Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE
Respondent: LARRY D. HOFFMAN
Judges: CHARLES C. ADAMS
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Shalimar, Florida
Filed: Aug. 26, 2002
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, October 22, 2002.
Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
lL) a- rel ir
STATE OF FLORIDA G
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION: %>
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION ee
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE,
Petitioner,
vs. FDBPR Case N° 2001501116
LARRY D. HOFFMAN
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
State of Florida, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Real
Estate (“Petitioner”) files this Administrative Complaint against Larry D. Hoffman (“Respondent”)
and alleges:
ESSENTIAL ALLEGATIONS OF MATERIAL FACT
1. Petitioner is a state government licensing and regulatory agency charged with the
responsibility and duty to prosecute Administrative Complaints pursuant to the laws of the State of
Florida, in particular Section 20.165 and Chapters 120, 455 and 475, of the Florida Statutes and the
rules promulgated pursuant thereto.
2. Respondent is and was at all times material hereto a licensed Florida real estate broker,
issued license numbers 3010671 and 3010474 in accordance with Chapter 475 of the Florida
Statutes.
3. The last licenses issued were as a broker at American Realty of Northwest Florida, 1270
FDBPR v. Larry D. Hoffman Case No. 2001501116
Administrative Complaint
N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar, Florida 32579 and at Weno Real Estate, Inc., 117 Racetrack NW PMB
255, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 32547.
4. Atall times relevant, prior to May 17, 2001, Respondent was employed by Coldwell
Banker All-Star Real Estate Services. (All-Star)
5. During the course of his employment by All-Star, Respondent developed and
maintained All-Star’s company web site, www.destin-realty.com (Web Site). Copy of printout is
attached and incorporated as Petitioners’ Composite Exhibit One.
6. Pursuant to’ his duties, Respondent had access, authority, and the ability to make
changes to the content of the web site.
7. On or about May, 2001, Joseph Endry, broker/owner of Coldwell Banker JME Realty
purchased the assets of All-Star (hereinafter referred to as JME).
8. On or about May 17, 2001, Respondent terminated his employment relationship with All-
Star and entered into an employer/employee relationship as a broker with ERA American Realty.
(American)
9. At all time relevant after May 17, 2001 and prior to August 20, 2001, Respondent
continued to have access and control over Web Site and its internal source code.
10. Between May 17, 2001 and August 20, 2001, without the authorization of Joseph Endry
or JME, Respondent intentionally and continuously accessed the Web Site source code and modified
said internal source code and content of Web Site to wit: creating links which automatically sent
FDBPR v. Larry D. Hoffman Case No. 2001501116
Administrative Complaint
user from Web Site to Respondent’s internet web site, that utilized uniform resource locators:
www.teamhoffie.com.; www.larryhoffman.com; and 75percentback.con/larryhoffman.htm. A copy
of printout is attached and incorporated as Petitioner’s Exhibit Two. Letter from Teri Bruno, hired
by Mr. Endry to fix Web-Site attached and incorporated as Petitioner’s Exhibit Three.
10. Respondent modified the content of the Web Site such that without the consent of JME
or Joseph Endry, prospective clients that logged on to JME’s web site would be diverted from JME
Realty and to Respondent and Respondent’s new employer, JME.
COUNT I
Based upon the foregoing, Respondent is guilty of dishonest dealing by trick, scheme or device,
culpable negligence, or breach of trust in any business transaction in violation of Section 475.25(1)(b),
Florida Statutes.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Florida Real Estate Commission, or the
Department of Business and Professional Regulation, as may be appropriate, to issue a Final Order
as final agency action finding the Respondent(s) guilty as charged. The penalties which may be
imposed for violation(s) of Chapter 475 of the Florida Statutes, depending upon the severity of the
offense(s), include: revocation of the license or registration or permit; suspension of the license,
registration or permit for a period not to exceed ten (10) years, imposition of an administrative fine
of up to $1,000 for each count or offense; imposition of investigative costs; issuance of a reprimand;
imposition of probation subject to terms including, but not limited to, requiring the licensee,
We
FDBPR v. Larry D. Hoffman Case No. 2001501116
Administrative Complaint
registrant or permitee to complete and pass additional real estate education courses; publication; or
any combination of the foregoing which may apply. See Section 475.25(1), Florida Statutes (2001)
and Florida Administrative Code Rule 61J2-24.001. The penalties which may be imposed for
violation(s) of Chapter 455 of the Florida Statutes, depending upon the severity of the offense(s),
include: revocation of the license, registration, or permit; suspension of the license, registration, or
permit for a period not to exceed ten (10) years; imposition of an administrative fine of up to $5,000
for each count or offense; imposition of investigative costs; issuance of a reprimand; imposition of
probation subject to terms including, but not limited to, requiring the licensee, registrant, or permitee
to complete and pass additional real estate education courses; publication; restriction of practice;
injunctive or mandamus relief; imposition of a cease and desist order, or any combination of the
foregoing which may apply. See Section 455.227, Florida Statutes (2001) and Florida
Administrative Code Rule 61J2-24.001.
SIGNED this__ C2 dayot___ Jee ly 2002.
ent of Business and
Professional Regulation
By:
Director, Division of Real Estate
. Ss, aA,
FDBPR v. Larry D. Hoffman Case No: 20015011167
Administrative Complaint Be
‘2
ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER
CHRISTOPHER J. DE COSTA
Florida Bar N° 0271410
Senior Attorney, Real Estate
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation,
. Legal Section - Suite N 308
ase Hurston Bidg. North Tower
ABST OR me 400 West Robinson Street
Orlando, Florida 32801-1772
(407) 481-5632
(407) 317-7260 FAX
coke.
PCP: MP/LJ 7/02
NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS
PLEASE BE ADVISED that mediation under Section 120.573 of the Florida
Statutes, is not available for administrative disputes involving this type of agency action.
PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that pursuant to this Administrative
Complaint you may request, within the time proscribed, a hearing to be conducted in this
matter in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57 of the Florida Statutes; that you have
the right, at your option and expense, to be represented by counsel or other qualified
representative in this matter; and that you have the right, at your option and expense, to take
testimony, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to have subpoena and subpoena duces
tecum issued on your behalf if a formal hearing is requested.
PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that if you do not file an Election of Rights
form or some other responsive pleading with the Petitioner within twenty-one (21) days of
receipt of this Administrative Complaint, the Petitioner will file with the Florida Real Estate
Commission a motion requesting an informal hearing and entry of an appropriate Final Order
which may result in the suspension or revocation of your real estate license or registration.
Please see the enclosed Explanation of Rights and Election of Rights form.
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6ISNNI
BRUNS os:
September 19, 2001
Mr. Joe Endry
22-A Via de Luna
Pensacola Beach, F! 32561
Dear Mr. Endry,
On August 13, 2001, | received an e-mail from Connie Lewis requesting that |
check one of your websites www. destin-realty.com for links to Larry Hoffman —
ERA. The Destin Log reported that they had checked the site and could not find
Please feel free to contact me concerning this matter at any time.
Thank yu,
44 ¢
Terri Bruno
Bruno Marketing & Design
4370 Costa Mesa oo
Pensacola, Florida 32504 eer
850-477-5885 “ PAGE
Banos rr
Docket for Case No: 02-003371PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Oct. 22, 2002 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 17, 2002 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 10, 2002 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
|
Sep. 10, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for October 28, 2002; 10:00 a.m.; Shalimar, FL).
|
Sep. 06, 2002 |
Unilateral Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 06, 2002 |
Response to Initial Order filed by Respondent.
|
Sep. 04, 2002 |
Petitioner`s Response to Interrogatories and Request for Production (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 04, 2002 |
Notice of Petitioner`s Response to Respondent`s First Interrogatories and Request for Production (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 04, 2002 |
Motion for Enlargement of Time for Filing Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 03, 2002 |
Petitioner`s Notice of Service of Petitioner`s First Request for Production to Respondent Larry D. Hoffman (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 03, 2002 |
Petitioner`s Notice of Service of Petitioner`s First Request Interrogatories to Respondent Larry D. Hoffman (filed via facsimile).
|
Aug. 27, 2002 |
Initial Order issued.
|
Aug. 26, 2002 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Aug. 26, 2002 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Aug. 26, 2002 |
Agency referral filed.
|