Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Respondent: SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP.
Judges: FLORENCE SNYDER RIVAS
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Filed: May 14, 2001
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, July 2, 2001.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
FILED
ClMava,
! , DEC 28 19
THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF Fook Tithe eC 9
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCES) OF YL, oh
BILL NELSON HEERIS TD avy, Dooketed byt
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IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO.: 33188-99-AG
SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP.
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ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
TO: SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORPORATION
2709 E. Oakland Park Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306-1604
You, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., are hereby notified that the Insurance
Commissioner 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. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE
CORP., are currently licensed in this state as a title agency.
2. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Insurance
has jurisdiction over your insurance license and appointments.
3. On or about May 31, 1991, in the Circuit Court of Broward County, Florida, case
No. 9002596CF10A, you, Stephene Pangallo (Cika), an officer of SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE
CORP., pled nolo contendere to one (1) count of criminal mischief over $1000, a felony, in
violation of F.S. 806.13(1)(a)3.
COUNT I
4. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
5. On or about F ebruary 23, 1999, you, Paul Rubeo, as authorized official for the
SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., did swear to and sign an application on behalf of SOUTH
_ FLORIDA TITLE CORP.
6. On the aforementioned application, you, Paul Rubeo as authorized official for
SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., while under oath, and in response to the question: "Have
any of the aforementioned owners, officers or directors of your agency ever been convicted of or
pleaded guilty or no contest to a crime involving moral turpitude, or a felony, or a crime
punishable by imprisonment of one (1) year or more under the law of any state, territory or
country, whether or not a judgment or conviction has been entered?" did answer in the negative.
7. On the aforementioned application, you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., in
your answer to the above-referenced question, knew or should have known that your response to
said question was false and a material misrepresentation of fact, based upon one of your officers
having pled nolo contendere to a previous felony charge, as aforementioned in paragraph three
(3).
8. On the aforementioned application, you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP.,
failed to provide the information requested by the Department regarding your prior felony
charge, to wit: the dates of the conviction or plea, the crime with which you were charged, the
date of the charge, the name and address of the court involved, how you pleaded to the charge,
whether or not you were convicted, whether or not adjudication was withheld, a brief description
of the nature of the offense charged, and certified copies of the information or indictment and
final adjudication for each charge.
9. Relying, in part, on your sworn denial of any officers having pled guilty to any
prior felony charges, the Department did license you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., as a
title agency on March 16, 1999. .
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP.,
have violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code
and Rules of the Department of Insurance which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) Lack of one or more of the qualifications for the license or permit as specified in this
code. [Section 626.611(1), Florida Statutes};
(b) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining the license or permit
or in attempting to obtain the license or permit. [Section 626.611(2), F lorida Statutes];
(c) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of
insurance. [Section 626.611(7), Florida Statutes];
(d) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation of, any proper order or rule of the
department or willful violation of any provision of this code. [Section 626.611(13), Florida
Statutes];
(e) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining the license or permit
or in attempting to obtain the license or permit. [Section 626.8437(2), Florida Statutes];
(f) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance, or guarantees of title. [Section
626.8437(4), Florida Statutes];
(e) The licensee if an individual, or the partners if a partnership, or owner if a sole
proprietorship, or the officers if a corporation, having been found guilty of or having pleaded
guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more
. under the law of the United States or of any state thereof or under the law of any other country
which involves moral turpitude, without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been
” entered by the court having jurisdiction of such cases. [Section 626.8437(10), Florida Statutes];
(6) Any cause for which issuance of the license or permit could have been refused had it
.. then existed and been known to the department. [Section 626.844(1), Florida Statutes];
(g) The licensee if an individual, or the partners if a partnership, or owner if a sole
proprietorship, or the officers if a corporation, having been found guilty of or having pleaded
guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more
under the law of the United States or of any state thereof or under the law of any other country,
without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the court having
Jurisdiction of such cases. [Section 626.8437(10), Florida Statutes];
WHEREFORE, you, SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP., are hereby notified that the
Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your
"licenses and appointments as an insurance agency or to impose such penalties as may be
provided under the provisions of Sections 626.611, 626.621, 626.681, 626.691, 626.9521,
626.8437, 626.844, 626.8457, and 626.846 Florida Statutes, and under the other referenced
sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this Administrative Complaint.
