Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE
Respondent: PETER J. DI FALCO
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Aug. 31, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, October 23, 2015.
Latest Update: Nov. 11, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
Petitioner,
Vv. Case No. 2012-041095
PETER J. DI FALCO,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(Petitioner) files this Administrative Complaint against Peter
Di Falco {Respondent}, and alleges:
Le Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating
the real estate profession pursuant to Section 20.165, Florida
Statutes, and Chapters 120, 455 and 475, Florida Statutes.
2% At all times material to this complaint, Respondent
was licensed as a real estate broker in the State of Florida,
having been issued license number 624199. Department records
indicate a status of Current, Inactive.
3. Respondent’s address of record is 6879 Sw 53° Street,
Miami, FL 33155.
4. At all times material toe this complaint, Respondent was
the qualifying broker for Di Falco Inc d/b/a Waterhouse Realty, a
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licensed real estate brokerage, having been issued license number
cQ 1006835.
Be On or about May 28, 2012, Respondent facilitated a
Memorandum To Lease between Joy McKenna (Lessee) and Sergio
Esquivel (Lessor).
6. On or about May 28, 2012, Respondent collected an escrow
deposit check in the amount of $3,200 (Escrow Deposit) from
Lessee.
Te On or about May 29, 2012, Respondent deposited Escrow
Deposit into a DiFalco Inc account ending with 2670 at Bank
Atlantic.
8. Lessee did not execute a lease agreement or take
occupancy of the property.
9. On or about June 10, 2012, Lessor communicated toa
Respondent a demand upon Escrow Deposit.
10, Respondent did not deliver Escrow Deposit to Lessor.
11. As of October 2012, Respondent continued to hold Escrow
Deposit.
22 The Investigative Report in this case indicates the
period of investigation was November 29, 2012, through February 5,
2013.
13, On or about January 3, 2013, Respondent told a4
Department investigator that he did not disburse Escrow Deposit
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because he was not sure what to do when the tenant did not occupy
the rental.
14, At no time material to this complaint did Respondent
notify the Commission of a good faith doubt as to what person is
entitled to the accounting and delivery of the Escrow Deposit.
15. At no time material to this complaint did Respondent
institute any of the escape procedures set forth in Chapter
475.25(1) (dj1., Florida Statutes.
COUNT _I
16. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates by reference
the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 15, as though
fully set forth herein.
17. Section 475.25({1)(e}, Florida Statutes, subjects a
licensee to discipline for “wiolat[ing] any of the provisions of
this chapter or any lawful order or rule made or issued under
the provisions of this chapter or chapter 455,”
18. Rule 6132-10.032(1}{b), Florida Administrative Code
(2002), states in pertinent part:
A broker, who has a good faith daubt as to whom is
entitled to any trust funds held in the broker’s
escrow account, must provide written notification to
the Commission within 15 business days after having
such doubt and must institute one of the settlement
procedures as set forth in Section 475.25(1){d)1.,
F.S., within 30 business days after having such doubt.
19. Respondent violated Rule 61092-10.032{1)(b}, Florida
Administrative Code (2002), in one or more of the following
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ways:
a. By failing to notify the Commission of a good faith
doubt as to whe was entitled to the escrow funds.
b. By failing to institute one of the settlement
procedures as set forth in Section 475.25{1)(d}1l., Florida
Statutes.
20. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated 61J2-
10.032(1}{b), Florida Administrative Code (2002), by failing to
notify the Commission of a good faith doubt as to who was entitled
to escrow funds and by failing to institute ome of the settlement
procedures as set forth in Section 475.25{1)(d}1l., Florida
Statutes and, therefore, violated Section 475.25(1)(e), Florida
Statutes.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Florida
Real Estate Commission enter an order imposing one or more of
the following penalties: suspension or permanent revocation of
Respondent(s} license(s), restriction of practice, imposition of
an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of
Respondent(s} on probation, corrective action, assessment of
costs related to the investigation and prosecution of the case,
and any other relief that the Commission deems appropriate.
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SIGNED this 19th day of June, 2014.
KEN LAWSON, Secretary
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
Susan Williams
Susan Williams
Assistant General Counsel
Florida Bar No. 367516
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
Office of General Counsel
1940 N. Monroe St., Suite 25A
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2202
(850) 717-1232 Telephone
(850) 617-4412 Facsimile
PCP Date: June 19, 2014
PCP Members: Poul Hornsleth/Lee Chotas
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NOTICE OF RIGHTS
Please be advised that mediation under section 120.573,
Florida Statutes, is not available for administrative disputes
involving this type of agency action.
Please be advised that Respondent has the right to request
a hearing to be conducted in accordance with sections 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
subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on his or her behalf
if a hearing is requested. Any request for an administrative
proceeding to challenge or contest the charges contained in the
administrative complaint must conform to Rule 28-106.2015,
Florida Administrative Code. Rule 28-106.111, Florida
Administrative Code, provides in part that if Respondent fails
to request a hearing within 21 days of receipt of an agency
pleading, Respondent waives the right to request a hearing on
the facts alleged.
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 455,227(3) (a), Florida Statutes, the
Board, or the Department when there is no Board, may assess
costs related to the investigation and prosecution of the case
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Adninistrative Complaint
excluding costs associated with an attorney's time, against
Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed.
Docket for Case No: 15-004818PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Oct. 23, 2015 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
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Oct. 22, 2015 |
Petitioner's Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
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Sep. 03, 2015 |
Petitioner's First Interlocking Discovery Request filed.
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Sep. 03, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Sep. 03, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for November 10, 2015; 9:00 a.m.; Miami, FL).
|
Sep. 02, 2015 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Sep. 01, 2015 |
Notice of Appearance (Maureen White) filed.
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Aug. 31, 2015 |
Initial Order.
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Aug. 31, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Aug. 31, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
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Aug. 31, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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