Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Respondent: LORENZO LAWS
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: Jan. 13, 2010
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, August 23, 2010.
Latest Update: Dec. 22, 2024
F’ FILED
REPRESENTING
ALEX SINK DEC 17 2009
\D-DISS AL ae py _NO-
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO.: 106467-09-AG
LORENZO LAWS
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT s
Be
az
TO: LORENZO LAWS 3
3818 Arrowhead Drive
Saint Augustine, Florida 32086-5501 =
LORENZO LAWS a
PO BOX 904 a
Saint Augustine FL 32085-0904
You, LORENZO LAWS, license I.D. #4151099, 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 an insurance agent in this state, as a result of which it is alleged:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, you, LORENZO LAWS, are currently
1.
licensed in this state as a life including variable annuity and health (2-15) insurance agent.
At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to herein, you,
2.
LORENZO LAWS, were either not or were relicensed in this state as a life including variable
annuity and health (2-15) insurance agent.
3. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Financial
. Services has jurisdiction over your insurance license and appointments.
4. At all times material herein, you, LORENZO LAWS, as a former licensed
insurance agent whose insurance license has been revoked by Petitioner, working by, through,
and with Laws and Associates, Inc., as its President, sold index annuity insurance contracts and
otherwise engaged in the insurance business as prohibited by Final Order of Revocation entered
against you on January 17, 1997. You, LORENZO LAWS, made false representations to
insurers, and, caused the name of a licensed insurance agent, James G. Zuccardi, who held
appointments by the insurers, to be falsely affixed to applications for individual index annuity
contracts sold by you and submitted to the insurer, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
COUNT I
5. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
6. On or about January 26, 2000, you, LORENZO LAWS, acting without a license
to sell or engage in the insurance business, as prohibited by Final Order of Revocation entered
against you on January 17, 1997, and working by, through, and with Laws and Associates, Inc.,
sold to Sylvester Lucas, Jr., a tax sheltered annuity and insurance contract issued through
ReliaStar Northern Life Insurance Company. Such sale was based upon your representation that
the purported insured, Sylvester Lucas, Jr., could, upon his retirement, withdraw all or part of the
annuity proceeds without surrender charges which was a false representation.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, LORENZO LAWS, have violated or are
accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the
Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of
your licenses and appointments:
(a) No person may be, act as, or advertise or hold himself or herself out to be
an insurance agent, insurance adjuster, or customer representative unless he or she is currently
licensed by the department and appointed by an appropriate appointing entity or person. [Section
626.112(1)(a), Florida Statutes];
(b) _No agent or customer representative shall solicit or otherwise transact as
agent or customer representative, or represent or hold himself or herself out to be an agent or
customer representative as to, any kind or kinds of insurance as to which he or she is not then
licensed and appointed. [Section 626.112(2), Florida Statutes];
(c) No individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association, or any other
entity shall act in its own name or under a trade name, directly or indirectly, as an insurance
agency, unless it complies with Section 626.172 with respect to possessing an insurance agency
license for each place of business at which it engages in any activity which may be performed
only be a licensed insurance agent. [626.112(7)(a), Florida Statutes];
(d) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business
of insurance. [626.611(7), Florida Statutes];
(e) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the
license or appointment. [626.611(9), Florida Statutes];
(f) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation of, any proper order or
tule of the department or willful violation of any provision of this code. [626.611(13), Florida
Statutes];
(g) Willful misrepresentation of any insurance policy or annuity contract or
willful deception with regard to any such policy or contract, done either in person or by any form
of dissemination of information or advertising. [626.611(5), Florida Statutes];
(h) During the period of suspension or revocation of the license or
appointment, the former licensee or appointee shall not engage in or attempt or profess to engage
in any transaction or business for which a license or appointment is required under this code or
directly or indirectly own, control or be employed in any manner by any insurance agent or
agency or adjuster or adjusting firm. [Section 626.641(4), Florida Statutes];
(i) No individual shall, unless licensed as a life agent, solicit insurance for
annuities or procure applications. [Section 626.7845(2)(a)].
_ COUNT II
7. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
8. On or about January 26, 2000, while prohibited from engaging in the sale of
insurance under Final Order of Revocation of your license entered on January 17, 1997, you,
LORENZO LAWS, working by, through, and with Lorenzo & Associates, Inc., prepared and
submitted to ReliaStar Northern Life Insurance Company an application for an annuity policy for
Sylvester Lucas, Jr. You, LORENZO LAWS, caused such application to falsely reflect the name
of a licensed insurance agent, James G. Zuccardi, as the agent submitting this application who in
fact, had not at anytime been present when your sale transaction took place.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, LORENZO LAWS, have violated or are
accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the
Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of
your licenses and appointments:
(a) Knowingly making a false or fraudulent written or oral statement or
representation on, or related to, an application or negotiation for an insurance policy for the
purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, agent, broker
or individual. [Section 626.9541(k)1, Florida Statutes].
