Richard L. Bird
Arbitration Proceedings brought under the Federal Randolph-Sheppard,Blind Vendors Act.
Mr. Gibbons represented his old friend, Richard L. Bird, in a collection lawsuit brought by the State of Ohio, Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, and in a subsequent Randolph-Sheppard, Blind Vendors Act Arbitration. The Randolph-Sheppard Blind Vendors Act is a little known Federal Statute which provides for the administration of coffee shops and vending machines stands operated by disabled blind vendors on public properties. Mr. Bird grew up in modest circumstances in the Cedar-Central Avenue Public Housing project in downtown Cleveland. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to a support unit assisting Special Forces Operations in the Vietnam War. Richard suffered severe eye injuries in an explosion, was permanently blinded in that combat action, and spent several months rehabbing in VA hospitals. Upon his return to Cleveland, he was accepted as an independent blind vendor in the program set up through the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Blind Vendors Act and administered by the State of Ohio. Mr. Gibbons first met Richard while he was an Assistant United States Attorney and Richard operated the “blind stand” at the Old Federal Courthouse on Public Square. Richard eventually became the primary coffee shop and snack machine vendor at the Main Post Office on Orange Ave. As well as being a successful businessman, Mr. Bird is also the National President of the Blind Vendors of America Trade Association. He became embroiled in a dispute with the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired over administrative fees, and distribution of his retirement funds. The State of Ohio brought a collections lawsuit against Richard in the Court of Common Pleas seeking recovery of the disputed funds. Mr.Gibbons defended the lawsuit and successfully obtained a stay of the case pending Federal Arbitration as provided for in the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The full arbitration proceeding was conducted before three neutral arbitrators in January, 2013 in Cleveland. The Arbitration Panel awarded Mr. Bird the full amount of the disputed funds together with all of his Attorney Fees and costs. The State’s collection lawsuit was then dismissed. The State did not appeal the arbitration award. Mission accomplished!
Arbitration Proceedings brought under the Federal Randolph-Sheppard,Blind Vendors Act.
Mr. Gibbons represented his old friend, Richard L. Bird, in a collection lawsuit brought by the State of Ohio, Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, and in a subsequent Randolph-Sheppard, Blind Vendors Act Arbitration. The Randolph-Sheppard Blind Vendors Act is a little known Federal Statute which provides for the administration of coffee shops and vending machines stands operated by disabled blind vendors on public properties. Mr. Bird grew up in modest circumstances in the Cedar-Central Avenue Public Housing project in downtown Cleveland. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to a support unit assisting Special Forces Operations in the Vietnam War. Richard suffered severe eye injuries in an explosion, was permanently blinded in that combat action, and spent several months rehabbing in VA hospitals. Upon his return to Cleveland, he was accepted as an independent blind vendor in the program set up through the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Blind Vendors Act and administered by the State of Ohio. Mr. Gibbons first met Richard while he was an Assistant United States Attorney and Richard operated the “blind stand” at the Old Federal Courthouse on Public Square. Richard eventually became the primary coffee shop and snack machine vendor at the Main Post Office on Orange Ave. As well as being a successful businessman, Mr. Bird is also the National President of the Blind Vendors of America Trade Association. He became embroiled in a dispute with the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired over administrative fees, and distribution of his retirement funds. The State of Ohio brought a collections lawsuit against Richard in the Court of Common Pleas seeking recovery of the disputed funds. Mr.Gibbons defended the lawsuit and successfully obtained a stay of the case pending Federal Arbitration as provided for in the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The full arbitration proceeding was conducted before three neutral arbitrators in January, 2013 in Cleveland. The Arbitration Panel awarded Mr. Bird the full amount of the disputed funds together with all of his Attorney Fees and costs. The State’s collection lawsuit was then dismissed. The State did not appeal the arbitration award. Mission accomplished!
