Elawyers Elawyers
Washington| Change

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, BOARD OF FUNERAL, CEMETERY, AND CONSUMER SERVICES vs STANLEY KEITH GUNTER-BUTLER, 12-001137PL (2012)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 12-001137PL Visitors: 25
Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, BOARD OF FUNERAL, CEMETERY, AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Respondent: STANLEY KEITH GUNTER-BUTLER
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: St. Petersburg, Florida
Filed: Mar. 28, 2012
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
FILED CHIEP FINANCIAL OFFICER AUG 1 2 2011 JEFF ATWATER STATE OF FLORIDA Docketed by IN THE MATTER OF: STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER CASE NO. 117958-11-FC / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT To: STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER P.O. Box 13321 St. Petersburg, Florida 33733 You, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, 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 funeral director and embalmer, in this state, as a result of which it is alleged: GENERAL ALLEGATIONS 1, You, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, are licensed in the State of Florida as a funeral director an embalmer, license number F045059. 2. Pursuant to Section 20.121, Florida Statutes, Chapter 497, Florida Statutes, the “Florida Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services Act,” and Chapter 69K, Florida Administrative Code (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “the Act”), the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services (hereinafter the “Department”) is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of funeral directing and embalming. 3. Pursuant to the Act, the Department has jurisdiction over your funeral director and embalmer license. 4. On July 19, 2011, a probable cause panel of the Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services met and found probable cause to charge you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, Filed March 28, 2012 3:45 PM Division of Administrative Hearings a licensed funeral director and embalmer, with violations of the Act, as alleged in the Division investigative report number SR1-626350009, and as set forth in this Administrative Complaint, 5, At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to herein, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, were a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Florida, license number F045059, 6. At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to herein, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, were the responsible funeral director in charge of Tony Tanner Funeral Services, Inc., located at 127 Northwest 20" Street, Ocala, Florida, license number F054862. 7. On August 31, 2009, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, failed to renew your funeral director and embalmer’s license with the Department, and your license became delinquent. 8. On October 28, 2009, the funeral director and embalmer’s license for you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, was renewed, and your license became active. 9. On October 29, 2009, the Department received a complaint that Mr. Tony Tanner, an unlicensed individual and owner of Tony Tanner Funeral Service, Inc., met with family members to make the funeral arrangements for decedent Roy L. Morand. COUNT ONE 10. The above General Allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein by reference. 11. On October 5, 2009, a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services was entered into between Mrs. Shirley Morand and you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, on behalf of Tony Tanner Funeral Services, Inc., to provide funeral arrangements for decedent Roy L. Morand while your funeral director’s license was delinquent and not active. 12. Also on October 5, 2009, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, embalmed the body of Mr. Roy L. Morand while your embalmer’s license was delinquent. 13. In your response to the complaint received by the Department, you, Stanley Gunter-Butler, stated that “I personally arranged, embalmed, and conducted the Morands Services.” IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, have violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Act which constitute sufficient grounds for discipline, including the suspension or revocation of your license as a funeral director and embalmer: (a) Section 497,152(5)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that it is a violation to practice or attempt to practice with a revoked, suspended, inactive or delinquent license. (b) Section 497,.365(1), Florida Statutes, provides that a licensee who practices a profession without an active status license is in violation of this chapter, and the licensing authority may impose discipline on the licensee. (c) Section 497.152(1)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that it is a violation to commit fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in the practice of any of the activities regulated under this chapter. (d) Section 497,152(1)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that it is a violation to violate any provision of Chapter 497, Florida Statutes, or any lawful order of the board or department or of the statutory predecessors to the board or department. COUNT TWO 14, The above General Allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein by reference. 15. On or about October 16, 2009, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, embalmed the body of Mr. Terry B. Bell while your embalmer’s license was delinquent. 16. On or about October 19, 2009, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, embalmed the body of Mrs. Zora Black while your embalmer’s license was delinquent. 17. On or about October 23, 2009, you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, embalmed the body of Mrs. Bernice White while your embalmer’s license was delinquent. IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER, have violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Act which constitute sufficient grounds for discipline, including the suspension or revocation of your license as a funeral director and embalmer: (a) Section 497.152(5)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that it is a violation to practice or attempt to practice with a revoked, suspended, inactive or delinquent license. (b) Section 497,365(1), Florida Statutes, provides that a licensee who practices a profession without an active status license is in violation of this chapter, and the licensing authority may impose discipline on the licensee. (c) Section 497.152(1)(b), Florida Statutes, provides that it is a violation to commit fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in the practice of any of the activities regulated under this chapter. (d) Section 497.152(1){a), Florida Statutes, which provides that it is a violation to violate any provision of Chapter 497, Florida Statutes, or any lawful order of the board or department or of the statutory predecessors to the board or department. WHEREFORE, the Department respectfully requests that the Board enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: revocation or suspension of your license; imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each count or separate offense; issuance of a written reprimand; placement of your license on probation; assessment of costs associated with investigation and prosecution; requiring you to make restitution; imposition of any or all penalties delineated within Section 497.153(5), Florida Statutes; and any other relief that the Board is authorized to impose pursuant to the Act. NOTICE OF RIGHTS Pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106, Florida Administrative Code, you have the right to request a proceeding to contest this action by the Department of Financial Services ("Department"). 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 Julie Jones, Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Financial Services, 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"). 5 (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. (da) 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 Sections 120.57(2) and 497.153(4)(b), Florida Statutes, apply. You may either submit a written statement and documentary evidence to the Board in lieu of a hearing, or personally attend a hearing conducted by the Board at the location of a regularly scheduled Board meeting. However, if you dispute material facts that 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. 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 Ik , day of » 2011. J. Baul Whithicd’ Deputy Chief Finapéfal Officer / CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF PROCEEDING FORM has been furnished by U.S. Certified Mail, return receipt requested this \ day of , 2011, to: STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER P.O. Box 13321 St. Petersburg, Florida 33733 Lie SUBLE: Senior Attorne Fla, Bar No. 230560 Florida Department of Financial Services 200 E. Gaines St., Suite 624 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0390 Phone (850) 413-4180 Fax: (850) 488-0697 Counsel for the Department — — STATE OF FLORIDA BOARD OF FUNERAL, CEMETERY AND CONSUMER SERVICES IN THE MATTER OF: STANLEY GUNTER-BUTLER CASE NO. 117958-11-FC / 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. J am requesting disposition of this matter as indicated below. (CHOOSE ONE) 1. [ ] Ido 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 Board of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services (“Board”) may enter a final order that adopts the Administrative Complaint and imposes the sanctions sought, including suspending or revoking my license(s) as may be appropriate. 2. I do_not dispute any of the Department's factual allegations and I hereby elect a proceeding to be conducted in accordance with Sections 120,.57(2) and 497.153(4)(b), Florida Statutes. In this regard, I desire to (CHOOSE ONE): i} Submit a written statement and documentary evidence to the Board in lieu of a hearing; or [] Personally attend a hearing conducted by the Board at the location of a regularly scheduled Board meeting, 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 in the response attached hereto. 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: Julie Jones, Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Financial Services, 612 Larson Building, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0390, Signature Print Name Date: Address: Date Administrative Complaint Received: Tf you are represented by an attorney or qualified Phone No, representative, please attach to this election form his or her name, address, telephone and fax numbers Fax No.

Docket for Case No: 12-001137PL
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer