Press Release
Tigard Lawyer writes tickets to
BI MART
because Tigard Police won’t
COLOR PICTURES AT www.aspecialdayguide.com/bimart
Contact; Daniel A. Bernath 503.639.6666
www.DisabilityPaycheck.comAttorney Daniel Bernath, who represents more than 400 disabled people before the Social Security Administration Court (ODAR) has taken the law into his own hands and is hauling BI MART, its president, managers and employees to Court to answer for their alleged violation of the law by blocking handicapped parking spaces in front of the BI MART store at the Tigard Marketplace Shopping Center at 13500 SW Pacific.

Bernath says, “On April 26, 2008 BI MART had commandeered the handicapped parking spaces to sell or give away merchandise. I told BI MART to move those things out of there and when they refused I called the Tigard Police.”

Bernath was disappointed that after witnessing the violations the Tigard Police did nothing and upon demand of the Tigard Police the Chief’s Assistant admitted that “no ticket was issued” to BI MART. Indeed, three Tigard policemen, including one senior officer witnessed the alleged law breaking, made photographs but did nothing.
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Attorney Bernath says, “Oregon has a unique law whereby a private citizen, who is not a police officer, can file a complaint with the Court and it works just like if a policeman gave you a ticket. You have to pay the ticket or defend yourself in a trial.” Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) §153.048 et seq
Bernath has repeatedly in the past warned people who do not have handicapped plaques to remove their car from handicapped parking spaces. “Every time I’ve told illegal users of handicapped spots to move out, they’ve been very sorry and they’ve quickly moved. I am astonished at the arrogance of BI MART to simply ignore the warning sign right next to them and my warning of their law breaking and to make their handicapped customers and wounded war veterans painfully search and scramble to find distance parking spaces and use their crutches, canes and walkers to buy what they need from BI MART.
”
The Washington County Court will receive the “citizen summons” and will set a Court date for the BI MART defendants to pled, pay their fine or face a jury trial. Earlier April 20, 2008 attorney Eric Bryant issued citations to a Portland Policeman for illegal parking and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle using Oregon's citizen citation law. “When the police won’t follow the law or they turn their back on lawbreaking then it is our duty as Oregon citizens to use our Courts and enforce the law in their place” said disability attorney Daniel Bernath of Tigard.
Update: BI MART revokes "membership" of
disabled veteran of foreign war Daniel Bernath.
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####
Daniel you are a real American I just wish more people were like you. Boy it's funny that the Tigard Police will not do the right thing or up hold the Law. As 100% disabled Vet I would like to thank Daniel Bernath for standing up for my rights. You know. I never thought much about what it was like to be disabled until it happen to me. I sometimes need to park in a handicapped spaces and someone is parked in it that's not disabled, I just wish they had my legs for 5 min or so.
You know it take men like Daniel Bernath who don't care what people have to say they just do the right thing and that cool so thank you very much attorney Daniel A. Bernath signed K
Daniel A. Bernath, Lawyer
On behalf of the
The People of
the State of Oregon
13500 SW Pacific Hwy.
PMB #202
Tigard OR 97223 (503) 639-6666
USSYorktownCVS10@juno.com
Large picture for publication: click there> http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k24/danielabernath/bimart/
Oregon Citation and Complaint
and summons
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Your court appearance Date, Time and location are:
Date: To be set by this Honorable court
Time: To be set
Location: Washington County Court, Hillsboro Oregon
Daniel A. Bernath is a private party and a person other than a law enforcement officer (hereinafter PPOTLEO) , a lawyer who represents disabled persons before the US Social Security Administration
Private Party Daniel A. Bernath has a possessory interest and/or ownership interest in the premises and abutting parking lot with a lease since on or about 1994 and like BI MART is a tenant of the property, commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace, located at 13500 SW Pacific, Tigard Oregon, 97223.
