Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Respondent: RAYMOND KENETH RITTER
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Filed: Mar. 23, 2004
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, April 23, 2004.
Latest Update: Oct. 01, 2025
Figo
FEB 12 2004
Docketed by 77/o
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
TOM GALLAGHER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO. 69192-04-AG
RAYMOND KENETH RITTER
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
TO: RAYMOND KENETH RITTER
2250 NE 163"” Street, Ste. 2
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160
RAYMOND KENETH RITTER
3800 N. Hills Drive, Apt. 101
Hollywood, Florida 33021
You, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, are hereby notified that pursuant to Chapter 626,
Florida Statutes, 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. You, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, are currently licensed in the state as a life,
health and variable annuity agent, life insurance agent, life and health insurance agent, and health
insurance agent.
2. At all time pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to in this
Administrative Complaint you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, were licensed as an insurance
agent in this state.
3. At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to in this
Administrative Complaint, you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, were doing business as RKR
Insurance Group, Inc., a previously dissolved Florida corporation now operating as an
unincorporated insurance agency.
4. At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to in this
Administrative Complaint all funds received by you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, pursuant
to Section 626.561, Florida Statutes, from consumers or on behalf of consumers were trust funds
received in a fiduciary capacity and were to be paid over to persons entitled thereto in the regular
course of business.
. COUNT 1
5. Paragraphs one through four are realleged and incorporated herein by reference.
6. On or about September 13, 2002, you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, received
from A.S. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a check in the amount of $1594 made payable to RKR
Insurance Group. These funds were intended by A.S. to be the premium payment on a long-term
care insurance policy to be issued by AF&L Insurance Company. This check was deposited into
the RKR business bank account for which you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, had legal
control.
7. You, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, without A.S.’s knowledge or informed
consent, failed to remit the funds in their entirety to AF& L Insurance Company or any other
insurer so entitled. You, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, on October 8, 2002, submitted a
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check for only $272 to the insurance company in payment of the monthly policy premium,
retaining the remainder of the moneys for your own use and benefit. You, RAYMOND
KENETH RITTER, failed to promptly remit the funds to an insurer or to return the funds to A.S.
or to anyone else so entitled.
8. The above mentioned premium payment represented trust funds received by you,
RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, from AS. in a fiduciary capacity for both the insured and an
insurance company.
9. You, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, have converted, misappropriated, or
wrongfully withheld fiduciary funds belonging to a Florida insurance consumer and an insurance
company.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the State Chief Financial Officer which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your insurance licenses and eligibility for licensure:
(a) All premiums, return premiums, or other funds belonging to insurers or others
received by an agent, solicitor, or adjuster in transactions under his license shall be trust funds so
received by the licensee in a fiduciary capacity; and the licensee in the applicable regular course
of business shall account for and pay the same to the insurer, insured, or other person entitled
thereto. [Section 626.561(1), Florida Statutes];
(b) Willful misrepresentation of any insurance policy or annuity contract or willful
deception with regard to any such policy or contract. {Section 626.611(5), Florida Statutes};
(c) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of insurance.
[Section 626.611(7), Florida Statutes);
(d) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
permit. [Section 626.611(9), Florida Statutes];
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to
insurers or insureds or beneficiaries or to others and received in conduct of business under the
license. [Section 626.611(10), Florida Statutes];
(f) Failure or refusal, upon demand, to pay over to any insurer he represents or has
represented any money coming into his hands belonging to the insurer. [Section 626.621(4),
Florida Statutes];
WHEREFORE, you, RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, 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, 626.692, and 626.9521, Florida
Statutes, and under the other reférenced sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this
Administrative Complaint. You are further notified that any order entered in this case revoking
or suspending any license or eligibility for licensure held by you shall also apply to all other
licenses and eligibility held by you under the Florida Insurance Code.
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
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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 this 12th dayof__ February , 2004.
KAREN CHANDLER
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the foregoing has been furnished to RAYMOND
KENETH RITTER, 2250 NE 163rd Street, Suite 2, North Miami Beach, FL 33160 and
RAYMOND KENETH RITTER, 3800 N. Hills Drive, Apt. 101, Hollywood, FL 33021
by U.S. Certified Mail this_12th day of _February , 2004.
mill
JAMES A. BOSSART(E
Florida Department of Financial
Division of Legal Services
612 Larson Building
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333
(850) 413-4124
Docket for Case No: 04-001043PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Apr. 23, 2004 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Apr. 20, 2004 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Apr. 07, 2004 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Apr. 07, 2004 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 25, 2004; 9:30 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
Apr. 01, 2004 |
Letter to Judge Sartin from R. Ritter in reply to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
|
Mar. 24, 2004 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 23, 2004 |
Election of Proceeding filed.
|
Mar. 23, 2004 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 23, 2004 |
Agency referral filed.
|