Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Respondent: MIAMI OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC.
Judges: CLAUDE B. ARRINGTON
Agency: Department of Transportation
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Apr. 11, 2000
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, February 6, 2001.
Latest Update: Mar. 06, 2001
Summary: Whether the subject outdoor advertising signs are illegal because they were erected without state permits from Petitioner. Whether the subject signs should be removed. Whether Petitioner is equitably estopped to assert that the signs are illegal and should be removed.Signs erected without state permits are illegal and should be removed. Equitable estoppel does not apply.
Ab Cf )
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Haydon Burns Building
605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, Florida
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
tf
Petitioner, DOAH CASE NOS.: 00-1569T C 4
00-1568T
vs. 00-1567T
00-1570T
MIAMI OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC., DOTCASENOS.: 00-041
00-042.
Respondent. 00-043
00-044.
/
FINAL ORDER
This proceeding was initiated by the filing of four petitions requesting an administrative
hearing filed by Petitioner, MIAMI OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC. (hereinafter
MIAMI OUTDOOR), on March 8, 2000. The requests for hearing were filed in response to
four Notices of Violation, issued by Respondent, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (hereinafter DEPARTMENT), on February 10, 2000, advising
MIAMI OUTDOOR that its double-faced outdoor advertising sign structures are illegal
because they were erected without the necessary state permits, in violation of Section
479.07(1), Florida Statutes, and must be removed.
A formal administrative hearing on the consolidated matter was conducted on
November 27, 2000, and January 11, 2001, in Tallahassee, Florida, before the Honorable
Claude B. Arrington, a duly-designated Administrative Law Judge of the Division of
Administrative Hearings (hereinafter DOAH). Appearances on behalf of the parties were as
Page 1 of 5
follows:
For Petitioner: Jodi B. Jennings, Esquire
Assistant General Counsel
Department of Transportation
Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 58
605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458
For Respondent: Gerald S. Livingston, Esquire
Livingston and Reilly, P.A.
Post Office Box 2151
Orlando, Florida 32802-2151
Eugene A. (Andy) Hancock, Jr., President
Miami Outdoor Advertising, Inc.
Post Office Box 330097
Miami, Florida 32333-0097
At the hearing, the DEPARTMENT presented the testimony of two witnesses, C. Jean
Cann and Lynn Holschuh; MIAMI OUTDOOR presented the testimony of one witness,
Eugene A. (Andy) Hancock, Jr. At the hearing Joint Exhibits 1 through 4 and the
DEPARTMENT’S Exhibits 1 through 4 were offered and admitted into evidence.
The DEPARTMENT filed its Proposed Recommended Order on January 26, 2001.
MIAMI OUTDOOR did not file a Proposed Recommended Order. A Recommended Final
Order was issued on February 6, 2001, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference. No exceptions to the Recommended Final Order were filed.
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE
As stated by the Administrative Law Judge in his Recommended Final Order, the issues
in this matter are:
Whether the subject outdoor advertising signs are illegal because
they were erected without state permits from Petitioner.
Page 2 of 5
Whether the subject signs should be removed.
Whether Petitioner is equitably estopped to assert that the signs
are illegal and should be removed.
FINDINGS OF FACT
After review of the record in its entirety, it is determined that the Administrative Law
Judge’s Findings of Fact found in paragraphs 1 through 6 of the Recommended Final Order are
supported by the record and are accepted and incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The DEPARTMENT has jurisdiction over the subject matter of and the parties to
this proceeding pursuant to Chapters 120 and 479, Florida Statutes.
2. The Conclusions of Law contained in paragraphs 7 through 13 of the Recommended
Final Order are fully supported by law. As such, they are adopted and incorporated as if fully
set forth herein.
3. The Conclusion of Law contained in paragraph 14 of the Recommended Final Order
is fully supported by law; the fourth sentence therein, however, contains two obvious
typographical errors. The errors, which are underlined, appear in the following sentence: “AS
reflected above, Petitioner failed to establish that Mr. Davis told Mr. Hancock that his
company would not need state permits for the subject signs as along as he had permits from the
City of Miami.” Finding of Fact 5 and the remainder of Conclusion of Law 14 correctly
reflect that the burden of proof was on MIAMI OUTDOOR to establish its claim of equitable
estoppel by establishing that Mr. Davis made the alleged statement to Mr. Hancock.
Therefore, the fourth sentence of Conclusion of Law 14 is herein modified as follows:
Page 3 of 5
“As reflected above, Respondent failed to establish that Mr. Davis told Mr. Hancock
that his company would not need state permits for the subject signs as long as he had permits
from the City of Miami.”
ORDER
Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is
ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Final Order is adopted
in its entirety, subject to the modification of Conclusion of Law 14 as set forth above. It is
further
ORDERED that the subject signs are illegal and that Respondent, MIAMI
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC., shall have thirty (30) days from the date of this Final
Order to remove the subject signs. Should Respondent, MIAMI OUTDOOR
ADVERTISING, INC., fail to remove the subject signs within the thirty (30) days allotted,
the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION shall remove the subject signs without further
notice and the costs of removing the subject signs are hereby assessed against Respondent,
MIAMI OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC.