Defendant BI MART is a corporation located at 220 S. Seneca Rd. Eugene, OR 97402 and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
Defendant Marty W. Smith is an individual and is Chairman and Chief Executive of BI MART and is located at 220 S. Seneca Rd. Eugene, OR 97402 and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
Defendant 13500 LLC Pacific Corp., address 21500 Haggerty Rd #100, Northville Michigan 48617 is an owner of the premises and parking lot commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
Defendant 1350 LLC, address 15295 SW Bull Mt Rod, Tigard 97224 is an owner of the premises and parking lot commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Beverly Sue Faulkner address 12551 SW Morgen Rd, Sherwood OR 97140 503.620.2940 is an employee of BI MART and stockholder of BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Desire Quezada, 11980 SW 199th, Tigard Or 97223 is an employee of BI MART and stockholder of BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Marcus Moran address BI MART, 13500 SW Pacific, Tigard OR 97223 is a manager of the premises and parking lot commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Joel Hastings address BI MART, 13500 SW Pacific, Tigard OR 97223 is a manager of the premises and parking lot commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Kyle Sanders address 13150 SW Burlwood St Beaverton OR 97005-1211 is an employee of BI MART and stockholder of BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Defendant Lee Edward Zill address 10670 SW Garden Park Pl, Tigard OR 97223 is a manager of the premises and parking lot commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and as such there is a presumption that the owner or manager of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the objects blocking access to the parking spaces and fire lanes. Defendant Zill is also an employee and stockholder of BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Garda, operating armored car license number Y113643 is an agent of defendant BI MART whose address is 13500 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard OR 97223 and in the actions described herein was acting on its own behalf and as agent for BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that Iwasaki Bros., Inc. is a corporation, address 2555 SE Minter Br. Rd. Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 and in the actions described herein was acting on its own behalf and as agent for BI MART.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that DOE Number One picks up and delivers items to BI MART and cleans the parking lot at the premises commonly known as the Tigard Marketplace and was acting on his own behalf and as agent for BI MART Corporation.
PPOTLEO is informed and believes and thereupon alleges that police
officer
Eric Enzenberger,
Gerald Bartolomucci
and
Rod Morse
are sworn police officers of the City of Tigard Police Department and all
times relevant witnessed the violations of the ORS as stated herein and/or
were aware of these serious and dangerous violations of these defendants as
these police officers patrolled Pacific Highway in the City of Tigard;
These sworn police officers did not and refused to issue criminal and other
citations to the employees of BI MART, BI MART and agents of BI MART and at
other times while on patrol for the people of the City of Tigard saw further
violations against the handicapped and disabled people of the State of
Oregon and the disabled people of Tigard;
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Police officer Eric Enzenberger, Gerald Bartolomucci and Rod Morse
did not do their duty and thus committed malfeasance and misfeasance and did
not require that the BI MART Defendants rectify their dangerous and unlawful
behavior and did not issue citations for the BI MART Defendants to appear in
Court for their violations both as to fire and safety laws and of unlawful
use of handicapped parking spaces and the blocking of fire lanes in front of
BI MART even though they witnessed same and made photographs of same, could
witness the ongoing lawlessness of BI MART and BI MART’s employees and
agents, all to the detriment to the safety of the People of the State of
Oregon and the handicapped people of the State of Oregon and City of Tigard.
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Indeed, Eric Enzenberger, Gerald Bartolomucci and Rod Morse did
prevent and block private person Daniel A. Bernath, Esq., even though
Bernath is authorized by law to do so, from conducting his investigation of
the BI MART defendants and the gathering of evidence such as photograph
making, measuring and surveying, removing blockages to handicapped parking
spaces as is his right and duty pursuant to Chapter 367 ORS § 811.615
(1) 4 (a)(b) and interviewing of witnesses for this instant complaint and
prosecution by the arresting private citizen Bernath by ordering that
private citizen Bernath leave the area or be further incarcerated even
though private party Daniel Bernath has, as does BI MART, have possessory
rights at 13500 SW Pacific, Tigard Oregon and rights to investigate the
facts and gather evidence in support of this complaint.
Count Number One
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
At the following time and place in the above mentioned State and
County on separate days of:
April 26, 2008,
April 27, 2008,
April 28, 2008,
April 29, 2008,
April 30, 2008,
May 1, 2008 and
May 2, 2008 defendants and each of them commit the following offense of
violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.615 Unlawful parking in space
reserved for persons with disabilities and ORS § 811.617 said
violation of law regarding handicapped space Number Two, (looking from
left to right facing BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant
of 7 x $450=$3,150.00
Count Number TWO
Defendant 13500 LLC Pacific Corp,
Defendant 1350 LLC,
Defendant Beverly Sue Faulkner,
Defendant Desire Quezada,
Defendant Marcus Moran,
Defendant Joel Hastings AND Defendant Kyle Sanders
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
At the following time and place in the above mentioned State and
County, separate days of:
April 26, 2008,
April 27, 2008,
April 28, 2008,
April 29, 2008,
April 30, 2008,
May 1, 2008 and
May 2, 2008 defendants and each of them commit the following offense of
violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.617 Blocking parking space
reserved for persons with disabilities.
