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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY vs JUAN RONG, L.M.T., 13-000831PL (2013)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 13-000831PL Visitors: 14
Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY
Respondent: JUAN RONG, L.M.T.
Judges: ROBERT E. MEALE
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: Mar. 11, 2013
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

Latest Update: Jun. 17, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PETITIONER, Vv. CASE NO. 2012-13665 JUAN RONG, L.M.T., RESPONDENT. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT COMES NOW, Petitioner, Department of Health, by and through its undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of Massage Therapy against the Respondent, Juan Rong, L.M.T., and in support thereof alleges: 1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of massage therapy pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida Statutes (2012), and Chapters 456 and 480, Florida Statutes (2012). 2. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent was licensed as a massage therapist in the State of Florida, having been issued license number MA 56427. 3. Respondent's address of record is 26306 Fir Avenue, Moreno Valley, California 92555. 4. On or about May 26, 2009, Respondent submitted a State of Florida Application for Licensure as a massage therapist (“Application”) to the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy (“Florida Board”). 5. On her Application, Respondent indicated that she attended Royal Irvin College, where she completed 500 hours of massage therapy training on December 27, 2008. 6. Royal Irvin College is not a Florida board-approved School. 7. Respondent's Application further reveals that Respondent did not attend an apprenticeship program. 8. Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), in order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida pursuant to Chapter 480, Florida Statutes, a person must complete a course of study at a board-approved massage school or complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the board. 9. Submitted to the Florida Board with Respondent's Application was a transcript from Florida College of Natural Health (FCNH”). Page 2 of 8 10. The FCNH transcript represents that Respondent earned five hundred credit hours in the FCNH Therapeutic Massage Training Program. 11. The FCNH transcript indicates that Respondent started the FCNH Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) on May 22, 2009, and completed the program on May 26, 2009. 12. Respondent also submitted, with her Application, a FCNH Certificate of Completion of 12 hours of Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) dated May 26, 2009. 13. Also submitted with Respondent’s Application was a FCNH Certificate of Completion of two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors dated May 26, 2009. 14. On or about July 19, 2012, the Vice President of Compliance and Institutional Effectiveness for FCNH (“V.P.”) certified that the FCNH transcript Respondent submitted with her Application is fraudulent. 15. On or about July 19, 2012, the V.P. also certified that Respondent did not complete the courses identified in the certificates Respondent submitted with her Application. 16. Having not completed courses at, or obtained certificates of completion from, a Florida Board approved school, as required by Section Page 3 of 8 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), Respondent is not qualified to be licensed, or to practice, as a massage therapist in the State of Florida. COUNT ONE 17. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in paragraphs 1 through 16 as if fully set forth herein. 18. Section 480.046(1)(o), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or 456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 19. Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license to practice a profession by bribery, by fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the department or the board. 20. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by obtaining her license to practice massage therapy in the State of Florida through error of the Department of Health or through fraudulent misrepresentation by submitting a fraudulent transcript and fraudulent Certificates of Completion with her Application, in violation of Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2008). COUNT TWO Page 4 of 8 21. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in paragraphs 1 through 16 as if fully set forth herein. 22. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or 456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 23. Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for failing to comply with the requirements for profiling and credentialing, including, but not limited to, failing to provide initial information, failing to timely provide updated information, or making misleading, untrue, deceptive, or fraudulent representations on a profile, credentialing, or initial or renewal licensure application. 24, Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by for failing to comply with the requirements for profiling and credentialing by submitting a fraudulent transcript and fraudulent Certificates of Completion with her Application, in violation of Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes (2008). COUNT THREE 27. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in paragraphs 1 through 16 as if fully set forth herein. Page 5 of 8 28. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a licensee to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or Chapter 456, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 29, Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), in . order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida, a person must complete a course of study at a Florida Board-approved massage school or complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board. 30. Respondent is not qualified to hold a license as a massage therapist because she failed to complete a course of study at a Florida Board-approved massage school and failed to complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board. 31. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by obtaining a license as a massage therapist without completing a course of study at a Florida Board- approved massage school or an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board, in violation of Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008). Page 6 of 8 WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of Massage Therapy enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or suspension of Respondent's license, restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of Respondent on probation, corrective action, and/or any other relief that the Board of Massage Therapy deems appropriate. SIGNED this \9 He day of _COCObey”_, 2012. John H. Armstrong, MD State Surgeon seneral and Secretary of Health FILED DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DEPUTY CLERK CLERK Angela Barton Assi stant General Counsel DATE 10/17/2012 Florida Bar No. 0021640 DOH Prosecution Services Unit 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265 (P) 850-245-4640 (F) 850-245-4662 (E) Jenifer_Friedberg@doh.state.fl.us PCP Date: October 15, 2012 PCP Members: Karen Harrison; Lydia Nixon Page 7 of 8 NOTICE OF RIGHTS Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be conducted in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, to be represented by counsel or other qualified representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to have subpoena and subpoena duces tecum issued on his or her behalf if a hearing is requested. NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF COSTS Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has incurred costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this matter. Pursuant to Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes, the Board shall assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of a disciplinary matter, which may include attorney hours and costs, on Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed. Page 8 of 8

Docket for Case No: 13-000831PL
Issue Date Proceedings
May 13, 2013 Transmittal letter from Claudia Llado forwarding returning Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits nubmered 1-3, to the agency.
May 08, 2013 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
May 07, 2013 CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
May 07, 2013 Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
May 07, 2013 Second Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
May 07, 2013 Notice of Filing Second Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
May 02, 2013 Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
May 02, 2013 Notice of Filing Executed Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
May 02, 2013 Order Granting Leave to Amend.
May 02, 2013 Order on Petitioner`s Motion to Compel.
May 02, 2013 Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
May 02, 2013 Notice of Filing Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits filed.
Apr. 30, 2013 Petitioner's Unopposed Motion to Amend Administrative Complaint filed.
Apr. 29, 2013 Joint Prehearing Stipulation filed.
Apr. 29, 2013 Motion to Compel Discovery and to Deem Petitioner's Requests for Admissions Admitted filed.
Apr. 17, 2013 Notice of Taking Telephonic Deposition (of J. Rong) filed.
Mar. 20, 2013 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Mar. 20, 2013 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 7, 2013; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
Mar. 20, 2013 Notice of Transfer.
Mar. 18, 2013 Joint Response to the Initial Order filed.
Mar. 14, 2013 Notice of Serving Petitioner's First Request for Admissions, Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 12, 2013 Initial Order.
Mar. 12, 2013 Notice of Filing filed.
Mar. 12, 2013 Notice of Appearance of Co-Counsel (Jenifer Friedberg) filed.
Mar. 12, 2013 Notice of Appearance (Louise Wilhite-St. Laurent) filed.
Mar. 11, 2013 Administrative Complaint filed.
Mar. 11, 2013 Respondent's Answer and Affirmative Defenses filed.
Mar. 11, 2013 Agency referral filed.
Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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