Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS
Respondent: LYNN UNIVERSITY FUNERAL SERVICE EDUCATION
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: Jan. 09, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA 0 is
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION 7
BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS ©, Spy
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
Petitioner,
vs. DBPR Case Number: 2001-02934
LYNN UNIVERSITY FUNERAL
SERVICE EDUCATION,
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 LYNN UNIVERSITY FUNERAL SERVICE EDUCATION
(“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 centralized embalming
facility in the State of Florida, having been issued license number FM-0000011 on October 30,
2000.
3. Respondent’s address of record is 3601 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida
33431.
4. Marcella L. Piasecki is the funeral director in charge for Respondent.
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 the Respondent.
11, Respondent did not receive Field's body from a licensed funeral establishment.
12, The Respondent's documentation of the legally indigent status of Field's body 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.
2
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 IY
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 TI
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.
Signed this ZG t day of Aout 2002.
COUNSEL FOR DEPARTMENT:
LAURA PATRICIA GAFFNEY
Assistant General Counsel
Florida Bar Number 437867
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2022
Telephone (850) 414-8128
Facsimile (850) 414-6749
LPG/
PCP: DEAKINS AND RALPH
4/24/2002
CASE NUMBER 2001-02934
Chief Professions Attorney
Florida Bar Number 909289
Docket for Case No: 02-002955
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.
|
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.
|
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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