Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Respondent: CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: May 05, 2009
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, July 6, 2009.
Latest Update: Jan. 11, 2025
May 4 2009 14:34
FROM = DEPT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES FAs NO. : 8564874987 May. G4 2669 1:44PM Pe
MAY 04 2009
REPRESENTING , CE —)
ALEX SINK Docketed by. 2"
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFC ER
STATE. OF FLORIDA
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO.: 88761-07-AG
CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
TO: CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ
12695 Northwest 11" Street
Miami, llorida 33182
CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ
c/o RICHARD B. MARX
66 West Flagler Street
Concord Building, 2% Floor
Miami, Florida 33130
You, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, are hereby notified that the Chief Financial
Officer of the State of Florida has caused to be made an investigation of your activities while
licensed as a limited surety (bail bond) agent in this state and as a result of which it is alleged:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Pursuant to Chapter 648, Florida Statutes, you, CARMEN MARIA
HERNANDEZ, currently are licensed in this state as a limited surely (bail bond) agent, and were
May 4 2009 14:34
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so licensed at all times relevant to the dates and occurrences referenced herein. Your license
identification number is A117272.
2. Pursuant to Chapter 648, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Financial
Services (hereinafter referred to as the “Department”) has jurisdiction over your license and
appointments.
3. At all times relevant to the dates and occurrences referenced herein you,
CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, were employed by Curly’s Bail Bond located at 1674 NW
17" Avenue, Miami, Florida 33125.
4 At all times relevant to the dates and occurrences referenced herein, Issiac Rivers,
was not licensed as a limited surety (bail bond) agent in the State of Florida.
COUNT !
5. The above General Allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
6. On or about February 17, 2006, Elease Herrington Williams went to Bonsai’s Rail
Bonds located at 2050 NW 6" Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida to arrange bail for her cousin,
Michelle Herrington, who was incarcerated.
7. At that time and place, Elease Herrington Williams entered into a transaction with
employee Issiac Rivers.
8. At that time and place, Issiac Rivers collected four hundred dollars ($400.00)
from Elease Herringion Williams for the bond. Elease Herrington Williams agreed to pay the
remaining fifty dollar ($50.00) balance in the future.
9, At that time and place, Issiac Rivers completed a Bailbond Release Payment form
indicating that Elease Herrington Williams had paid four hundred dollars ($400.00) and that
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there was a fifty dollar ($50.00) remaining balance. The form is signed by Issiac Rivers and
dated February 17, 2006.
10, Three appearance bonds (power numbers 2006AA009257, 2006AA009258, and
90064A009259) for defendant Michelle Herrington were posted on Iebruary 17, 2006, and
signed by you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ.
11. You, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, aided and abetted Issiac Rivers, an
unlicensed person, in the transaction of bail bond business.
IT I8 THEREFORE CHARGED that you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, have
violated or are accountable under one or more of the following provisions of the l'lorida
Insurance Code, and Rules of the Department of Financial Services, which constitutes grounds
for the suspension or revocation of your licenses as an insurance agent in this state:
(a) Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or abetting any person in the
violation of or to violate a provision of the insurance code ot any order or rule of the department,
commission, or office. [Section 626.621(12), Florida Statutes]
(b) Has willfully used, or intended the use, of the license or appointment to
circumvent any of the requirements or prohibitions of this chapter or the insurance code. [Section
648,45(2)(d), Florida Statutes]
(c) Has demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the bail bond
business. [Section 648.45(2)(e), Florida Statules|
(d) Has engaged in fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under
the license or appointment. [Section 648.45(2)(g), Florida Statutes]
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(e) Has willfully failed to comply with or willfully violated any proper order or rule
of the department or willfully violated any provision of this chapter or the insurance code.
[Section 648.45(2)()), Florida Statutes]
(f) Has demonstrated a course of conduct or practices which indicate that the licensee
is incompetent, negligent, or dishonest or that property or rights of clients cannot safely be
entrusted to him or her. [Section 648.45(2)(p), 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) 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]
COUNT IT
12. The above General Allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
13. ‘The business address that you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, have filed
with the Department of Financial Services is 1674 Northwest 17" Avenue, Miami, Florida
33125.