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant
of 7 x $450=$3,150.00
Count Number THREE
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein. Click on picture to make bigger
At the following time and place in the above mentioned State and
County on separate days of:
April 26, 2008,
April 27, 2008,
April 28, 2008,
April 29, 2008,
April 30, 2008,
May 1, 2008 and
May 2, 2008 defendants and each of them commit the following offense of
violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.615 Unlawful parking in space
reserved for persons with disabilities and ORS § 811.617 said
violation of law regarding handicapped space Number Three, (looking from
left to right facing BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant
of 7 x $450=$3,150.00
Count Number four
Defendant 13500 LLC Pacific Corp,
Defendant 1350 LLC,
Defendant Beverly Sue Faulkner,
Defendant Desire Quezada,
Defendant Marcus Moran,
Defendant Joel Hastings AND
Defendant Kyle Sanders
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
At the following time and place in the above mentioned State and
County, separate days of:
April 26, 2008,
April 27, 2008,
April 28, 2008,
April 29, 2008,
April 30, 2008,
May 1, 2008 and
May 2, 2008 defendants and each of them commit the following offense of
violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.617 Blocking parking space
reserved for persons with disabilities said violation of law
regarding handicapped space Number Three, (looking from left to right
facing BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
.
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant
of 7 x $450=$3,150.00
Count Number Five
On or about April 28, 2008 defendants did block the fire in front of BI MART for more than momentarily at any place where traffic control devices prohibit stopping while conducting business of behalf of BI MART and also carrying water and two to three bags of chips.
Such illegal stopping, standing or parking is a violation of ORS 811.550
Base Fine: Class D traffic violation
Count Number six
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
On or about May 3, 2008 defendant Iwasaki Bros., Inc. did park a large
van in front of BI MART in the Tigard Marketplace Shopping Center and for
more than 30 minutes defendants and each of them commit the following
offense of violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.615 Unlawful parking in
space reserved for persons with disabilities and ORS § 811.617 said
violation of law regarding handicapped space Number Two, (looking from left
to right facing BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant of
$450
Count Number seven
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
On or about May 3, 2008 defendant Iwasaki Bros., Inc. did park a large
van in front of BI MART in the Tigard Marketplace Shopping Center and for
more than 30 minutes defendants and each of them commit the following
offense of violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.617 Blocking parking
space reserved for persons with disabilities. said violation of law
regarding handicapped space Number Two, (looking from left to right facing
BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant of
$450
Count Number EIGHT
On or about May 3, 2008 defendant Iwasaki Bros., Inc. did park a large
van in front of BI MART in the Tigard Marketplace Shopping Center and for
more than 30 minutes defendants and each of them commit the following
offense of violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.615 Unlawful parking in
space reserved for persons with disabilities and ORS § 811.617
said
violation of law regarding handicapped space Number Three, (looking from
left to right facing BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant of
$450
Count Number NINE
On or about May 3, 2008 defendant Iwasaki Bros., Inc. did park a large
van in front of BI MART in the Tigard Marketplace Shopping Center and for
more than 30 minutes defendants and each of them commit the following
offense of violating Oregon Revised Statues § 811.617 Blocking parking
space reserved for persons with disabilities. said violation of law
regarding handicapped space Number Three, (looking from left to right facing
BI MART at Tigard Marketplace.)
Base Fine: $450 per defendant per day for a total fine per defendant of
$450
Count Number ten
On or about May 3, 2008 defendants did block the fire lane, for more than 30 minutes in front of BI MART for more than momentarily at a place where traffic control devices prohibit stopping while conducting business of behalf of BI MART while unloading merchandise. This violation occurred even though several traffic devises forbid this conduct and even though the loading bay and loading entrances were open behind the store and as such would not have caused the blocking of the fire lane, not obstructed traffic, not blocked handicapped parking spaces and would not have endangered the public as these unlawful acts as aforesaid have done.
Such illegal stopping, standing or parking is a violation of ORS 811.550
Base Fine: Class D traffic violation
Count Number ELEVEN
On or about May 3, 2008 defendants did block the fire lane, for more than momentarily at a place where traffic control devices prohibit stopping while conducting business of behalf of BI MART while unloading merchandise. This violation occurred even though several traffic devises forbid this conduct and even though the loading bay and loading entrances were open behind the store and as such would not have caused the blocking of the fire lane, not obstructed traffic, not blocked handicapped parking spaces and would not have endangered the public as these unlawful acts as aforesaid have done.
