Michael A. Bell, Esq.
Michael Bell, of Bell, Orrock and Watase, Inc., has tried more than 100 jury cases to verdict including Federal Civil Rights, medical and legal malpractice, environmental claims (CERCLA, RCRA), government tort liability, and general liability cases. As a member of the panel of settlement officers of the California Court of Appeal and the Riverside County Bar Dispute Resolution Services, Mr. Bell has conducted numerous settlement conferences and acted as a judicial arbitrator. He has also conducted many private mediations.

Mr. Bell began his career as a Claims Representative for Farmers Insurance Group and later joined their in-house law firm in Los Angeles, where he tried numerous jury and non-jury cases. Mr. Bell has practiced law for nearly four decades, first with Fidler & Bell and currently with its successor, Bell, Orrock and Watase, Inc. His practice originally focused on medical and legal malpractice defense and has gone on to include governmental entity cases.

Mr. Bell has authored many appellate briefs. Printed decisions of some of those cases include Gunderson v. Superior Court (1975) 46 Cal.App.3d 138; 120 Cal.Rptr. 35; Lopez v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group (1981) 115 Cal.App.3d 673; 171 Cal.Rptr. 527; Estrella v. Brandt (1982) 682 F.2d 814; Williams v. Braslow (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 762; 224 Cal.Rptr. 895.

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Member: California State Bar 1964; Nevada State Bar 1994
  • District of Columbia Bar 1995; American Board of Trial Advocates since 1973
  • Rank Advocate, President San Bernardino-Riverside Chapter 1985-86
  • Diplomate American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association —Torts and Insurance Section
  • Riverside County Bar Association.

SPECIALIZES IN:

Professional malpractice, environmental claims, Federal Civil Rights, government tort liability and general liability

EDUCATION:

  • J.D. (1962), Loyola Marymount University at Los Angeles School of Law Loyola Marymount University 1956-58
  • University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1955-56.

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS:

Southern California