Petitioner: FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
Respondent: RICHARD SCOTT BATTERSON, P.E.
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Orlando, Florida
Filed: Apr. 20, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, June 24, 2015.
Latest Update: Feb. 07, 2025
FILED
Florida Engineers Management
Corporation
MAR 20 205 / /
..
Deputy Agency Clerk
Evette Lawson-Proctor
15-2.269PL
STATE OF FLORIDA
FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS.
FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL an
ENGINEERS, ea
a
Petitioner,
v. FEMC Case No. 2014037527
R. SCOTT BATTERSON, P.E.,
Respondent,
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Florida Engineers Management Corporation on behalf of Petitioner,
Florida Board of Professional Engineers, and files this Administrative Complaint against R.
SCOTT BATTERSON, P.E. This Administrative Complaint is issued pursuant to Sections
120.60 and 471.038, Florida Statutes. Any proceeding concerning this complaint shall be
conducted pursuant to Section 120.57, Florida Statutes. In support of this complaint, Petitioner
alleges the following:
1. Petitioner, Florida Board of Professional Engineers (“Petitioner,” “FBPE,” or
“Board”), is charged with regulating the practice of engineering pursuant to Chapter 455, Florida
Statutes. This complaint is filed by the Florida Engineers Management Corporation (*FEMC”)
on behalf of Petitioner. FEMC is charged with providing administrative, investigative, and
prosecutorial services to the Board pursuant to Section 471.038, Florida Statutes (1997).
Page | of 4
2. R. SCOTT BATTERSON, P.E. (“Respondent”) is, and has been at all times
material hereto, a licensed professional engineer in the State of Florida, having been issued
license number PE 60853. Respondent’s last known address is 4292 Haws Court, Orlando,
Florida 32814,
3. On October 17, 2014, after being found Guilty by a jury, Respondent was
adjudicated Guilty of the charge of Bribery (solicitation or request) by a Public Servant, a violation
of Section 838.015(1) and 838.015(3), Florida Statutes; Solicitation for Receiving Unlawful
Compensation for Official Behavior (Performance of Duty), a violation of Section 833.016(1),
Florida Statutes; and Solicitation for Receiving Unlawful Compensation for Official Behavior
(Exerting Influence), a violation of Section 838.016(2), Florida Statutes. The facts upon which the
Guilty verdict were based upon Respondent's actions as a Board Member of the Orange Osceola
County Expressway Authority (“OOCEA”). As a result of the above, Respondent was sentenced
by the Court to 7.5 years in the Department of Corrections.
4. Section 471.033(1)(d), Florida Statutes, provides that disciplinary action may be
taken against a Professional Engineer for “[bJeing convicted or found guilty of, or entering a
plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which directly
telates to the practice of engineering or the ability to practice engineering.” Likewise, Section
455.227(1)(c), Florida Statutes, provides that disciplinary action can be taken against a
Professional Engineer for “(bjeing convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea of nolo
contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which relates to the practice
of, or the ability to practice, a licensee’s profession.”
5. Section 471.013(1)(a), Florida Statutes, provides in material part: “A person shall
be entitled to take an examination for the purpose of determining whether she or he is qualified
FBPE vs. R. Scott Batterson, P.E., Case No. 2014037527 Page 2 of 4
Administrative Complaint
to practice in this state as an engineer if the person is of good moral character.” Insofar as being
of good moral character is a specific prerequisite to being initially licensed as a Professional
Engineer, the maintenance of such good moral character directly relates to the practice of
engineering or to the ability to practice engineering.
6. As a result of being adjudicated guilty of Bribery (solicitation or request) by a
Public Servant, a violation of Section 838.015(1) and 838.015(3), Florida Statutes; Solicitation for
Receiving Unlawful Compensation for Official Behavior (Performance of Duty), a violation of
Section 838.016(1), Florida Statutes; and Solicitation for Receiving Unlawful Compensation for
Official Behavior (Exerting Influence), a violation of Section 838.016(2), Florida Statutes,
Respondent was convicted of committing a crime of moral turpitude and thus has not maintained
the good moral character required of a Professional Engineer. As a result, Respondent’s
conviction directly relates to the Respondent’s practice of engineering and to Respondent’s
ability to practice engineering.
7. Based on the foregoing, Respondent is charged with violating Sections
455.227(1}(c) and 471.033(1)(4), Florida Statutes, by being adjudicated guilty of a crime which
directly relates to the practice of engineering or the ability to practice engineering.
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests the Board of Professional Engineers
to enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or
suspension of the Respondent’s license; restriction of the Respondent's practice; imposition of an
administrative fine; issuance of a reprimand; placement of the Respondent on probation; the
assessment of costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this case, other than costs
associated with an attorney’s time, as provided for in Section 455.227(3), Florida Statutes; and/or
any other relief that the Board deems appropriate.
ne
FBPE vs. R. Scott Batterson, P.E., Case No. 2014037527 Page 3 of 4
Administrative Complaint
SIGNED this LO —Hay of i CK h . 2015.
Zana Raybon
Executive Director
J. Rimes, IIT
ng Attorney
COUNSEL FOR FEMC:
John J. Rimes, Hl
Prosecuting Attorney
Florida Engineers Management Corporation
2639 North Monroe Street, Suite B-112
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Florida Bar No. 212008
PCP DATE: March 10, 2015
PCP Members: Fiorillo, Matthews & Pepper
ERTIFI IF VICE
1 HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the filed Administrative Complaint was furnished to
R. Scott Batterson, P.E., via service upon his lawyer, Amy S. Tingley, Esquire, Stovash * Chase *
Tingley, Attomeys, The VUE at Lake Eola, 220 North Rosalind Avenve, Orlando, FL 32801, by
rel
US. Certified Mail, on the 2° or blac hy 2015.
NT
FBPE vs. R. Scott Batterson, P.E., Case No. 2014037527 Page 4 of 4
Administrative Complaint
Docket for Case No: 15-002259PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jun. 24, 2015 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jun. 24, 2015 |
Motion Requesting Closure of File and Relinquishment of Jurisdiction to the Agency filed.
|
Apr. 28, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Apr. 28, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for July 9, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Orlando and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Apr. 27, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Apr. 22, 2015 |
Petitioner's Notice of Service of First Requests for Admission to Respondent filed.
|
Apr. 20, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Apr. 20, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Apr. 20, 2015 |
Respondent's Request for Formal Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Apr. 20, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Apr. 20, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|