Praise the Judges

So often, judges in Portland, Seattle, all over Oregon and Washington State work long hours, deal with human emotions, complicated issues and facts but never receive the praise they deserve.
As an Attorney for 25 years I have seen many judges who go out of their way to "do justice."
Here is your chance to tell us your story and let the judges read of your appreciation.

Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law

send your story of Praise the Judges to dan@disabilitypaycheck.com

Administrative law Judge Marilyn Mauer runs a tight ship!
I know her reputation for keeping lawyers and witnesses in line but she is doing her job because I can see that she is doing more cases than the average judge and that is a service to the public with this backlog of people waiting 18 to 24 months for a hearing.
I was pleasantly surprised when I got a phone call from my lawyer and was told "Judge Mauer has approved your application." This is after the field office of Social Security TWICE said I was not disabled. Judge Marilyn Mauer looked at the evidence and saw that they were wrong and gave me my deserved benefits.
I am very grateful to Judge Marilyn Mauer for being such an efficient public servant.

I was so frightened to go to a Social Security hearing because Social Security field office people called me on the phone and put into the record that I wanted to dismiss my case. They said that I couldn't get disability until after I got back surgery. I told them I could not read or write and hoped to go to school to learn. They dismissed my case saying that I was "going back to school." I didn't want to dismiss my case! My lawyer, Daniel A. Bernath took care of everything-he got the field office reversed and I got a hearing before Judge Moira Ausems.
Judge Ausems is such a nice lady. She wore a black robe like a judge but didn't bully anyone. When my lawyer, Dan Bernath pressed the medical doctor witness if my ortho impairments could cause me to fall down and cause me pain and the doctor kept sidestepping the question like a politician does, then my lawyer, Dan Bernath, (always the bull dog) would not let go of the doctor and let him avoid the question.
Judge Ausems finally stepped into the squabble like a mother would between two bickering kids and the doctor finally had to answer my lawyer's questions. So Judge Ausems handles these tough hearings calmly and everyone ends up feeling OK with what happens.
I could see on her face that she was compassionate about what I had gone through but she was also very careful to see that I met the rules. I think you can really feel good if you get Judge Moira Ausems hearing your case because she is fair, compassionate and keeps things calm during the hearings.

GM Spokane Washington

I work with Judge Dan R. Hyatt and see him in action in the courtroom. I find Judge Hyatt to be a compassionate, reasonable, and highly intelligent man. I believe that his legal thinking is precise, which may bother some people (such as lawyers trying to win a case); yet, I would be 100% comfortable with him as a judge if I ever was a claimant who was trying to obtain disability benefits.

I have known Judge Dan R. Hyatt for years and have the upmost respect for him. He has incredible morals, values and takes his oath to heart. This situation has caused him a great deal of stress and sadness. He wants to give everyone chance after chance and it pains him deaply when people lie, cheat and hurt others. Too bad a man of his caliber has to endure individuals that are so selfish they don't care who they hurt to get their way. Judge Hyatt took his position to make a difference. This in no way takes away from all of the people the Judge has helped by his fairness and deep concern for each case he hears. Keep up the good work Judge Hyatt.

Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law

send your story of Praise the Judges to dan@disabilitypaycheck.com

I was so frightened to go into Social Security Court. But, once there I felt that judge Yellowtail was friendly and thoughtful. He asked me good questions and wanted to understand my medical problems and why I had been unable to work.
He was respectful to my advocate, JoEllen Shannon of Northwest Social Security Disability Advocates, Inc. and complimented advocate JoEllen Shannon on doing a good job for me!
GH

Judge Yellowtail was such a gentleman to my disabled sister.
Years ago we filed for disability and the judge went off the record and said to her "YOU'RE NOT DISABLED-GET A JOB-YOU'RE FAKING." This after several doctors said that she had the reasoning skills of someone in First Grade. So my sister was so afraid to file again and go to another hearing.
Her lawyer Dan Bernath said that he had done several hearings before Judge Yellowtail and he was "a gentleman, he doesn't wear a robe and he'll never do anything to scare you or insult you." But still she was very frightened to go into the hearing.
The hearing room was loaded with people, all doing their job so my sister was very intimidated. Her lawyer, Dan Bernath, held my sister's hands at times during the hearing when he saw she was losing control.
Judge Yellowtail was everything Mr. Bernath said he was. (Judge Yellowtail even complimented my lawyer for handing the situations so well.)
Judge Yellowtail was a very kind, gentle and fair judge. Just the kind of judge we would want everyone to have! Thank you Judge Yellowtail for being so kind to a very frightened young lady.

