Lloyd Bell

Bell@BellAndMulholland.com

“There is no greater calling than helping people get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives after a devastating injury.” Lloyd N. Bell

Lloyd Bell, partner and founder of Bell Law Firm, is a seasoned trial lawyer who has served as lead counsel in over 40 jury trials across the United States. Currently, he focuses his practice on the representation of clients suffering from traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries caused by the negligence of others.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Bell began his legal career as a Captain in the US Army JAG Corps representing soldiers. When he represented his first client in trial, he realized the power of a jury to correct injustice in our society. After leaving the JAG Corps, Mr. Bell worked for three years as an insurance defense attorney, learning the ins and outs of what is now his primary opposition. He then founded Bell Law Firm in 1999, and has dedicated his practice exclusively to the representation of the seriously injured.

Where Mr. Bell truly shines is in the courtroom. He was recently selected by Atlanta Magazine as one of 20 Atlanta “Super Lawyers 2006” in the area of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. In addition, he has received the coveted “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating a lawyer can receive, reflecting superior legal skill and the highest ethical standards. Although many attorneys never achieve this honor in their careers, Mr. Bell received the peer-supported “AV” rating at the age of 35.

In addition to proven trial skills, Mr. Bell also brings to the courtroom a strong science background, which allows him to help jurors understand the complex medical issues, particularly in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord cases. Mr. Bell graduated with distinction with a degree in biology, and upon graduation, he was honored for achieving the second highest grade point average in his major. His science background serves him well in helping juries understand the sometimes-complex medical issues involved in traumatic injury cases.

He is a 1989 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and a 1992 graduate of Mercer University Law School in Macon, Georgia. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar that same year. While a law student at Mercer, Mr. Bell was selected to the Board of the prestigious American Bar Association Moot Court Team, where he competed against other law students from around the Southeast. He was also a finalist in the “Best Advocate” oral argument competition. He is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and has served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1997 where he has obtained the rank of Major.

“I enjoy fighting for the underdog,” says Mr. Bell. “Having worked for insurance defense firms early in my career, I understand the vast resources that insurance companies spend to fight legitimate claims. People who are seriously injured by the carelessness of others need the best possible representation from experienced lawyers who are not afraid to take on the Goliaths in the insurance world.

“I have a compelling drive to not just fight hard for my clients, but also to win their cases and ensure they are fairly compensated for their injuries,” he continues. “ I enjoy getting to truly know and understand my clients. Only by spending the time to understand the hardships our clients face after suffering a brain or spinal cord injury can we be in a position to help a jury understand and reach a fair verdict.”


EXPERIENCE:

1999-present
BELL LAW FIRM
Partner, Founder, Trial Lawyer
Practicing in the area of plaintiffs personal injury with a focus on brain and spinal cord injuries.

1998-1999
SWIFT, CURRIE, MCGHEE & HIERS, LLP
Associate
Insurance Defense
Practicing in the area of general civil litigation with a focus on property insurance defense, insurance coverage and liability.

1996-1998
BLASINGAME, BURCH, GARRARD, BRYANT AND ASHLEY, LLP
Associate
Insurance Defense – Practicing in the areas of general insurance defense including medical malpractice defense, automobile collisions, trucking and slip and fall cases.

1992-1996
U.S. ARMY JAG CORPS, TRIAL DEFENSE SERVICES
Captain: Trial Counsel
Served initially as a prosecutor in all types of cases ranging from DUI’s to first degree felonies. After three years as a prosecutor, selected to serve as a Trial Defense Counsel on the West Coast representing soldiers accused of all variety of crimes.

EDUCATION:
1989-92
MERCER UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctorate
Member, American Bar Association Moot Court Team; Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award for Criminal Law. Finalist, Trial Advocacy Competition.

1985-89:
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
With Distinction, BA Biology.


ACTIVITIES, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
Member, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, 2003 (Member, Membership Committee)
Member, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Member, State Bar of Georgia
Member, American Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Atlanta Bar Association
Judge/Evaluator, Georgia and National Mock Trial Competitions, 1994-1996
U.S. Army Reservist, 1997-present
President, Atlanta Chapter, Virginia Military Institute Alumni Chapter

Board Member, Side By Side Clubhouse, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Facility

LECTURES:

2008 "Recovering Attorneys Fees from Defendants In Tort Cases" Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2007 "Winning Attorneys Fees from the Stubborn and the Litigious" Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2005, “Trial Tips and Tactics – Lessons Learned at Trial”, GTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar.

2004, Insurance and Tort Law Seminar, St. Simons, Georgia. Topic: Trial Strategies for Obtaining Attorneys Fees pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11, due to unscrupulous defense litigation tactics.

2004, Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association – Topic: Maximizing Client Verdicts in the aftermath of Daniel v. Smith.

2003, Douglas County Rotary Club, – The Terrible Truth About Tort “Reform” – An Attack on Victims’ Rights.


ADMITTED:
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals for the Armed Services of America



PUBLISHED OPINIONS:

Nevitt v. CMD Realty Inv. Fund IV, L.P.,
282 Ga. App. 533 (Ga. Ct. App. 2006)

Varsalona v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co.,
281 Ga. App. 644 (Ga. Ct. App. 2006)

Anderson v. Cayes,
278 Ga. App. 592 (Ga. Ct. App. 2006)

Nair v. Aramark Food Serv. Corp.,
276 Ga. App. 793 (Ga. Ct. App. 2005)

Rogers v. Smith,
271 Ga. App. 297 (Ga. Ct. App. 2005)

Daniel v. Smith,
266 Ga. App. 637 (Ga. Ct. App. 2004)

Sanders v. Lull International, Inc.,
2005 WL 1356456 (11th Cir., June 9, 2005)