Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS
Respondent: MARCELLA L. PIASECKI
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Boca Raton, Florida
Filed: Jul. 25, 2002
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, September 13, 2002.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
LA- APA Pe.
STATE OF FLORIDA 2 pe
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATIONS oe
BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS.,..
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
Petitioner,
vs. DBPR Case Number: 2001-03308
MARCELLA L. PIASECKI,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION ,
(“Petitioner”) files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of Funeral Directors and
Embalmers (“Board”) against MARCELLA L. PIASECKI (“Respondent”), and alleges:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of funeral
directing and embalming, pursuant to Section 20.165, Florida Statutes, and Chapters 455 and
470, Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material hereto, Respondent was licensed as a funeral director and
embalmer in the State of Florida, having been issued license number FE-0004273 on August 14,
1997.
3. Respondent’s address of record is 428 Ashwood Place-Windwood, Boca Raton,
Florida 33431. .
4, Respondent is the licensed funeral director in charge of record for Lynn
University (hereinafter, "Lynn"), a licensed centralized embalming facility.
5. On or about December 1, 2000 a contract was entered between Eternal Light
Funeral Chapel and the family of Ruth Field (hereinafter, "Field") for the provision of funeral
and burial services for Field.
6. On the document entitled "Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected"
there was no indication that embalming was selected or authorized for Field.
7. The aforementioned "Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected" includes
a limousine and driver, a bronze urn, and a Rabbi honorarium - items not typically associated
with disposal of indigent remains.
8. There was no embalming approved for Field by any authorized person.
9. On or about December 5, 2000, Respondent accepted Field's body for embalming
from Professional Transport Service (hereinafter, "PTS").
10. PTS received $110 for transportation of Field's body to Lynn.
11. Respondent did not receive Field's body from a licensed funeral establishment.
12. | The Lynn University documentation of the legally indigent status of Field's body,
which was signed by the Respondent, was substantially incomplete, including:
a. Funeral home is not identified.
b. Signature of removal service is illegible.
c. Signature of funeral home is blank and undated.
d. Respondent’s signature is undated.
13. The Respondent's failure to verify the authorization for embalming for Field's
body constitutes negligence or misconduct.
COUNT I
14. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates the allegations set forth in paragraphs one
(1) through thirteen (13), as though fully set forth herein,
15, Based upon the foregoing, the Respondent has violated Subsection 470.036(1)(g),
Florida Statutes, by committing fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence, or misconduct.
COUNT Ti
16, Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates the allegations set forth in paragraphs one
(1) through thirteen (13), as though fully set forth herein.
17. Based upon the foregoing, the Respondent has violated Subsection 470.036(1)(r),
Florida Statutes, by taking possession of a dead human body without first having obtained
written or oral permission from a legally authorized person.
COUNT Mf
18. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates the allegations set forth in paragraphs one
(1) through thirteen (13), as though fully set forth herein.
19. Based upon the foregoing, the Respondent has violated Subsection 470.036(1)(t),
Florida Statutes, by embalming a deceased human body without first having obtained written or
oral permission from a legally authorized person.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Board of Funeral Directors and
Embalmers enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: revocation or
suspension of the Respondent’s license, restriction of the Respondent’s practice, imposition of an
administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 per violation, issuance of a reprimand, placement of the
Respondent on probation, assessment of costs association with the investigation, imposition of
any or all penalties delineated within Section 455,.227(2), Florida Statutes, and/or any other relief
that the Board is authorized to impose pursuant to Chapters 455 and/or 470, Florida Statutes,
and/or the rules promulgated thereunder.
te .
Signed this WI “day of Penk 2002.
Sf He
aid Scott-Hill
Chief Professions Attorney
Florida Bar Number 909289
COUNSEL FOR DEPARTMENT:
LAURA PATRICIA GAFFNEY’ ED pation
Assistant General Counsel \ Ls
Florida Bar Number 437867 sant gusnete CLERK
Department of Business and dep 1) Micrel
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2022
poe
Telephone (850) 414-8128 pATE
Facsimile (850) 414-6749
Professional Regulation fi
1940 North Monroe Street
aa to \0 3002
LPG/
PCP: DEAKINS AND RALPH
4/24/2002
CASE NUMBER 2001-03308
Docket for Case No: 02-002952PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 19, 2003 |
Stipulation for Substitution of Counsel and Order Thereto filed by S. Schwed, J. Quinn, M. Piasecki, T. Boyd.
|
Jan. 17, 2003 |
Motion to Reopen Consolidated Cases (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 13, 2002 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Sep. 05, 2002 |
Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed by S. Schwed.
|
Sep. 05, 2002 |
Motion for Continuance of Deposition of Joseph Quinn filed by Respondent.
|
Sep. 05, 2002 |
Notice of Filing Affidavit of Malcolm Cohen, M.D., In Support of Motion for Continuance of Deposition of Joseph Quinn and Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed by S. Schwed.
|
Aug. 13, 2002 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
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Aug. 13, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for October 3 and 4, 2002; 9:30 a.m.; Boca Raton, FL).
|
Aug. 12, 2002 |
Order of Consolidation issued. (consolidated cases are: 02-002952PL, 02-002953PL, 02-002954PL, 02-002955, 02-002956, 02-002957, 02-002958PL, 02-002959PL, 02-002960PL)
|
Aug. 02, 2002 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
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Jul. 26, 2002 |
Initial Order issued.
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Jul. 25, 2002 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Jul. 25, 2002 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Jul. 25, 2002 |
Agency referral filed.
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