights he earned working with the trial lawyer community. trait in dormancy until I developed a re­ the title of “King of Torts” by Life Maga­ At one point we discussed my painting his lationship with a number of prominent zine writer Robert Wallace in a 1954 pro­ portrait but alas he was gone within 12 members of the Belli Society who encour­ file. In his first personal injury lawsuit, months and a live sitting was not to be. aged me to take up the task. Since the Mel Belli represented an injured cable car Copyright © 2009 by the author. For reprint permission, contact the publisher: www.plaintiffmagazine.com 1 www.plaintiffmagazine.com NOVEMBER 2009 grip man. Over defense attorney’s objec­ Mel Belli represented Jack Ruby on trial The King of Torts is dead. Long live tions, Belli brought a large model of a for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the the King! cable car intersection and the gearbox assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Trevor Goring is a London-born interna­ and chain involved in the accident to His flamboyant character was inti­ tional portrait artist, historical painter, author court to demonstrate to the jurors exactly mately linked to the life of San Francisco and publisher. In 1991 he what happened. This pioneering work in and his eccentric offices and lifestyle were founded the Images of Jus­ illustrating in court the nature of his the keen focus of media and tourist atten­ tice project to explore and clients’ injuries and his early use of pho­ tion. He reveled in his victories and after promote the history and tographs, movies, scale models, human winning a big case, raised a Jolly Roger symbolism of law in original skeletons, animals, prostheses and other on the roof of his landmark building and paintings, limited edition devices was dramatic, riveting and highly fired off two blasts from a signal cannon prints and electronic and effective. He truly was the “Father of to herald the imminent celebration party. Goring print media. He has exhibited Demonstrative Evidence.” So far the ghost of Melvin Belli has at over 350 legal and judi­ High profile cases involved Mae yet to appear in my studio, and I am cial conferences in North America and Europe, West, Errol Flynn, Lenny Bruce, Zsa Zsa hopeful that perhaps he is content with his images appear on over 100 magazine cov­ Gabor, Muhammad Ali, Alex Haley, televi­ my attempts at capturing (or should that ers and his art is found in hundreds of private, sion evangelist Jim Baker and his wife, be freeing) his spirit, certainly of making corporate and public collections. He lives and Tammy Faye, the Korean jetliner disaster, a respectful and modest contribution to maintains studios in Cork City, Ireland and the MGM Grand Hotel fire in Las Vegas, honouring his legacy of both creative and Montreal, Canada. www.imagesofjustice.com the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt controversial “lawyering.” Melvin Belli or e-mail [email protected]. walkway, the Benedictin birth defect cases loved the law and the limelight equally and Sirhan Sirhan. In his best-known case, and lived both to the full. � Copyright © 2009 by the author. For reprint permission, contact the publisher: www.plaintiffmagazine.com 2 .