Robert Bell
Robert R. Bell
Senior Trust, Estate, & Guardianship Litigator
Graduating with highest honors (4th in his class of 200) from law school set the tone for Robert’s career as a litigator. Dogged determination, superior legal abilities and his practical wisdom could provide the margin of victory for your fiduciary litigation matter, will contest or trust dispute.
- Robert was a key member of the litigation team that won and collected, after legal fees and costs, $300,000,000 for his client for a breach of fiduciary duty claim in a professional negligence case.
- Co-Lead Counsel in a jury trial obtaining a jury verdict against a defendant for fraud. Net amount collected for client: $1,900,000.
If you are involved in a high stakes fiduciary litigation matter, shouldn’t your representation include someone who has experienced trial success at the highest level?
Education
Texas Tech University School of Law
- Juris Doctor, summa cum laude (1993)
- Law Review: Editor, Texas Tech Law Review
- Order of the Coif
- Board of Barristers
- National and State Mock Trial Teams participant
Baylor University – Bachelor of Arts, English
Representative Cases
- Lead counsel involving claims against the former directors and officers of a bank concerning a faulty real estate investment in Alt-A mortgages. The claim was settled for $43 million, net amount to client was $39,000,000.
- Co-lead counsel relating to mortgage fraud claims against a real estate financier. After a seven day trial, the jury returned a favorable verdict which was affirmed on appeal. Client received the net amount of $1,900,000.
- Secured the net sum of $50,000,000 to client as a result of litigating defendant’s breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with ALT-A mortgages.
- Successfully represented clients in several fidelity bond claims involving mortgage fraud, ATM fraud and credit card scams.
- Briefed and argued numerous appeals to both federal and state courts.
- Key member of the plaintiff’s trial team in connection with a lawsuit for breach of fiduciary duty against a big four accounting firm relating to the firm’s failure to detect a seven year pattern of mortgage fraud involving a vendor and bank employees. The Court found liability and awarded damages to the FDIC as receiver, who received a net amount of $300,000,000.
- Litigated claims against a resort developer for breach of fiduciary duties and fraudulent transfers. Obtained a judgment of $280 million that was affirmed on appeal.
Reported Cases
- Blixseth v. Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 854 F.3d 626 (9th 2017)
- Blixseth v. Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 796 F.3d 1004 (9th 2015)
- Blixseth v. Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 742 F.3d 1215 (9th 2014)
- In re Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 656 Fed. Appx. 307 (9th2016)
- In re Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 593 Fed. Appx. 643 (9th2015)
- In re Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC, 585 Fed. Appx. 393 (9th2014)
- FDIC v. St. Paul Companies, 634F.Supp.2d 1213 (D. Colo.2008)
- NLI v. Robinson, 98 S. W. 3d 781 (Tex. App. – Amarillo, pet. denied (2003)
- King’s Court Racquet Ball v. Dawkins, 62 S.W.3d 312 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 2001, no writ)
- SCPOA v. Annett, 978 S.W.2nd 654 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 1998, no writ)
Bar Admissions
- State of Texas (1993)
- S. District Courts for the Northern District of Texas (1994), the Western District of Texas (1995) and the Eastern District of Texas (1997)
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1998)
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (1999)
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (2003)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- District Thirteen State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee (2014 to the present)
- Dallas Bar Association, Estate Planning & Probate Section
- State Bar of Texas
- Amarillo Area Bar Association (Director 2003 -2005)
- Bar Association for the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Litigation and Appellate Sections of the State Bar of Texas
Civic Involvement
- High Plains Retreat Center (Board Member 2013 to the present; President 2017)
- Panhandle Aquatics (Board Member 2005 – 2012)
- Trinity Baptist Church Member