Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF NURSING
Respondent: KATHERINE DARLENE JUDAH, L.P.N.
Judges: JAMES H. PETERSON, III
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Pensacola, Florida
Filed: Mar. 14, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, May 9, 2019.
Latest Update: Jan. 03, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
BOARD OF NURSING
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
PETITIONER,
v. - CASE NO. 2018-19924
KATHERINE DARLENE JUDAH, L.P.N.,
RESPONDENT.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW, Petitioner, Department of Health, by and through its
undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint. before the
Board of Nursing against Respondent, Katherine Darlene Judah, L.P.N., and
in support thereof alleges:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the
practice of nursing, pursuant to Section 20.43,.Florida Statutes; Chapter 456,
Florida Statutes; and Chapter 464, Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material to this Administrative . Complaint,
Respondent was a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.) within the state of Florida,
having been issued license number PN 5205565.
3.. Respondent’s address of record is 4045 Audiss Road, Milton,
Florida 32583. She may also be located at 5386 Board Street, Milton, Florida
32570.
4. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent was
employed at Santa Rosa Health and Rehabilitation Center (SRHRC), located
in Milton, Florida. .
5. At all times material to this Complaint, Patient D.K., an 85-year-
old male suffering from dementia, diabetes, and hypertension, was a
resident of SRHRC. Patient D.K. required assistance with all of his activities
of daily living and required a wheelchair to ambulate.
6. On or about August 17, 2018, Respondent stood behind Patient
D.K.’s wheelchair with her arm around Patient D.K.’s neck and her elbow
under Patient D.K.’s chin.
7. Respondent pulled her arm that was around Patient D.K.’s neck
toward her chest in such a manner that Patient D.K.’s head was forced
backward to the extent that his face pointed up toward the ceiling.
8. | Respondent was separated from Patient D.K.
Department of Health v. Katherine Darlene Judah, L.P.N. Page 2 of 5
Case Number 2018-19924 : :
9. Respondent re-approached Patient D.K.’s wheelchair from
behind and grabbed and/or twisted the skin on the back of Patient D.K.'s
neck. Respondent also grabbed and/or pinched Patient D.K.'s ear.
10. As a result of this incident, Patient D.K.’s shoulders, chin, neck,
and throat areas were all very red, and he sustained two raised scratches on
the left side of his neck.
11. Section 464.018(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2018), provides that
unprofessional conduct as defined by board rule constitutes grounds for
disciplinary action.
12. Rule 64B9-8.005(13), Florida Administrative Code, provides that
unprofessional conduct includes using force against a patient, striking a
patient, or throwing objects at a patient. -
13, Respondent. engaged in unprofessional conduct on or about
August 17, 2018, by using force against Patient D.K.
14. Based on the _ foregoing, Respondent violated Section
464.018(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2018), by engaging in unprofessional
conduct as defined by Rule 64B9-8.005(13), Florida Administrative Code.
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of
Nursing enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:
Department of Health v. Katherine Darlene Judah, L.P.N. Page 3 of 5
Case Number 2018-19924
permanent revocation or suspension of Respondent's license, restriction of
practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand,
placement of the Respondent on probation, corrective action, refund of fees
billed or collected; remedial education and/or any other ‘relief that the Board
deems appropriate.
SIGNED this 30th _ day of October ___, 2018.
Celeste Philip, MD, MPH
State Surgeon General and Secretary
_ls/ Lindsey H, Frost.
LINDSEY H. FROST
Assistant General Counsel
Fla. Bar No. 109766
Florida Department of Health
Office of the General Counsel
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C65
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3265
Telephone: (850) 558-9841
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ' Facsimile: (850) 245-4683
CLERK Aneaisunders Email: lindsey.frost@flhealth.gov
DATE oct 31 2018
PCP: 10/30/2018
PCP Members: Paschall (Chair) & Raymond
Department of Health v. Katherine Darlene Judah, L.P.N. Page 4 of 5
Case Number 2018-19924 .
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.
A request or petition for an administrative hearing must be in
writing and must be received by the Department within 21 days
from the day Respondent received the Administrative Complaint,
pursuant to Rule 28-106.111(2), Florida Administrative Code. If
Respondent fails to request a hearing within 21 days of receipt of
this Administrative Complaint, Respondent waives the right to
request a hearing on the facts alleged in this Administrative
Complaint pursuant to Rule 28-106.111(4), Florida Administrative
Code. Any request for an administrative proceeding to challenge
or contest the material facts or charges contained in the
Administrative Complaint must conform to Rule 28-106.2015(5),
Florida Administrative Code.
Mediation under Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not
available to resolve this Administrative Complaint.
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 the Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed.
Department of Health v. Katherine Darlene Judah, L.P.N. Page 5 of 5
Case Number 2018-19924
Docket for Case No: 19-001373PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 09, 2019 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 08, 2019 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Taking Deposition (Hawkins) filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Taking Deposition (Stromberg) filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Taking Deposition (George) filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Taking Deposition (Judah) filed.
|
Apr. 26, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition filed.
|
Apr. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Susan Stromberg) filed.
|
Apr. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Katherine Judah, LPN) filed.
|
Apr. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Debra Hawkins) filed.
|
Apr. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (Terry George, CNA) filed.
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Apr. 04, 2019 |
Petitioner's Amended Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoena Duces Tecum on a Non-party filed.
|
Mar. 28, 2019 |
Petitioner's Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoena Duces Tecum on a Non-party filed.
|
Mar. 19, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Mar. 19, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for May 23, 2019; 9:00 a.m., Central Time; Pensacola, FL).
|
Mar. 18, 2019 |
Joint Response to the Initial Order filed.
|
Mar. 15, 2019 |
Initial Order.
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Mar. 15, 2019 |
Notice of Serving Petitioner's First Request for Admissions, First Set of Interrogatories, and First Request for Production filed.
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Mar. 15, 2019 |
Notice of Appearance (Kristen Summers) filed.
|
Mar. 14, 2019 |
Respondent's Answer to Administative Complaint and Election of Rights and Request for Hearing filed.
|
Mar. 14, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Mar. 14, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 14, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
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