Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY
Respondent: JING GAO, L.M.T.
Judges: JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Dec. 12, 2012
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
PETITIONER,
Vv. CASE NO.: 2012-11885
JING GAO, L.M.T. .
RESPONDENT. j
\
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Department of Health (“Petitioner” or “Department”, files
this Administrative Complaint against the Respondent, JING GAO, L.M.T.
(“Respondent”), and states:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the
practice of massage therapy, pursuant to Chapters 20, 456 and 480, Florida
Statutes (2012). .
2. Atall times material to this Complaint, Respondent was licensed as
a massage therapist in the State of Florida, having been issued license
number MA 62654.
3. | Respondent’s address of record is 7400 Stirling Road, #327,
Hollywood, Florida 33024.
Filed December 12, 2012 4:54 PM Division of Administrative Hearings
4. On or about July 24, 2010, Respondent submitted a State of
Florida Application for Licensure as a massage therapist (“Application”) to
the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy (‘Florida
Board”).
5. On her Application, Respondent indicated that she attended
Acupuncture and Massage Institute. ,
6. Respondent also indicated on her Application that Acupuncture
and Massage Institute is not a Florida Board Approved School.
7. Respondent did not indicate that she attended an apprenticeship
program.
8. Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2010), in
order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida
pursuant to Chapter 480, Florida Statutes, a person must complete a
course of study at a board-approved massage school or complete an
apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the board.
9. Submitted to the Florida Board with Respondent’s Application was
a transcript from Florida College of Natural Health (FCNH”).
10. The FCNH transcript represents that Respondent earned five
hundred credit hours in the FCNH Therapeutic Massage Training Program
(Transfer of Licensure).
11. The FCNH transcript indicates that Respondent started the FCNH
Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) on July 1,
2010, and completed the program on July 23, 2010. :
12. Respondent also submitted, with her Application, a FCNH
Certificate of Completion of fifty-five hours of Therapeutic Massage
Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) dated July 23, 2010.
13. Also submitted with Respondent's, Application was a FCNH
Certificate of Completion of two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
dated July 23, 2010.
14. On or about July 19, 2012, the Vice President of Compliance and
Institutional Effectiveness for FCNH (‘V.P.”) certified that the FCNH
transcript Respondent submitted with her Application is fraudulent. ©
| 15. On or about July 19, 2012, the V.P. also certified that Respondent
did not complete the courses identified in the certificates Respondent
submitted with her Application.
16. Having not completed courses at, or obtained certificates of .
completion from, a Florida Board approved school, as required by Section
480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2010), Respondent is not qualified to be
licensed, or to practice, as a massage therapist in the State of Florida.
COUNT ONE
17. Petitioner realleges paragraphs 1 through 16, as if fully set forth
herein.
18. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), subjects a
massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or
456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto.
19. Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2010), subjects a
massage therapist to discipline for attempting to obtain, obtaining, or
renewing a license to practice a profession by bribery, by fraudulent
misrepresentation, or through an error of the department or the board.
20. Respondent violated Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes
(2010), by obtaining her license to practice massage therapy in the State of
Florida through error of the Department of Health or by fraudulent
misrepresentation by submitting a fraudulent transcript and fraudulent
Certificates of Completion with her Application.
21. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section
480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), by violating Section 456.072(1)(h),
Florida Statutes (2010), by obtaining her license to practice massage
therapy in the State of Florida through error of the Department of Health
or through fraudulent misrepresentation.
COUNT TWO
22. Petitioner realleges paragraphs 1 through 16, as if fully set forth
herein.
23. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), subjects a
massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or
456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto.
24. Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes (2010), subjects a
massage therapist to discipline for failing to comply with the requirements
for profiling and credentialing, including, but not limited to, failing to
provide initial information, failing to timely provide updated information, or
making misleading, untrue, deceptive, or fraudulent representations on a
profile, credentialing, or initial or renewal licensure application.
25. Respondent violated Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes
(2010), by submitting a fraudulent transcript and fraudulent Certificates of
Completion with her Application.
26. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section
480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), by violating Section 456.072(1)(w),
Florida Statutes (2010), by for failing to comply with the requirements for
profiling and credentialing.
COUNT THREE
27. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the
allegations in paragraphs 1 through 16 as if fully set forth herein.
28. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), subjects a
licensee to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or Chapter
456, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto.
29. Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2010), in
order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida,
a person must complete a course of study at a Florida Board-approved
massage school or complete an apprenticeship program that meets the
standards adopted by the Florida Board.