Such illegal stopping, standing or parking is a violation of ORS 811.550
Base Fine: Class D traffic violation
Count Number twelve
PPOTLEO repeats and realleges paragraphs One through Fifteen as if fully set forth herein.
At the following time and place in the above mentioned State and County on April 26, 2008 defendants did block the fire lane, for more than momentarily to sell merchandise and/or give away merchandise. Such an action is a violation of the Oregon Revised Statutes as it required automobiles to go around the blockage by defendants and would have placed citizens in great danger so as to block access to the stores at the Tigard Marketplace by fire and rescue personnel.
I swear under ORS 53.045 and 153.990 and under other applicable law and under penalties for false swearing, do sear that I have sufficient grounds to and do believe that the above-mentioned defendants committed the above offenses and I have pursuant to law requested that this Honorable Court serve the defendants with this complaint.
Date issued: Sunday, July 13, 2008
____________________________________________________
Daniel A. Bernath, Esq. private party and a person other than a law
enforcement
On behalf of the
The People of
the State of Oregon
****
Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law
Member United States Supreme Court Bar. Member California Bar
15532 SW Pacific C 1 B #101
Tigard, Oregon 97223
(503) 639 6666 ussyorktown@comcast.net
Friday, July 18, 2008
Jeffrey Johnson, Chief
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue |
20665 SW Blanton St.
Aloha, OR 97007
Oregon State Police
Office of Fire Marshall
4760 Portland Road NE
Salem, Or 97305-1760
Dear Sirs:
I wish to alert you to dangerous conditions at the BiMart retail store at 13500
SW Pacific, Tigard Oregon 97223.

There is no functional sign above the door stating "THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED
DURING BUSINESS HOURS". The employees of BiMart, from my observation are in a
great need of training in fire regulations and customer safety.
BiMart routinely on a daily basis blocks entrances and exits. As I estimate that
they have up to 500 people a day who are handicapped and wounded veterans of
foreign wars, the potential for catastrophe is enormous. BiMart also has a huge
clientele of elderly people. If an old person in a wheel chair closes off the
now strangulated exit as a fire and deadly smoke gathers inside the retail
store, there will be a pileup of people crushing each other to climb over first
that old person, and then other people who are behind that old person. People
will be crushed at the exit and the others who cannot get through at BiMart will
die of smoke inhalation or from the fire itself. 
BiMart blocks the road for emergency vehicles to come to put out fires and
rescue citizens. As you can see, by blocking the roadway, often times only one
lane is open in front



BiMart routinely blocks aisles with merchandise. Indeed, I have to walk sideways
past a woman with her BiMart shopping cart as I ambulate with my two canes.
They have made some modest attempts at fixing the more outrageous fire code
violations but I still believe that the Fire Marshall or the Fire Chief should
provide the customers of BiMart with a full inspection of the premises,
including whether fire exits are blocked, whether fire extinguishers are up to
date and full and what training these employees have received, if any. Once your
attention is gone, I fear they will go back to their sloppy and dangerous fire
violations in the name of higher profits.

Respectfully,
Daniel A. Bernath
Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law
Cc: Marty W. Smith Bi-Mart
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
220 S. Seneca Rd.
Eugene, OR 97402
13500 LLC Pacific Corp.
21500 Haggerty Rd #100
Northville MI 48617
13500 LLC
15295 SW Bull Mtn Rd
Tigard OR 97224
Even after "private attorney general" Bernath warned BI MART that an imminent safety inspection was going to take place, BI MART could not bring itself to actually clean up all fire violations;

Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law
Member United States Supreme Court Bar. Member California Bar
15532 SW Pacific PMB 202
Tigard, Oregon 97223
(503) 639 6666
ussyorktown@comcast.netFriday, July 18, 2008
Chief Tualatin Valley Fire District
Re: Request for issuance of criminal/civil citation to BiMart for continued actions that place citizens in danger for risk of smoke inhalation, fire death and trampling death
I thank you for your inspection of the BiMart, a tenant at the Tigard Marketplace at 13500 SW Pacific. I am also a tenant at 13500 SW Pacific and have been for 14 years. After your inspection of BiMart, brought about by my observations and complaint (attached) and photographic evidence obtained by myself I notice that BiMart is only slightly less dangerous to wounded war veterans, the disabled and the elderly of Tigard and Washington County.