I had a hearing with Judge Lazuran. She looks the part of a serious judge and she acts the part too. I could tell by her discussion with my lawyer that she had read every page of my massive medical records. Then she had a doctor there to help out and I could tell by the questions she asked that she knew everything about my medical condition and treatments. The taxpayers get their money's worth with Judge Lazuran. She also has a sense of humor. I saw that she and my lawyer had a private joke about my lawyer's cell phone going off before at a hearing.

Judge Lazuran did a good job for me and for the taxpayer by taking so much time to understand my case, ask good questions of the doctor and let my lawyer get my story out.

Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law

send your story of Praise the Judges to dan@disabilitypaycheck.com
What a great sense of humor that Judge Michael Hertzig has. He made the hearing go well for me when I was so tense. He is a very clever man. He was quite charming with me after the hearing was over. I hope that all judges would be this nice.
I was afraid that the judge at my hearing would treat me like a number-rush me in and rush me out. I was really happy to see that wasn't the case! ALJ Lazuran is very thorough; she wanted to understand all the possible medical problems I have. She was very careful with the doctor to understand the connection between my heart problems and the social security regulations.
She really cares about people. After we finished the hearing and after the doctor said that I "met the listing" Judge Lazuran said to me "I hope that the medical coverage you get now would make me feel better." Judge Lazuran is a compassionate jurist.
I had Administrative Law Judge Lynch. The thing I really like about him is that he is JUST, GRACIOUS and friendly. He is personable. He asked me if he was pronouncing my name correctly and that REALLY put me at ease as a scared claimant.
CG

Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law

send your story of Praise the Judges to dan@disabilitypaycheck.com
What a load off my mind when I had a hearing with Judge Elliott in Portland. He doesn't wear a robe and he is so polite. Right off he told me that "I run a very informal hearing. If you have to stand up or walk around a little because of pain then that is OK."
He let my lawyer ask all the questions he wanted and then the judge asked his questions. He wasn't intimidating or looking down on me at all. It just seemed as though we were all there to just get the facts of my disability.
After we were all done he sort of apologized for the back up and said that even though he might make his decision quickly that it goes to other people in the office who have to type it out, copy it, fold it and mail it so that there may be a wait. It was nice of Judge Elliott to tell me that so I wouldn't worry about why it takes so long after the hearing to get the decision in the mail. He must know that people go to the mail box every day hoping that the decision is there only to be disappointed. Nice of Judge Elliott to tell me that there is going to be a wait because of the process after he finishes his decision. He was a gentleman from start to finish during the hearing.

I love Judge lynch in the Portland ODAR of Social Security. I was denied twice by the Social Security Office near my house and had to wait for nearly two years for a hearing. I walked in and Judge Lynch looked at me and had a lot of compassion for my pain and all the medicine I take for the pain and said "I can see you are in a lot of pain. Nobody who was a nurse and making good money and says they can't work is faking it. I approve this case." My lawyer didn't have to ask me even one question! I am glad for the claimants who come after me if they get Judge Lynch.
AEN
send your story of Praise the Judges to dan@disabilitypaycheck.com
Daniel A. Bernath
Attorney at Law
That Judge Laws is very professional and kind. She seemed to understand my situation and gave me a positive ruling. My wife and I are so grateful; my wife cried when we left the courtroom; she was so grateful. HH
I was surprised when I walked in the courtroom of Judge Laws. I rarely see such a beautiful woman and this one was my judge. She treated me with respect and good humor. Every once in a while during the hearing the judge and my lawyer would laugh about some little joke. I haven't got my decision back yet but my lawyer says it looks good. Win or lose I think I got a fair shake with Judge Laws in the Portland Social Security Court.
MM
I've had other judges before at Social Security. I felt like a got a good hearing with Judge Laws because her questions to me were very clear and pertinent. They were right to the point.
SP
Judge Charles Evans was my judge at the Social Security hearing. We filed a claim for our daughter who is only 10 years old but severely disabled. Judge Evans was interested and wanted to make sure that all of the aspects of our daughter's disability were made aware to the Court and the record. He even gave my lawyer some tips on how to present the facts.
JC
Tell us your story! dan@disabilitypaycheck.com It is time to praise the good judges!