COUNT III
9. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
10. On or about January 31, 2001, you, LORENZO LAWS, acting by, through, and
with Lorenzo Laws, Inc., and acting without a license to sell insurance and prohibited by Final
Order of Revocation entered on January 17, 1997, to in any way engage in the business of
insurance, nonetheless sold to Collendra Gibson, a tax sheltered annuity insurance plan to be
issued by Northern Life Insurance Company.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, LORENZO LAWS, have violated or are
accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the
Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of
your licenses and appointments:
(a) No person may be, act as, or advertise or hold himself or herself out to be
an insurance agent, insurance adjuster, or customer representative unless he or she is currently
licensed by the department and appointed by an appropriate appointing entity or person. [Section
626.112(1)(a), Florida Statutes};
(b) —_ No agent or customer representative shall solicit or otherwise transact as
agent or customer representative, or represent or hold himself or herself out to be an agent or
customer representative as to, any kind or kinds of insurance as to which he or she is not then
licensed and appointed. [Section 626.112(2), Florida Statutes];
(c) _No individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association, or any other
entity shall act in its own name or under a trade name, directly or indirectly, as an insurance
agency, unless it complies with Section 626.172 with respect to possessing an insurance agency
license for each place of business at which it engages in any activity which may be performed
only be a licensed insurance agent. [626.112(7)(a), Florida Statutes},
(dq) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business
of insurance. [626.611(7), Florida Statutes];
(e) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the
license or appointment. [626.61 1(9), Florida Statutes];
) (63) 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. [626.611(13), Florida
Statutes];
(g) Willful misrepresentation of any insurance policy or annuity contract or
willful deception with regard to any such policy or contract, done either in person or by any form
of dissemination of information or advertising. [626.611(5), Florida Statutes];
(h) During the period of suspension or revocation of _ the license or
appointment, the former licensee or appointee shall not engage in or attempt or profess to engage
in any transaction or business for which a license or appointment is required under this code or
directly or indirectly own, control or be employed in any manner by any insurance agent or
agency or adjuster or adjusting firm. [Section 626.641(4), Florida Statutes];
(i) No individual shall, unless licensed as a life agent, solicit insurance for
annuities or procure applications. [Section 626.7845(2)(a)].
COUNT IV
11. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
12. In or around January 2001, you, LORENZO LAWS, while prohibited from
engaging in the sale of insurance under Final Order of Revocation of your license entered on
January 17, 1997, and acting by through and with Lorenzo & Associates, Inc., prepared and
submitted to Northern Life Insurance Company an application for an annuity policy of insurance
for Linda F. Gibson. You, LORENZO LAWS, caused such application to falsely reflect the
name of a licensed insurance agent, James G. Zuccardi, as the agent preparing and submitting the
application when in fact, agent Zuccardi did not at anytime act as such.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, LORENZO LAWS, have violated or are
accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the
Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of
your licenses and appointments: |
(a) Knowingly making a false or fraudulent written or oral statement
or representation on, or related to, an application or negotiation for an insurance policy for the
purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, agent, broker
or individual. [Section 626.9541(k)1, Florida Statutes].
COUNT V
13. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
14. In or around May, 2007, you, LORENZO LAWS, after having then effected
restoration of your license as an insurance agent, and acting by through and with Lorenzo Laws
& Associates, Inc, as its President and Owner, sold a retired insurance savings plan to ten
employees of The Agricultural & Labor Program, to be issued by ING Insurance Company.
Those insured were: Sheila Armstead; Dennis Gniewek; Alice C. Leonard; Sheila Cuker; Albert
Miller; Roger M. Brackett; Hilda Walker; Toni Jones; Juliet L. Gilberry; and Ronald L. Hill.
15. You, LORENZO LAWS, prepared and submitted applications for each of these
insureds to ING Insurance Company. On each such application, you falsely affixed the name of
James G. Zuccardi, a licensed insurance agent, as the appointed agent acting for. ING Insurance
Company when in fact he was not present or involved in any way with the sales which you had
effected.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, LORENZO LAWS, have violated or are
accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and Rules of the
Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of
your licenses and appointments:
(a) Knowingly making a false or fraudulent written or oral statement
or representation on, or related to, an application or negotiation for an insurance policy for the
purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, agent, broker
or individual. [Section 626.9541(k)1, Florida Statutes].
WHEREFORE, you, LORENZO LAWS, are hereby notified that the Chief Financial
Officer intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your licenses and appointments as an
insurance agent or to impose such penalties as may be provided under the provisions of Sections
626.611, 626.621, 626.681, 626.691, and 626.9521, Florida Statutes, and under the other
referenced Sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this Administrative Complaint.
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
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
DFS Agency Clerk at the Florida Department of Financial Services, 612 Larson Building, 200
East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0390. Your written response must be received 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 respondent (if any) upon whom service of pleadings and other
papers shall be made.
(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-examine 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, one 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 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, Florida.
