4 on )2-6F9PL FILED THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA MAY 2 2001 DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TOM GALLAGHER ; Docketed by: ( H A IN THE MATTER OF: JAMES PAUL COOTS CASE NO.: 41326-01-AG / as yw ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT a TO: JAMES PAUL COOTS “° 4850 Heathe Dr. 2 Tallahassee, FL 32308-2133 Or SS raat co You, JAMES PAUL COOTS, aré 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 642, Florida Statutes, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, are currently licensed in this state as a legal expense agent. , 2. Pursuant to Chapter 642, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Insurance (hereinafter “Department”) has jurisdiction over your insurance license and appointments. 3. On or about June 19, 1980, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Case No. 80-30041, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, pled guilty to uttering RRR mE omer A ee ee a ee Urey BER opraR counterfeit money, a felony. On or about June 19, 1980, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, were sentenced to two (2) years probation. COUNT I 4. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein by reference. 5. On or about January 20, 2000, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, did swear to and sign an application for licensure as a legal expense agent. 6. On the aforementioned application, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, while under oath, and in response to the question: "Have you ever been convicted, found guilty, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a crime punishable by imprisonment of one (1) year or more under the laws of any municipality, county, state, territory, or country, whether or not a judgment of conviction has been entered?”, did answer in the negative. 7. On the aforementioned application, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, while under oath, and in response to the question: "Have you ever been convicted, found guilty, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony under the laws of any municipality, county, state, territory, or country, whether or not a judgment of conviction has been entered?”, did answer in the negative. 8. On the aforementioned application, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, in your answers to the above-referenced questions, knew or should have known that your responses to said questions were false and material misrepresentations of fact, based upon you previously having pleaded guilty to a felony. emp Spe a 9. Relying, in part, on your sworn denial of having pleaded guilty to any prior felony charges in your application for licensure, the Department did license you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, as a legal expense agent on February 4, 2000. IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, 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) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in attempting to obtain the license or appointment. [Section 642.041(1), Florida Statutes]; (b) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of legal expense insurance. [Section 642.041(5), Florida Statutes}; (c) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation of, any proper order or rule of the department or willful violation of any provision of ss. 642.01 1-642.049. [Section 642.041(10), Florida Statutes]; (d) Any cause for which issuance of the license or permit could have been refused had it then existed and been known to the department at the time of application. [Section 642.043(1), Florida Statutes]; ’ (e) 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 of America or of any state thereof or under the law of any other country, whether or not a judgment of conviction has been entered. [Section 642.043(6), Florida Statutes]. WHEREFORE, you, JAMES PAUL COOTS, are hereby notified that the Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your licenses and IRE Toe oe rage were eee ee: SpE ayy ad appointments as an insurance agent or to impose such penalties as may be provided under the provisions of Sections 642.041, 642.043, 642.045, and 642.047, 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. Ifa 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 ROPES RS oer Se RETR re REM Re 5 E b E dispute of fact, if you feel that a hearing is necessary one will be conducted in Tallahassee, Florida or by telephonic conference cali 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. Ifa 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 ome gem ce ror bemmer o err of this notice shall be deemed abandoned unless timely renewed in compliance with the guidelines as set out above. SRR OT SMTeTSES gE ee Per epee open rm ee rormmmerrs ope + Ss Ah iso 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: JAMS PAUL COOTS, 4850 Heathe Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32308-2133; by Certified Mail this 2day of 2001. WILLIAM W. THARPE, J Division of Legal Services 200 East Gaines St. 612 Larson Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033 (850) 413-3110 Ext. 4110 Ser Er aE stat sis tihac. aed dita A LA Rta at ane COR rR coer

Docket for Case No: 02-000689PL