I enclose photos of how dangerous BiMart was before I requested your inspection and I warned them of the impending Fire Department Inspection and how it they scrambled to improved. But alas BiMart did not understand their responsibility for the safety of their clientele and other users of the Tigard Marketplace and had to comply with your abatement requests after inspection.
I am informed and have observed that since 1994 and for many years before BiMart has created these unsafe conditions in order to make a quick profit each spring time. BiMart obviously is putting its profit above the safety of the people of Oregon.
But BiMart still is a danger to wounded war veterans, the elderly, disabled Americans and all of its customers and all others who shop at the Tigard Marketplace.
I speak of BiMart’s routine blocking of the fire exits with merchandise, trash cans and trucks that deliver and pick up merchandise. This happens over 4 times a week that I have observed and I am only there for about 10 minutes at about noon each day. If a fire inspector was put there for the entire shopping day I would expect that you would see multiple dangerous violations throughout the day.
If a fire broke out inside of BiMart, then the helpless people would rush out of the fire exits, marked by white zebra type lines. However, BiMart has a trash can directly in this zone.
Furthermore, BiMart routinely has merchandise delivered to the front of the store and blocking the fire exit. The tragedy in Tigard would be historic. As hundreds run out, the first people would be impaled on the truck and merchandise blocking their life saving exit. Thereafter, the panicked people behind them would climb over the top of the first people who fell down, thus these people would be killed or injured. This scenario is not a mere fantasy but can be seen in recent history with the night club fire in Rhode Island. killing 100 people and injuring more than 200. Ninety-six perished on the night of the fire, and four died later from their injuries at local hospitals.
With my reading of the Oregon Revised Statutes I note that as an authorized person I may write a complaint and cite BiMart and its management for blocking these life saving fire lanes thus blocking fire equipment, rescue equipment and police department equipment. I note that the up to five Tigard Police Officers, including a Sergeant personally witnessed BiMart personnel violating the laws regarding blocking exits and blocking a handicapped parking spot but issued no citation and issued no warning to BiMart. (attached)
Please advise me if based upon the evidence I now present to you if you
will now issue citations of the Oregon Revised States so they can face a jury in Washington County Court for placing us all at risk or
if I as a citizen and an authorized person under the Oregon Revised Statutes will have to issue a citation and prosecute BiMart and its rouge employees as (I shall do with the blocking of the handicapped space.)
Respectfully,
Daniel A. Bernath
Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law
Cc: Tigard Police Chief
****
Tigard's
vigilante disabled parking crusader takes on retailerJaime Valdez / The Times
Tigard’s Daniel Bernath has had a hard time keeping a low profile since arriving in Oregon. He’s been the target of advertising complaints related to his business representing Social Security Administration claimants, SEE FOOTNOTE 1 BELOW and has regularly sparred with the Oregon Bar Association, the agency that denied him a license to practice law in the Beaver State in 1998. tn2
Bernath’s verbose Web chronicles his military and professional accolades, and portrays him as an accomplished news journalist and attorney. fn3
Bernath’s
latest battle involves his attempt to bring traffic violations against
Eugene-based discount retailer, the employee-owned Bi-Mart Corporation.
He is arguing that the corporation’s Tigard store held a garden
promotion and used outdoor space reserved for disabled parking along the
front of the store to stage its wares, including pallets of bagged
potting soil and folding tables laden with plants.
A Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War, Bernath says he has chronic nerve pain in his legs among other war-born disabilities. He is also a California-licensed attorney and a self-proclaimed champion for disabled people’s rights. fn4
He said he informed Bi-Mart employees multiple times about the violations. He has a mailbox at The UPS Store, a business in the same shopping plaza at 13500 S.W. Pacific Highway as Bi-Mart, and was there to pick up his mail. When he left the plaza, the violations hadn’t been resolved, but he soon returned armed with a camera to document the obstructions and, arguably, to make a scene.
In fact, Tigard Police Department records show a Bi-Mart employee reported that Bernath drove his black Cadillac STS, American flag propped in the center console beneath the disabled-parking placard, into the pallet of potting soil, endangering other employees in the area.
“The original call was made by a Bi-Mart employee,” said Jim Wolf, public information officer for the Tigard Police Department. “It’s important to know that Bi-Mart contacted the police, that’s the reason we arrived.” fn5
Three police vehicles arrived at the scene, including two motorcycle officers and an SUV, Wolf said.