DONE AND ORDERED this oth day of March, 2001.
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THOMAS F. BARRY, AW., P.E. a
Secretary x
Department of Transportation =
Haydon Burns Building 2
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605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Page 4 of 5
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NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL
THIS ORDER CONSTITUTES FINAL AGENCY ACTIQN/AND Mtky BE
APPEALED PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTESSAND.RUL 0
AND 9.190, FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE, BY FILBN/A NOTICE
OF APPEAL CONFORMING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 9.110¢t)), FLORIDA
RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE, BOTH WITH THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT
COURT OF APPEAL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE APPROPRIATE FILING FEE, AND
WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S CLERK OF AGENCY PROCEEDINGS, HAYDON BURNS
BUILDING, 605 SUWANNEE STREET, M.S. 58, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0458,
WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF RENDITION OF THIS ORDER.
Copies furnished to:
Jodi B. Jennings, Esquire Juanice Hagan
Assistant General Counsel Assistant State Right of Way Manager
Department of Transportation for Operations
Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 58 Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 22
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458 605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
The Honorable Claude B. Arrington
Administrative Law Judge C. Jean Cann
Division of Administrative Hearings District 6 ODA Administrator
The DeSoto Building 1000 N.W. 111th Avenue
1230 Apalachee Parkway Miami, Florida 33172-5800
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550
Eugene A. (Andy) Hancock, Jr., President
Miarni Outdoor Advertising, Inc.
Post Office Box 3230097
Miami, Florida 32333-0097
Page 5 of 5
Docket for Case No: 00-001567
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 06, 2001 |
Final Order filed.
|
Feb. 06, 2001 |
Recommended Order cover letter identifying hearing record referred to the Agency sent out.
|
Feb. 06, 2001 |
Recommended Order issued (hearing held November 27, 2000 and January 11, 2001) CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 26, 2001 |
Proposed Recommended Order of Petitioner, Department of Transportation filed.
|
Jan. 17, 2001 |
Transcript filed. |
Jan. 17, 2001 |
Notice of Filing Transcript filed.
|
Jan. 11, 2001 |
CASE STATUS: Hearing Held; see case file for applicable time frames. |
Dec. 14, 2000 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for January 11, 2001; 1:00 p.m.; Tallahassee, FL). |
Dec. 14, 2000 |
Transcript (Volume ) filed. |
Dec. 13, 2000 |
Memorandum of Law (filed via facsimile).
|
Dec. 12, 2000 |
Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record (filed by G. Livingston via facsimile).
|
Dec. 08, 2000 |
Transcript filed. |
Dec. 08, 2000 |
Notice of Filing - transcript filed. |
Nov. 27, 2000 |
CASE STATUS: Hearing Held; see case file for applicable time frames. |
Oct. 17, 2000 |
Miami Outdoor Advertising`s Pre-Hearing Statement (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 12, 2000 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing issued (hearing set for November 27, 2000; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
|
Sep. 11, 2000 |
Unopposed Motion for Continuance (Respondent) (filed via facsimile). |
Sep. 07, 2000 |
Department of Transportation`s Prehearing Statement filed.
|
Aug. 22, 2000 |
Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum of C. Jean Cann(filed via facsimile).
|
Aug. 22, 2000 |
Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum A. Hancock filed.
|
Aug. 10, 2000 |
Ltr. to Judge C. Arrington from G. Livingston In re: request for subpoenas filed.
|
Jul. 25, 2000 |
Second Notice of Hearing sent out. (hearing set for September 14, 2000; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL)
|
Jul. 19, 2000 |
Joint Response to Order Granting Continuance filed.
|
Jul. 11, 2000 |
Order Granting Continuance sent out. (parties to advise status by July 21, 2000.)
|
Jul. 06, 2000 |
Joint Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Jun. 14, 2000 |
Answer to Petitioner`s First Request for Production of Documents (filed via facsimile).
|
Jun. 14, 2000 |
Respondent`s Notice of Serving It`s Answers to Petitioner`s First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent (filed via facsimile).
|
May 17, 2000 |
Petitioner`s Department of Transportation, Notice of Serving its First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent, Miami Outdoor Advertising, Inc. filed.
|
May 04, 2000 |
Order of Consolidation sent out. (Consolidated cases are: 00-001567T, 00-001568T, 00-001569T, 00-001570T)
|
May 04, 2000 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions sent out.
|
May 04, 2000 |
Notice of Hearing sent out. (hearing set for July 14, 2000; 8:30 a.m.; Miami, FL)
|
Apr. 27, 2000 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2000 |
Initial Order issued. |
Apr. 11, 2000 |
Notice of Violation filed. |
Apr. 11, 2000 |
Petition of Miami Outdoor Advertising, Inc. filed.
|
Apr. 11, 2000 |
Agency Referral Letter filed.
|
Orders for Case No: 00-001567
Issue Date |
Document |
Summary |
Mar. 06, 2001 |
Agency Final Order
|
|
Feb. 06, 2001 |
Recommended Order
|
Signs erected without state permits are illegal and should be removed. Equitable estoppel does not apply.
|