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
Pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes and Rule Chapter 28-106,
Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), you have a right to request a proceeding to contest this
action by the Department. You may elect a proceeding by completing the attached Election of
Rights form or filing a Petition. Your Petition or Election of a proceeding must be in writing
and must be filed with the General Counsel acting as the Agency Clerk, Department of
Insurance. If served by U.S. Mail the Petition or Election should be addressed to the Florida
Department of Insurance at 612 Larson Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333. If Express
Mail or hand delivery is utilized, the Petition or Election should be delivered to 612 Larson
Building, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0300. The Petition or Election
must be received by, and filed in the Department within twenty-one (21) days of the date of your
receipt of this notice.
YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS 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 a proceeding is requested and there is no dispute of fact the provisions of Section
120.57(2), Florida Statutes would apply. In this regard you may submit oral or written evidence
in opposition to the action taken by this agency or a written statement challenging the grounds
upon which the agency 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.
If you dispute material facts which are the basis for this agency's action you may request
a formal adversarial proceeding pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida Statutes. If
you request this type of proceeding, the request must comply with all of the requirements of Rule
Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. and contain
a) A statement identifying with particularity. the allegations of the
Department which you dispute and the nature of the dispute;
b) An explanation of what relief you are seeking and believe you are entitled
to;
c) Any other information which you contend is material.
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.
If'a hearing is requested, you have the right to be represented by counsel, or other
qualified representative, to take testimony, to call and to cross-examine witnesses, and to have
subpoena and subpoena duces tecum issued on your behalf.
You are hereby notified that mediation under Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not
available.
Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this notice may
"result in the request being denied. All prior correspondence in this matter shall be considered
freeform agency action, and no such correspondence shall operate as a valid request for an
administrative proceeding. Any request for 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.
DATED and SIGNED this a 3 wl of L LOL EN Le , 1999.
L SON
Treasurer and
Insurance Commissioner
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
DIVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES
IN THE MATTER OF:
SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE CORP.
/
ELECTION OF RIGHTS
I have received and have read the Administrative Complaint filed against me including the Notice of Rights
contained therein and I understand my options. I am requesting disposition of this matter as indicated below.
(Choose One)
1. [-] Ido not desire a proceeding. The Department may enter a final order revoking my license(s).
2. I do not dispute any of the Department’s factual allegations and I hereby elect an informal proceeding to be
conducted in accordance with section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, In this regard, I desire to (Choose One):
CJ submit a written statement and documentary evidence;
(attend an informa! hearing to be held in Tallahassee; or
([] attend an informal hearing by way of a telephone conference call.
3. [J Ido dispute the Department’s factual allegations. I have attached to this form a statement indicating the
specific issues of fact which are disputed and other required information indicated in the Notice of Rights. I
hereby request a formal adversarial proceeding pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida Statutes,
to be held before the Division of Administrative Hearings.
DATE:
Signature of Petitioner
TO PRESERVE YOUR RIGHT TO A Name:
PROCEEDING, YOU MUST RETURN THIS
FORM WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS Address:
OF RECEIPT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE AT THE ADDRESS
INDICATED IN THE NOTICE OF RIGHTS.
Phone:
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
IT HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF RIGHTS has been furnished to: SOUTH FLORIDA TITLE
CORP., 2709 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306-1604 by
Ae
Certified Mail this_ 23 ~~ day of , 1999,
Wltak Cree ha,
PATRICK CREEHAN
Division of Legal Services
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033
(850) 922-3110 Ext. 4189 -
Docket for Case No: 01-001864
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jul. 02, 2001 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jun. 29, 2001 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Jun. 27, 2001 |
Amended Notice of Video Teleconference issued. (hearing scheduled for July 2, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, FL, amended as to video and location).
|
May 30, 2001 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
|
May 30, 2001 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for July 2, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
May 25, 2001 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
|
May 15, 2001 |
Initial Order issued.
|
May 14, 2001 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
May 14, 2001 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
May 14, 2001 |
Agency referral filed.
|