STATE OF FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

MILDRED R. SMITH,

Petitioner, FCHR Case No. 2010-02178

v. DOAH Case No. 11-2269

JUST 1 MORE BAR AND GRILL, FCHR Order No. 11-081

Respondent.

/

FINAL ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR

RELIEF FROM AN UNLAWFUL PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS PRACTICE

Preliminary Matters

Petitioner Mildred R. Smith filed a complaint of discrimination pursuant to the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, Sections 509.092 and 760.01 - 760.11, Florida Statutes (2009), alleging that Respondent Just 1 More Bar and Grill committed an unlawful public accommodations practice on the basis of Petitioner’s race (African American) by denying Petitioner service.

The allegations set forth in the complaint were investigated, and, on March 9, 2011, the Executive Director issued his determination finding that there was reasonable cause to believe that an unlawful public accommodations practice had occurred.

Petitioner filed a Petition for Relief and the case was transmitted to the Division of Administrative Hearings for the conduct of a formal proceeding.

An evidentiary hearing was held in Lakeland, Florida, on July 20, 2011, before Administrative Law Judge R. Bruce McKibben.

Judge McKibben issued a Recommended Order of dismissal, dated August 8, 2011.

The Commission panel designated below considered the record of this matter and determined the action to be taken on the Recommended Order.

Findings of Fact

A transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge was not filed with the Commission. In the absence of a transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge, the Recommended Order is the only evidence for the Commission to consider. See National Industries, Inc. v. Commission on Human Relations, et al., 527 So. 2d 894, at 897, 898 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988). Accord, Gantz, et al.

v. Zion’s Hope, Inc., d/b/a Holy Land Experience, FCHR Order No. 11-048 (June 6, 2011), Mack v. Agency for Persons with Disabilities, FCHR Order No. 11-026 (March

Filed November 3, 2011 8:55 AM Division of Administrative Hearings

17, 2011), Hall v. Villages of West Oaks HOA, FCHR Order No. 08-007 (January 14, 2008), Beach-Gutierrez v. Bay Medical Center, FCHR Order No. 05-011 (January 19, 2005), and Waaser v. Streit’s Motorsports, FCHR Order No. 04-157 (November 30,

2004).

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge’s findings of fact.

Conclusions of Law

We find the Administrative Law Judge’s application of the law to the facts to result in a correct disposition of the matter.

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge’s conclusions of law.

Exceptions

Neither party filed exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Order.

Dismissal

The Petition for Relief and Complaint of Discrimination are DISMISSED with prejudice.

The parties have the right to seek judicial review of this Order. The Commission and the appropriate District Court of Appeal must receive notice of appeal within 30 days of the date this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Commission. Explanation of the right to appeal is found in Section 120.68, Florida Statutes, and in the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.110.

DONE AND ORDERED this 3rd day of November , 2011. FOR THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS:

Commissioner Donna Elam, Panel Chairperson; Commissioner Gayle Cannon; and Commissioner Billy Whitefox Stall

Filed this 3rd day of November , 2011, in Tallahassee, Florida.

/s/ Violet Crawford, Clerk Commission on Human Relations

2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 488-7082

Copies furnished to:

Mildred R. Smith Post Office Box 4158

Lake Wales, FL 33859

Just 1 More Bar and Grill

c/o Robert H. Grizzard, II, Esq. Robert H. Grizzard, II, P.A. Post Office Box 992

Lakeland, FL 33802-0992

R. Bruce McKibben, Administrative Law Judge, DOAH James Mallue, Legal Advisor for Commission Panel

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the foregoing has been mailed to the above listed addressees this 3rd day of November , 2011.

By: /s/ Clerk of the Commission

Florida Commission on Human Relations

Docket for Case No: 11-002269

Orders for Case No: 11-002269