Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Respondent: FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA
Judges: SUSAN BELYEU KIRKLAND
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Tampa, Florida
Filed: Oct. 09, 2001
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, December 5, 2001.
Latest Update: Nov. 16, 2024
THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
TOM GALLAGHER
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO.: 36904-00-AG
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA
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ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA
201 W. Laurel Street, Apt. 306
Tampa, FL 33602
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA
4415 West Lackland
Tampa, FL 33616
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA
4590 Orient Road, Suite A
Tampa, FL 33610-7229
You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, 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 a bail bond agent in this state, as a result of which it is
alleged:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Pursuant to Chapter 648, Florida Statutes, you, FRANK THOMAS
LAZZARA, currently the holder of a limited surety agent license (2-34).
2. Pursuant to Chapter 648, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of
Insurance has jurisdiction over your insurance license and appointments.
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3. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated
herein by reference.
4. At all times relevant to the allegations in this Administrative complaint you,
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, were doing business as Lazzara Bail Bonds.
5. On or about March 30, 1995, you, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, entered
into a Sub-Agent’s Indemnification Agreement with Ranger Insurance Company, a
surety company, and general agent Cyril E. Parish of C.E Parish General Agency, Inc.
6. At all times relevant to the allegations in this Administrative Complaint C.E
Parish General Agency, Inc., has acted as the general agent for Ranger Insurance
Company.
7. You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, agreed in the Sub-Agent’s
Indemnification Agreement that you were liable to the surety company and to the
general agent for any and all bonds written by Sub-Agent William Gorton. In the Sub-
Agent's Indemnification Agreement you further agreed to “indemnify and hold harmless
the surety and the general agent from any and all claims, losses, expenses, or
liabilities, of any kind or nature, whatsoever, arising out of any act, or alleged act, or
omission of sub-agent”.
8. On or about April 31, 1995, Larrara Bail Bonds posted a Ranger
Insurance Company bond for defendant Ross Hopkins in the amount of five thousand
dollars ($5,000). Sub-Agent William Gorton wrote the bond for Lazzara Bail Bonds.
9. Lazzara Bail Bonds and/or William Gorton as sub-agent for Lazzara Bail
Bonds accepted four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) as collateral for the bond
posted for defendant Ross Hopkins.
10. Onor about August 14, 1995, the bond issued for defendant Ross
Hopkins was discharged.
11. Onor about September 8, 1995, Raymond R. Pines, attorney for Ross
Hopkins sent a letter with a copy of the Certificate of Discharge to Lazzara Bail Bonds
requesting the return of the four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) collateral.
12. You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, failed to promptly return the full four
thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) collateral to Ross Hopkins.
13. Onor about October 19, 1995, you, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, sent a
cashiers check in the amount of one thousand fifty dollars ($1,050) to general agent C.
E. Parish as a partial payment on the total outstanding collateral that was due to Ross
Hopkins in the amount of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500).
14. Onorabout October 26, 1995, C.E Parish General Agency, Inc., mailed a
bank check in the amount of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) to Ross
Hopkins, such sum constituting the return of the collateral that was due to Ross
Hopkins.
15. Onor about May 17, 1996, C.E Parish General Agency, Inc., applied a
transfer fee in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) that was due to you, FRANK
THOMAS LAZZARA, thereby reducing the outstanding amount that you owe to C.E
Parish General Agency, Inc., to the amount of three thousand four hundred dollars
($3,400.00).
16. You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, are required to fully indemnify C.E
Parish General Agency, Inc., for the collateral that it returned to Ross Hopkins.
17. You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, have failed after repeated demands by
C.E Parish General Agency, Inc., to remit the outstanding three thousand four hundred
dollars ($3,400.00) that you owe to the general agency.
18. You, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, have misappropriated and converted for
your own use and benefit three thousand four hundred dollars ($3,400.00) in collateral
that should have been remitted by you to the managing general agent C.E Parish
General Agency, Inc.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, 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) All premiums, return premiums, or other funds belonging to insurers or
others received by a person licensed pursuant to this chapter in transactions under her
or his license are trust funds received by the licensee in a fiduciary capacity, and the
licensee must account for and pay the same to the insurer, insured, or other person
entitled to such funds. [Section 648.295(1), Florida Statutes]; Any licensee who
unlawfully diverts or appropriates such funds or any portion thereof to her or his own
use commits larceny by embezzlement, punishable as provided by law. [Section .
648.295(3), Florida Statutes];
(b) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the bail bond
business. [Section 648.45(2) (e), Florida Statutes];
(c) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the
license or appointment. [Section 648.45(2) (g), Florida Statutes];
(d) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to
a surety, a principal, or others and received in the conduct of business under a license.
[Section 648.45(2)(h), Florida Statutes];
(e) 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 648.45(2)(/),
Florida Statutes];
(f) Demonstrated lack of good faith in carrying out contractual obligations and
agreements. [Section 648.45(2)\\), Florida Statutes];
(g) Violation of any law relating to the business of bail bond insurance or
violation of any provision of the insurance code. [Section 648.45(3)(c), Florida
Statutes].
(h) Failure or refusal, upon demand, to pay over to any insurer the bail bond
agent represents or has represented any money coming into his or her hands which
money belongs to the insurer. [Section 648.45(3)(d), Florida Statutes].
(i) Being found to be a source of injury or loss to the public or detrimental to the
public interest or being found by the department to be no longer carrying on the bail
bond business in good faith. [Section 648.45(3)(e), Florida Statutes}
WHEREFORE, you, FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, are hereby notified that
the Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner intends to enter an Order suspending or
revoking your licenses and appointments as a limited surety agent or to impose such
penalties as may be provided under the provisions of Sections 648.44, 648.45, 648.49,
648.52, and 648.53, 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 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
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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 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 qualif ied representative, to take testimony, to cal and t to cross-examine
witnesses, and tol have subpoena ¢ and subpoena duces tecum issued on your behalf.
Pursuant to Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, you are hereby notified that
7 mediation i is not available.
* Filure to follow ihe procedure c outlined w with regard to your response to this |
notice may result in the request being denied. All prior correspondence i 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 el day of Mth lu , 2001.
ia
KENNEY SHIPLEY
Deputy Insurance Commissioner
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF RIGHTS has been furnished to:
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, 201 W. Laurel Street, Apt 306, Tampa, FL 33602;
FRANK THOMAS LAZZARA, 4415 West Lackland, Tampa, FL 33616; and FRANK
THOMAS LAZZARA, 4590 Orient Road, Suite A, Tampa, FL 33610-7229, by Certified
Mail this _ U7 say of Agere _, 2001.
MIGUEL OXAMENDI
Senior Attorney
Division of Legal Services
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033
(850) 413-4130
ee
Docket for Case No: 01-003908PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Dec. 05, 2001 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
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Dec. 05, 2001 |
Amended Notice of Video Teleconference issued. (hearing scheduled for December 14, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL, amended as to location due to change to video).
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Dec. 04, 2001 |
Motion for Abeyance filed by Petitioner.
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Nov. 09, 2001 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for December 14, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL).
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Nov. 09, 2001 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
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Oct. 19, 2001 |
Petitioner`s Response to Initial Order filed.
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Oct. 10, 2001 |
Initial Order issued.
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Oct. 09, 2001 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Oct. 09, 2001 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Oct. 09, 2001 |
Agency referral filed.
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