Petitioner: FLORIDA ENGINEERS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Respondent: ANTONIO LUCIA, P.E.
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: Dec. 09, 2008
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, March 20, 2009.
Latest Update: Dec. 22, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
tLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS,
Petitioner,
Vv. FEMC Case No. 2008015794
ANTONINO LUCIA, P.E.,
Respondent,
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Florida Engineers Management Corporation (FEMC) on behalf of
Petitioner, Florida Board of Professional Engineers, hercinafter referred to as “Petitioner,” and
files this Administrative Complaint against ANTONINO LUCIA, P.E., hereinafter referred to as
“Respondent”. This Administrative Complaint is issued pursuant to Sections 120.60 and
471.038, Florida Statutes. Any proceeding concerning this complaint shall be conducted
pursuant to Section 120.57, Florida Statutes. In support of this complaint, Petitioner alleges the
following:
1. Petitioner, Florida Board of Professional Engineers, is charged with regulating the
practice of cngineering pursuant to Chapter 455, llorida Statutes. This complaint is filed by the
Florida Engineers Management Corporation (FEMC) on behalf of Petitioner. FEMC is charged
with providing administrative, investigative, and prosecutorial services to the Florida Board of
Professional Engineers pursuant to Section 471.038, Florida Statutes (1997).
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2. Respondent is, and has been at all times material hereto, a licensed professional
engineer in the State of Florida, having been issued license number PE 60160. Respondent's last
known address is 291 Mansfield, Boca Raton, FL 33434.
3. On December 17, 2007, Respondent signed, sealed and dated a three (3) page set
of engineering design documents for an aluminum screen enclosure structure for the Lewis
Residence at 795 Whippoorwill Terrace in Palm Beach County (Lewis Project). The set includes
a site specific framing plan with elevations and two pages of generic screen enclosure details and
specifications.
4. Respondent’s engineering documents for the Lewis Project are materially
deficient as follows:
A. The configuration of the 2x3 roof purlins is not sct forth in the permit
drawings and is not addressed in the engineer’s calculations. By not designating
whether he intended {o use a “Hollow” of a “Snap” configuration, Respondent
permitted the contractor to use a 2x3 “Hollow” section for the roof purlins, which
would not be “deemed to comply” with applicable codes or standards and the use
of which is not otherwise justified by the calculations,
B. The wall thickness for the 3x3 eave ratl elements and the 3x3 corner column
clements is not set forth on the permit drawings.
C. The height of the chair rail is not dimensioned on the permit drawings.
D. The flange and wall thicknesses for the 2x5 and 2x8 SMB beam and column
shapes are not sct forth in the permit documents.
E. Respondent's calculations do not address the design of the diagonal bracing in
the roof, the roof purlins, and the wall girts or the K-bracing.
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I’, The deflection calculations submitted for the main roof beams are incorrect
and not in accordance with accepted engineering principles.
G. The 2x5 SMB non-flow thru wall columns are overstressed at design load.
TH. The 2x5 flow thru wall columns are overstressed at design load.
I, The 2x8 roof beams are overstressed al design load,
J. For the roof corner diagonal bracing clements, the average compressive stress
on the cross section (fa) exceeds the elastic buckling stress (Fe) at design loading.
K. For the redundant diagonal roof bracing elements at the non-flow thru wall,
the average compressive stress on the cross section (fa) exceeds the elastic
buckling stress (Fc) at design loading.
5. The Board has adopted Responsibility Rules of Professional Engincers
(Responsibility Rules), These Rules are contained in Chapter 61G15-30 to Chapter 61G15-36,
Fla. Administrative Code. Professional Engineers who perform services covered by the
Responsibility Rules are required to comply with the Rules.
6. Rule 61G15-30.002(1), F. A. C., mandates that Respondent, as the engineer of
record, is professionally responsible for the documents prepared for the Lewis Project. As such,
Respondent is responsible for producing documents that comply with the applicable portions of
the Responsibility Rules.
7. Respondent acted as Engineer of Record for the Structure for the Lewis Project as
that term is defined in Rule 61G15-31.002(1), F. A. C, As such all structural documents
prepared, signed, sealed and dated by Respondent must contain the information set out in Rule
61G15-31.002(5), F. A. C., as is mandated by Rule 61G15-31.001, F. A. C., setting out the
General Responsibility standards for engineers designing structures. The plans and specifications
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for the Lewis Project fail to contain this information and thus fail to comply with the
Responsibility Rules.
8. Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes, provides that an engineer is subject to
discipline for engaging in negligence in the practice of engineering. Rule 61G15-19.001(4), Fla.
Admin Code, provides that negligence constitutes “failure by a professional engineer to utilize
due care in performing in an engineering capacity or failing to have due regard for acceptable
standards of enginecring principles.”
9, Rule 61G15-19.001(4) also provides that “[fJailure to comply with the procedures
set forth in the Responsibility Rules as adopted by the Board of Professional Engineers shall be
considered as non-compliance with this section unless the deviation or departures therefrom are
justified by the specific circumstances of the project in question and the sound professional
judgment of the professional engineer.”
10. The Respondent’s drawings and calculations for the Lewis Project contain
deficiencies including; but not limited to, those set forth in Paragraph (4)(A)-(K). Respondent
violated the provisions of Section 471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes, and Rule 61G15-19.001(4), F.
A. C., by sealing, signing and dating engineering documents that were issued and filed for public
record when such documents were materially deficient in respect to and not in compliance with
applicable code requirements or acceptable engineering principles.
11. Based on the foregoing, Respondent is charged with violating Section
471.033(1)(g), Florida Statutes, and Rule 61G15-19.001(4), F. A, C., by engaging in negligence
in the practice of engineering.
WHERETORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests the Board of Professional Engineers
to enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or
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suspension of the Respondent’s license, restriction of the Respondent's practice, imposition of an
administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of the Respondent on probation, the
assessment of costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this case, other than cosis
associated with an attorney's time, as provided for in Section 455.227(3), Florida Statutes, and/or
any other relief that the Board deems appropriate.
SIGNED this 24> day of SG /\. , 2008.
i
F | L E D Carrie Flynn
Department of Business and Professional Regulation Executive Director
DEPUTY CLERK
CLERK Mtlichete
DATE - 26- 2008 BN’: John Rimes
P
COUNSEL FOR FEMC:
John Rimes
Prosecuting Attomey
Florida Engineers Managemeni Corporation
2507 Callaway Road, Suitc 200
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Florida Bar No. 212008
IT/jt
PCP DATE: September 16, 2008
PCP Members: Rebane, Burke
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
1 hereby cerlily thal a copy of the foregoing was furnishéd’to ANTONTNO LUCIA, P.E., 291
MANSFIELD, BOCA RATON, FL 33434, by certified mnail, pn the wv of eat ; 2008.
FRFE vs. Antonino Lucia, P.E., Case No. 2008015794
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Docket for Case No: 08-006143PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 20, 2009 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 19, 2009 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Feb. 02, 2009 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 31, 2009; 9:30 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jan. 30, 2009 |
Amended Joint Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed.
|
Jan. 28, 2009 |
Joint Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed.
|
Jan. 05, 2009 |
Order Directing Filing of Exhibits
|
Dec. 30, 2008 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Dec. 30, 2008 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for February 11, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Dec. 09, 2008 |
Initial Order.
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Dec. 09, 2008 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Dec. 09, 2008 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Dec. 09, 2008 |
Agency referral filed.
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