Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LICENSING BOARD
Respondent: RICHARD JOSEPH WALSH
Judges: F. SCOTT BOYD
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Jan. 13, 2017
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, March 6, 2017.
Latest Update: Jan. 10, 2025
Deputy Agency Clerk
STATE OF FLORIDA CLERK —_Eveltie Lawson-Practor
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATI pete 9/12/2016
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
Petitioner,
v. Case No. 2015-005421
RICHARD JOSEPH WALSH,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (“Petitioner”) files this
Administrative Complaint before the Construction Industry Licensing Board, Divisions I & 1,
against Richard Joseph Walsh (“Respondent”) and alleges:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of contracting
pursuant to section 20.165, Florida Statutes, and chapters 455 and 489, Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material hereto, Respondent was licensed as a Certified General
Contractor, Certified Roofing Contractor and Certified Air Conditioning Contractor in the State of
Florida, having been issued license numbers CGC060727, CCC 1329144, and CAC1816301.
3. Respondent's address of record is 11440 SW 199" Street, Miami FL 33157.
4. At all times material hereto, Respondent was the primary qualifying agent of R J
Walsh Construction, Inc. (“RJ Walsh”).
5. Section 489.1195(1)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that all primary qualifying agents
for a business organization are jointly and equally responsible for supervision of all operations of the
business organization; for all field work at all sites; and for financial matters, both for the
organization in general and for each specific job.
6. On or about October 22, 2013, RJ Walsh entered into a written contract with
Nicholas S. Jarkesy (“Homeowner”) to build an addition to Homeowner's residence located in
Oakland Park, Florida.
7. ‘The contract price was $147,000.00, of which Respondent was paid $146,890.00.
8. Respondent removed the old roof of the home before the replacement trusses were
delivered, and as a result, storm rain damaged the internal walls.
9. Respondent charged Complainant an extra $10,000 to replace the damaged walls.
10. Respondent ceased work and failed to perform work under the contract for a period
greater than 90 consecutive days without just cause.
1t. At the time Respondent ceased work under the contract, the percentage of
completion was less than the percentage of the contract price paid to Respondent by Complainant.
12. Respondent was not entitled under the contract to retain the excess funds paid by
Complainant, and to date has not refunded the excess funds.
13. The project was completed by the Complainant as an Owner-contractor.
14. Respondent failed to pay subcontractors for work of supplies ordered by
Respondent for Complainant’s project.
15. In order to finish the project, Complainant had to pay $47,875.36 to subcontractors
in addition to the $146,890.00 already paid to Respondent.
COUNT ONE
16. Petitioner realleges and incorporates the allegations set forth in paragraphs one
through fifteen as though fully set forth herein.
17. Based upon the foregoing, Respondent violated section 489.129(1)(), Florida
Statutes, by abandoning a construction project in which the contractor is engaged or under contract
as a contractor.
COUNT TWO
18. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
paragraphs one through fifteen as though fully set forth herein.
19. Based upon the foregoing, Respondent violated section 489.129(1)(g)2., Florida
Statutes, by abandoning a customer’s job when the percentage of completion was less than the
percentage of the total contract price paid to the contractor.
COUNT THREE
20. Petitioner realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
paragraphs one through fifteen as though fully set forth herein.
21. Based upon the foregoing, Respondent violated section 489.129(1)(g)3., Florida
Statutes, by causing the customer, whose job was completed, to pay more for the contracted job
than the original contract price, as adjusted for subsequent change orders, unless such increase in
cost was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the contractor, was the result of
circumstances caused by the customer, or was otherwise permitted by the terms of the contract
between the contractor and the customer.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Construction Industry Licensing Board
enter an Order imposing one or more of the following penalties: place on probation, reprimand the
licensee, evoke, suspend, deny the issuance or renewal of the certificate or registration, require
financial restitution to a consumer, impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000 per
violation, require continuing education, assess costs associated with investigation and prosecution,
impose any or all penalties delineated within section 455.227(2), Florida Statutes, and/or any other
relief that the Board is authorized to impose pursuant to chaptets 489, 455, Florida Statutes, and/or
the rules promulgated thereunder.
Signed this 23“ day of August, 2016.
Probable Cause Found 08/23/2016
Division TI: Lenois/Moody
Division I: Sheehan/Chung
KEN LAWSON, Secretary
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
By: /s/
SORIN ARDELEAN
Assistant General Counsel
Dept. of Business and Professional
Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 42
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202
(850)717-1226 Telephone
(850)921-9186 Facsimile
Sorin. Ardelean@myfloridalicense.com
Florida Bar No: 734853
NOT! FRIGHT:
Please be advised that mediation under section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available for
administrative disputes involving this type of agency action.
Please be further advised that Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be conducted in
accordance with sections 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 subpoenas
and subpoenas duces tecum issued on his or het behalf if a hearing is requested. Rule 28-106.111, Florida
Administrative Code, provides in part that if Respondent fails to request a hearing within 21 days of receipt of
an agency pleading, Respondent waives the right to request a hearing on the facts alleged. Any request for an
administrative proceeding to challenge or contest the charges contained in the Administrative Complaint
must conform to rule 28-106.2015, Ponda Administrative Code.
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 455.227(3)(a), Florida Statutes, the Board, or the Department
when there is no Board, may assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of the case excluding
costs associated with an attorney's time, against Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed.
Docket for Case No: 17-000268PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 06, 2017 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Mar. 03, 2017 |
Petitioner's Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
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Feb. 21, 2017 |
Notice of Appearance (Clayton Osteen) filed.
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Jan. 24, 2017 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 24, 2017; 9:30 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jan. 24, 2017 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
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Jan. 23, 2017 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Jan. 18, 2017 |
(Petitioner's) Notice of Service filed.
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Jan. 17, 2017 |
Initial Order.
|
Jan. 13, 2017 |
Respondent's Election of Rights and Petition for Hearing filed.
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Jan. 13, 2017 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Jan. 13, 2017 |
Agency referral filed.
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