Police arriving at the scene cited Bernath, who was wearing a jacket and ball cap decorated in military medals, for menacing and reckless driving. The case is pending in Washington County Circuit Court. fn 6
No citation was given to Bi-Mart, however, and Bernath is now prepared to bring a legal claim against the corporation in an attempt to force it to pay for blocking the handicap parking spot. Bernath said he wants to show Bi-Mart executives that the company was in the wrong and to have the store revisit it’s training policy for the treatment of disabled services.
“All I want to do is have Bi-Mart learn the lesson that you can’t violate the law,” he said. “You have to treat handicapped people and wounded war veterans with respect. That’s all I want.”
From Jan. 1 to July 1, the Tigard police have issued 13 citations to people illegally parked in a disabled parking space. fn7
Calls placed to Bi-Mart were directed to John Harris, the corporation’s president. Harris was aware of the incident and refused to answer a question about employee training as it relates to the use of disabled parking spaces.
“I can’t even speak to that. That’s one of the dumbest questions I’ve ever been asked,” Harris said when asked about the employee training.
Police photographs taken of the scene outside the Bi-Mart show that the company’s garden display did in fact take over at least one reserved disability parking space along the storefront.
“That particular parking space was inaccessible due to an event that was being conducted by Bi-Mart,” Wolf said. Other disabled spaces in the lot were accessible and open for parking. fn8
Disabled parking spaces, whether on private or public property, are to remain free and clear for the sole purpose of allowing parking for people with disabilities, according to state statute. Blocking a disabled space is a traffic violation that can yield a minimum $50 citation.
Tigard police did not cite Bi-Mart for the obstruction.
For Bernath’s part, he said he later received a letter in the mail from a law firm representing Bi-Mart informing him that his membership to the Northwest discounter has been canceled, citing Bernath’s “threatening, abusive and inappropriate behavior towards Bi-Mart staff.”
Now, Bernath has prepared a 17-page complaint against Bi-Mart and a dozen other defendants and has mailed out press releases announcing his plan to bring citations against them for what he alleges were several days of disabled parking violations. Bernath is citing a seldom-used Oregon law that opens the door for any private party, not just law enforcement, to file a traffic complaint. If successful, the store would have to pay any resultant fines to the state, not Bernath.
Harris alluded to Bernath’s spotty history, fn9 and said Bi-Mart has no intention of additionally examining the incident. He said further comment would give Bernath more “ammunition and fodder” to take the incident to the next level, raising the specter of whether Bernath’s actions are little more than a publicity stunt to drum up business for his Social Security enterprise, which is mentioned on his Web site in connection to his allegations against Bi-Mart.
“We can’t speak to it because of the level this gentleman has taken it,” Harris said. “There’s nothing there to deal with, because the police got involved immediately and cited him and that’s the end of it for us.”
A shadow of doubt has crept over Bernath’s credibility as an attorney since he moved to Oregon from California in 1994, at which time he applied for and was denied an Oregon law license. Specifically, Bernath failed to convince the Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners that he had the requisite “moral character and fitness” to practice in Oregon. fn 10
Bernath appealed the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court, resulting in a five-page 1998 opinion that cited 18 reasons to deny him a practicing license, ranging from his failure to pay child support — something that got him a one-year license suspension in California in 1995 — to a $34,000 judgment against him in California for malicious prosecution. fn11
He has since subsisted mostly on the Social Security claim business. A licensed attorney is not required to argue claims in front of the Social Security Administration judges, though the federal administration must first approve the fee schedule for anyone other than the claimant representing the case, and imposes rules of conduct for such people. Bernath also runs A Special Day Photography, working as a wedding and special event photographer. fn 12
Bernath maintains that the bar decision and its findings are bogus. Today he remains actively licensed to practice law in California and in federal appeals courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and in May 2007 the Oregon State Bar cleared him of a complaint that he had been practicing law without a license.
The sunshine made us giddy, so we had no trouble writing longer and more in-depth “briefs” this week. Add to that the fact that we had a lot of news emerge in the business world this week, and you have yourself one burly bite of buzz. Enjoy:
• OK, it’s confirmed. Bi-Mart is coming, folks. The Post discovered some construction workers walking in and out of the former Danielson’s Thriftway space Thursday, May 1. We asked, “So, is it going to happen?” One worker from Eugene-based Ordell Construction said, “What, Bi-Mart? It’s happening right now.” The worker said Bi-Mart gave them a timeline of four or five months, which would put an opening somewhere around October.