14, On or about August, 2006, you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, moved your
business address from 1674 Northwest 17" Avenue, Miami, Florida 33125.
15. You, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, never notified the Department of
Financial Services in writing of your address change.
IT IS THEREFORE CITARGED that you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, have
violated or are accountable under one or more of the following provisions of the Florida
May 4 2009 14:35
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Insurance Code, and Rules of the Department of Financial Services, which constitutes grounds
for the suspension or revocation of your licenses as a limited surety (bail bond) agent in this
state:
(a) Each licensee under this chapter shall notify in writing the department, imsurer,
managing general agent, and the clerk of each court in which the licensee is rcpistered within 10
working days after a change in the licensee’s principal business address or telephone number.
The licensee shall also notify the department within 10 working days after the change of the
name, address, or telephone number of each agency or firm for which he or she writes bonds and
any change in the licensee’s name, home address, or telephone number. [Section 648.421,
Florida Statutes]
(b) Has willfully failed to comply with or willfully violated any proper order or rule
of the department or willfully violated any provision of this chapter or the insurance code.
[Section 648.45(2)(}), Florida Statutes]
WHEREFORE, you, CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, are hereby notified that the
Chief Financial Officer intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your licenses and
appointments as a limited surety (bail bond) agent, or to impose such penalties as may be
provided under the provisions of Chapter 648, Ilorida Statutes, and under the other referenced
sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this Administrative Complaint. You are further
notified that any order entered in this case revoking or suspending any license or eligibility for
licensure held by you shall also apply to all other licenses and eligibility held by you under the
Florida Insurance Code.
May 4 2009 14:35
FROM :DEPT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES FAX NO. + 85845749? May. 64 2669 1:46PM Pr
You have the right to request a proceeding to contest this action by the Department of
Financial Services ("Department") pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes,
and Rule 28-106, Florida Administrative Code. The proceeding request must be in writing,
signed by you, and must be filed with the Department within twenty-one (21) days of your
receipt of this notice. Completion of the attached Election of Proceeding form and/or a petition
for administrative hearing will suffice as a written request. The request must be filed with the
General Counsel acting as Agency Clerk, at the Florida Department of Financial Services, 612
Larson Building, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333. Your written
response must be receiyed by the Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-first day after
your receipt of this notice. Mailing the response on the twenty-first day will not preserve your
right to a hearing.
YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND IN WRITING WITHIN
TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS
NOTICE WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF YOUR
RIGHT TO REQUEST A PROCEEDING ON THE
MATTERS ALLEGED HEREIN AND AN ORDER OF
SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION WILL BE ENTERED
AGAINST YOU.
If you request a proceeding, you must provide information that complies with the
requirements of Rule 28-106.2015, Florida Administrative Code. As noted above, completion of
the attached Election: of Proceeding form conforms to these requirements. Specifically, your
response must contain:
(a) The name, address, and telephone number, and facsimile number (if any) of the
respondent (for the purpose of requesting a hearing in this matter, you are the "respondent").
(b) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile number of the attorney or
qualified representative of the tespondent (if any) upon whom service of pleadings and other
papers shall be made.
May 4 2009 14:35
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(c) A statement requesting an administrative hearing identifying those material facts
that are in dispute. If there are none, the petition must so indicate.
(d) A. statement of when the respondent received notice of the administrative
complaint.
(e) A statement including the file number to the administrative complaint.
If a hearing of any type is requested, you have the right to be represented by counsel or
other qualified representative at your expense, to present evidence and argument, to call and
cross-exarnine witnesses, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of
documents by subpoena.
If a proceeding is requested and there is no dispute of material fact, the provisions of
Section 120,57(2), Florida Statutes, apply. In this regard, you may submit oral or written
evidence in opposition to the action taken by the Department or a written statement challenging
the grounds upon which the Department 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, onc will be conducted in
Tallahassee, Florida, or by telephonic conference call upon your request.
However, if you dispute material facts which are the basis for the Department's action,
you must request an adversarial proceeding pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida
Statutes. These procecdings 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, Florida.
Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this nolice may
result in the request being denied. All prior oral communication or correspondence in this matter
shall be considered freeform agency action, and no such oral communteation or correspondence
shall operate as a valid request for an administrative proceeding. Any request for an
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.
May 4 2009 14:36
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Mediation of this matter pursuant to Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.
No Department attomey will discuss this matter with you until the response has been received by
the Department.
DATED and SIGNED this _/S/4 day of (J/ALCO LL. 2007.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
May 4 2009 14:36
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
[HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correet copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT and the following ELECTION OF PROCEEDING has heen furnished to:
CARMEN MARIA HLRNANDLZ, 12695 Northwest 11 Strect, Miami, Florida 33182, and
CARMEN MARIA HERNANDEZ, c/o RICHARD B. MARX, 66 West Flagler Street, Concord
Building, 2 Floor, Miami, Florida 33130, by Certified Mai] this , 4 day of
2009,
efsion of Legal Services
200 East Gaines St.
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333
(850) 413-4210
Florida Bar Number 689793
May 4 2009 14:36
FROM :DEPT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES FAX NO. + 85845749? May. 64 2689 @1:47PM Pil
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
DIVISION OF LEGAT. SERVICES
IN THE MATTER OF:
CARMEN MARTA HERNANDEZ CASE NO.: 88761-07-AG
/
ELECTION OF PROCEEDING
[have received and have read the Administrative Complaint filed by the Florida Department of Financial
Services ("Department") against me, including the Notice of Rights contained therein, and J understand my options, |
am requesting disposition of this matter as indiculed helow. (CHOOSE ONE)
LJ} T do not dispute any of the Department's factual allegations and | clo not desire a hearing. I understand
that by waiving my right to a hearing, the Department may cnler a final order (hat adopts the
Administrative Complaint and imposes the sanctions sought, including suspending of revoking my
licenses and appoinuments as may be appropriate,
2. 1 do not dispute any of the Department's factual allegations and 1 hereby elect a proceeding to be
conducted in accordance with Section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, In this regard, I desire to (CHOOSE
ONE):
LJ Submit a written statement and documentary evidence in licu of a hearing; or
{| Pergonally attend a heuring conducted by a department hearing officer in
Tallahassee; or
| Attend that same hearing by way of a telephone conference call,
3.0] I do dispute one or more of the Department's factual allegations. [ hereby request a hearing pursuant to
Section 120,57(1), Florida Statutes, lo he held before the Division of Administrative Hearings. I have
attached lo this election form the information required by Rule 28-106.2015, Florida Administrative
Code, as specified in subparagraph (c) of the Nolice of Rights. Specifically, T have identified the disputed
issues of material fact.
TO PRESGRVE YOUR RIGHT TO A [IEARING, YOU MUST FILE YOUR RESPONSE WITH ‘THE
DEPARTMENT Ol FINANCIAL SERVICES WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT, THR RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED RY THE DEPARTMENT NO
LATER THAN 8:00 P.M. ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER YOUR RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT,
The address for filing is: General Counsel acting as Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Financial Services, 612
Larson Building, 200 ast Caines Street, Tallahassec, Florida 32399-0333.
Signature “me ™ . Print Name
Tate: ne . . . Address;
1ute Administrative
Complaint Received:
If you are represented by an attorney or qualified Phone No.: hon
representative, please attach to this election form his
or her name, address, telephone and fax numbers Fax No. _.
10
Docket for Case No: 09-002355PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jul. 06, 2009 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jul. 06, 2009 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
May 18, 2009 |
Order Directing Filing of Exhibits
|
May 18, 2009 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
May 18, 2009 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for July 10, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
May 05, 2009 |
Initial Order.
|
May 05, 2009 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
May 04, 2009 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
May 04, 2009 |
Agency referral
|