8
Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this notice 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 communication 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.
Mediation of this matter pursuant to Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.
‘No Department attorney will discuss this matter with you until the response has been received by
the Department.
DATED and SIGNED this [724 day or LECCAG-B000.
TAMMY mC
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF PROCEEDING has been furnished to:
LORENZO LAWS
3818 Arrowhead Drive
Saint Augustine, FL 32086-5501
LORENZO LAWS
PO BOX 904
Saint Augustine FL 32085-0904
by Certified Mail this’? day of ELEM BER , 2009.
ae
,
Dean Andrews
Division of Legal Services
200 East Gaines St.
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033
(850) 413-4242
Florida Bar Number 0001959
10
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO.: 106467-09-AG
LORENZO LAWS
a
ELECTION OF PROCEEDING
I 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 I understand my options. I am requesting
disposition of this matter as indicated below. (CHOOSE ONE)
1 [] I do not dispute any of the Department's factual allegations and I do not desire a hearing. I understand that by
waiving my right to a hearing, the Department may enter a final order that adopts the Administrative Complaint and
imposes the sanctions sought, including suspending or revoking my licenses and appointments as may be
appropriate.
2. 1 do not dispute any of the Department's factual allegations and I hereby elect a proceeding to be conducted in,
accordance with Section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes. In this regard, I desire to (CHOOSE ONE):
[] Submit a written statement and documentary evidence in lieu of a hearing; or
{] Personally attend a hearing conducted by a department hearing officer in Tallahassee; or
{] Attend that same hearing by way of a telephone conference cail.
3. [] I do dispute one or more of the Department's factual allegations. I hereby request a hearing pursuant to Section
120.57(1), Florida Statutes, to be held before the Division of Administrative Hearings. I have attached to this
election form the information required by Rule 28-106.2015, Florida Administrative Code, as specified in
subparagraph (c) of the Notice of Rights. Specifically, I have identified the disputed issues of material fact.
TO PRESERVE YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING, YOU MUST FILE YOUR RESPONSE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCIAL SERVICES WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT. THE RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE
TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER YOUR RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT.
The address for filing is: Tracey Beal, DFS Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Financial Services, 612 Larson Building, 200
East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333.
Signature Print Name
Date: Address:
Date Administrative
Complaint Received:
*If you are represented by an attorney or qualified Phone No.:
representative, please attach to this election form their
name, address, telephone and fax numbers Fax No.:
11
Docket for Case No: 10-000195PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Sep. 17, 2010 |
Transmittal letter from Claudia Llado forwarding the Deposition of Linda Gibson, to the agency.
|
Aug. 23, 2010 |
Order Relinquishing Jurisdiction and Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Aug. 23, 2010 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Aug. 20, 2010 |
Motion to Amend filed.
|
Jul. 02, 2010 |
Order Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 24 and 25, 2010; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jun. 22, 2010 |
Order Granting Motion to Amend Administrative Complaint
|
Jun. 21, 2010 |
Letter to Judge Nelson from E. Jacobs regarding case status filed.
|
Jun. 16, 2010 |
Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by June 28, 2010).
|
Jun. 10, 2010 |
Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2010 |
Motion to Amend Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jun. 09, 2010 |
Agreed Motion for Continuance filed.
|
May 28, 2010 |
Deposition of Linda Gibson filed.
|
May 28, 2010 |
Notice of Filing Deposition (E. Jacobs) filed.
|
May 18, 2010 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for June 24, 2010; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
|
May 12, 2010 |
Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Apr. 28, 2010 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (of L. Laws) filed.
|
Apr. 28, 2010 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (of L. Gibson) filed.
|
Apr. 15, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner's Amended Response to Respondent's Services, Nos 1-7 filed.
|
Apr. 07, 2010 |
Department of Financial Services' Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent filed.
|
Apr. 07, 2010 |
Department of Financial Services' Notice of Service of First Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
Mar. 26, 2010 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 24, 2010; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Mar. 22, 2010 |
Motion for Continuance filed.
|
Mar. 12, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Answers to Interrogatories filed.
|
Mar. 12, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Production of Documents filed.
|
Feb. 19, 2010 |
Subpoena Duces Tecum (Sylvester J. Lucas, Jr.) filed.
|
Feb. 19, 2010 |
Subpoena Duces Tecum (James G. Zuccardi) filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Florida Department of Financial Services (Nos 1-7) filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's First Request for Production of Documents to Florida Department of Financial Services (Nos. 1-7) filed.
|
Feb. 12, 2010 |
Notice of Appearance as Co-counsel filed.
|
Feb. 02, 2010 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Feb. 02, 2010 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 5, 2010; 9:30 a.m.; Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jan. 28, 2010 |
Notice of Appearance filed.
|
Jan. 26, 2010 |
Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jan. 14, 2010 |
Initial Order.
|
Jan. 13, 2010 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2010 |
Election of Proceeding filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2010 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Jan. 13, 2010 |
Agency referral filed.
|