30. Respondent is not qualified to hold a license as a massage
therapist because she failed to complete a course of study at a Florida
Board-approved massage school and failed to complete an apprenticeship
program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board.
31. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section
480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2010), by obtaining a license as a
massage therapist without completing a course of study at a Florida Board-
approved massage school or an apprenticeship program that meets the
standards adopted by the Florida Board, in violation of Section
480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2010). ‘
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of
Massage Therapy enter an order imposing one or more of the following
penalties: permanent revocation or suspension of Respondent's license,
restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a
reprimand, placement of Respondent on probation, corrective action,
and/or any other relief that the Board of Massage Therapy deems
appropriate.
a
SIGNED this % day of _Nhoioe y_, 2012.
John H. Armstrong, MD
State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health
Candace A. Rochester
Assistant General Counsel
Florida Bar No. 0078393
DEPARTMENT oe HEALTH DOH Prosecution Services Unit
DEPUTY cur 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65
cLeRK Angel San Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265
2012
pate 10/9/ (p) 850-245-4640
‘ (f) 850-245-4662
Candace_Rochester@doh.state.fl.us
PCP Date: October 8, 2012 ‘ '
PCP Members: Lorena Haynes, Joy Buckley ,
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be
conducted in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57,
Florida Statutes, to be represented by counsel or other qualified
representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and
cross-examine witnesses, and to have subpoena and subpoena
duces tecum issued on his or her behalf if a hearing is requested.
NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has incurred
costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
Pursuant to Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes, the Board shall
assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of a
disciplinary matter, which may include attorney hours and costs,
on Respondent in addition to any other ‘discipline imposed.
t
Docket for Case No: 12-003991PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Apr. 24, 2013 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Apr. 23, 2013 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
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Apr. 23, 2013 |
Notice of Withdrawal of Fraud Allegations filed.
|
Apr. 19, 2013 |
Joint Pre-hearing Stipulation filed.
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Mar. 18, 2013 |
Order Granting Continuance, Disposing of Other Pending Motions and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 29, 2013; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes, FL).
|
Mar. 15, 2013 |
Response to Motion to Strike and Included Motion to File Reply filed.
|
Mar. 15, 2013 |
Respondent's Portion of the Pre-hearing Statement filed.
|
Mar. 15, 2013 |
Motion to Strike Respondent's Reply to Petitioner's Response to Motion to Continue ALJ Hearing filed.
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Mar. 15, 2013 |
Corrected Petitioner's Unilateral Pre-hearing Statement filed.
|
Mar. 15, 2013 |
Petitioner's Unilateral Pre-hearing Statement filed.
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Mar. 15, 2013 |
Reply to Petitioners Response to Motion to Continue ALJ Hearing filed.
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Mar. 14, 2013 |
Petitioner's Response to Respondent's Motion to Continue ALJ Hearing filed.
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Mar. 13, 2013 |
Motion to Continue ALJ Hearing filed.
|
Mar. 06, 2013 |
Petitioner's Amended Notice of Taking Depositon Duces Tecum in Lieu of Live Appearance at Hearing (M. Wade) filed.
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Mar. 06, 2013 |
Petitioner's Re-notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (of J. Gao) filed.
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Mar. 04, 2013 |
Notice of Substitution of Counsel (Lealand McCharen) filed.
|
Feb. 28, 2013 |
Amended (only as to Exhibit A) Petitioner's Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (of J. Gao) filed.
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Feb. 28, 2013 |
Notice of Withdrawal of Counsel filed.
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Feb. 28, 2013 |
Petitioner's Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum in Lieu of Live Appearance at Hearing (of M. Wade) filed.
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Feb. 21, 2013 |
Notice of Co-Counsel Appearance (Cecilie Sykes) filed.
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Feb. 21, 2013 |
Notice of Substitution of Counsel (Karen Byrne) filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2013 |
Order Denying Motion to Consolidate Related Cases.
|
Jan. 22, 2013 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 27, 2013; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes, FL).
|
Jan. 17, 2013 |
Unopposed Motion to Continue ALJ Hearing filed.
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Jan. 03, 2013 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Jan. 03, 2013 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 31, 2013; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
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Jan. 02, 2013 |
Notice of Serving Petitioner's First Request for Admissions, Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents filed.
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Dec. 20, 2012 |
Join Response to the Initial Order filed.
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Dec. 13, 2012 |
Initial Order.
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Dec. 12, 2012 |
Election of Rights filed.
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Dec. 12, 2012 |
Agency referral filed.
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Dec. 12, 2012 |
Hearing Demand and Answer to Administrative Complaint filed.
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Dec. 12, 2012 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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