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DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES vs ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, 03-001622PL (2003)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 03-001622PL Visitors: 43
Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Respondent: ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: May 02, 2003
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, July 10, 2003.

Latest Update: Jun. 01, 2024
FILED APR 10 2003 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES Dockeied ry A Tom GALLAGHER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER {IN THE MATTER OF: CASE NO.: 61935-03-AG ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS , ae) O2>- [eD.9FC ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT TO: ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS 5090 Nesting Way, Apt. A Delray Beach, Florida 33484 ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS P.O. Box 6059 Delray Beach, Florida 33482-6059 You, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, are hereby notified that the Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida has caused to be made an investigation of your activities while licensed as an insurance agent in this state, as a result of which it is alleged: GENERAL ALLEGATIONS 1. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, you, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, are currently licensed in this state as a Life (2-16), Life & Health (2-1 8), Health (2-40) agent, license I.D. #4069535. 2. Atall times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to herein, you, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, were licensed in this state as an insurance agent. 3. Pursuant to chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Financial Services has jurisdiction over your insurance licenses and appointments. COUNT I 4. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein by reference. 5. On or about January, 2001, you, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, as a licensed insurance agent, solicited and sold to T. P. of Davenport, Florida, a group health insurance plan through an entity known as TRG. 6. At all times material herein, TRG was an entity unauthorized to conduct insurance business in the state of Florida. 7. TRG has failed to pay T.P.’s medical claims or any portion thereof and her health insurance policy is non-existent. As a result, she has incurred a financial liability of $5,000 in unpaid medical bills. IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, have violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of your licenses and appointments: (a) No person shall transact in this state, or relative to a subject of insurance resident, located, or to be performed in this state, without complying with the applicable provisions of this Code. [Section 624.11, Florida Statutes]; (b) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of insurance. [Section 626.61 1(7), Florida Statutes]; (c) Demonstrated lack of reasonably adequate knowledge and technical competence to engage in the transactions authorized by the license or appointment. [Section 626.61 1(8), Florida Statutes]; (d) Violation of any provision of this Code or any law applicable to the business of insurance in the course of dealing under the licensure or appointment. [Section 626.621(2), Florida Statutes]; (e) In the conduct of business under the license or appointment, engaging in unfair methods of competition or in unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as prohibited under Part X (re- designated as Part IX) of this chapter, or having otherwise shown himself or herself to be a source of injury or loss to the public. [Section 626.621(6), Florida Statutes]; (f) No person shall, from offices or by personnel or facilities located in this state... directly or indirectly act as an agent for, or otherwise represent or aid on behalf of another, any insurer not being authorized to transact such business in this state. [Section 626.901(1), Florida Statutes]; WHEREFORE, you, ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, are hereby notified that the Chief Financial Officer intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your licenses and appointments as an insurance agent or to impose such penalties as may be provided under the provisions of Sections 626.611, 626.621, 626.681, 626.691, and 626.901, Florida Statutes, and under the other referenced sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this Administrative Complaint. NOTICE OF RIGHTS You have the right to request a proceeding to contest this action by the Department pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-107, Florida Administrative Code. The proceeding request must be in writing, signed by you, and must be filed with the Department within twenty-one (21) days of your receipt of this notice. Completion of the attached Election of Proceeding form and/or a petition for administrative hearing will suffice as a written request. The request must be filed with the General Counsel as acting Agency Clerk, at the Florida Department of Financial Services, 612 Larson Building, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333. Your written response must be received by the Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-first day after your receipt of this notice. Mailing the response on the twenty-first day will not preserve your right to a hearing. YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND IN WRITING WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A PROCEEDING ON THE MATTERS ALLEGED HEREIN AND AN ORDER OF REVOCATION WILL BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU. If you request a proceeding, you must provide information that complies with the requirements of Rule 28-107.004, Florida Administrative Code. As noted above, completion of the attached Election of Proceeding form conforms to these requirements. Specifically, your response must contain: (a) The name and address of the party making the request, for purpose of service; (b) A statement that the party is requesting a hearing involving disputed issues of material fact, or a hearing not involving disputed issues of material fact; and (c) A reference to the notice, order to show cause, administrative complaint, or other communication that the party has received from the agency. If a hearing of any type is requested, you have the right to be represented by counsel or other qualified representative at your expense, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents by subpoena. If a proceeding is requested and there is no dispute of material fact, the provisions of section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, apply. In this regard, you may submit oral or written evidence in opposition to the action taken by the Department or a written statement challenging the grounds upon which the Department has relied. While a hearing is normally not required in the absence of a dispute of fact, if you feel that a hearing is necessary, one will be conducted in Tallahassee, Florida, or by telephonic conference call upon your request. However, if you dispute material facts which are the basis for the Department’s action, you must request an adversarial proceeding pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57(1). Florida Statutes. These proceedings are held before a State administrative law judge of the Division of Administrative Hearings. Unless the majority of witnesses are located elsewhere, the Department will request that the hearing be conducted in Tallahassee, Florida. Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this notice may result in the request being denied. All prior oral communication or correspondence in this matter shall be considered freeform agency action, and no such oral communication or correspondence shall operate as a valid request for an administrative proceeding. Any request for an administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice shall be deemed abandoned unless timely renewed in compliance with the guidelines as set out above. Mediation of this matter pursuant to section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available. No Department attorney will discuss this matter with you until the response has been received by the Department of Financial Services. DATED and SIGNED this 10th day of April » 2003. KY Cai cl Cor KAREN CHANDLER Deputy Chief Financial Officer CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF PROCEEDING has been furnished to: ROBERT BENJAMIN DOBBS, 5090 Nesting Way, Apt. A, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 and P.O. Box 6059, Delray Beach, Florida 33482 by Certified Mail this 10thday of April ; 2003. AT JAMES A. BOSSART, ESQ. Division of Legal Services 200 East Gaines St. 612 Larson Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033 (850) 413-4125

Docket for Case No: 03-001622PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Jul. 10, 2003 Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
Jul. 09, 2003 Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
May 29, 2003 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for July 28, 2003; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
May 21, 2003 Letter to Judge Sartin from J. Bossart stating no objection to motion for continuance (filed via facsimile).
May 20, 2003 Request for a Continuance to Find Legal Council filed by Respondent.
May 15, 2003 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
May 15, 2003 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for June 20, 2003; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
May 12, 2003 Joint Response to Initial Order filed by Petitioner.
May 05, 2003 Initial Order issued.
May 02, 2003 Administrative Complaint filed.
May 02, 2003 Election of Proceeding filed.
May 02, 2003 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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