Findings Of Fact During times material, Respondent was a certified roofing contractor, having been issued license number CC C014700 and was the sole qualifier for Gulfstream Contractors, Incorporated (Gulfstream). Gulfstream entered into a contract with Dr. Paul J. Schwartz, a chiropractor, to repair the roof to Schwartz' office building located at 1565 South Missouri Avenue, Clearwater, Florida. The contract between Gulfstream and Schwartz was entered into on July 22, 1985, and for a fee of $1,375.00, Gulfstream contracted to repair Schwartz' roof by tearing off the old gravel roof, install new decking and lead boots, to galvanize the roof and to remove all debris brought about as a result of the contracting activities. Gulfstream guaranteed the roof to be free of defects for a period of ten (10) years. (Petitioner's Exhibit 1.) Gulfstream commenced the repairs to Schwartz' roof without obtaining a construction permit and failed to call for progress inspections as was required by the City of Clearwater. Within one month following Respondent's completion of Schwartz' roof, Schwartz encountered leaks to the interior of his office building resulting in stained carpet, interior walls, and furniture in several of his examining rooms. Schwartz made repeated calls to Gulfstream in an effort to get Gulfstream to honor its ten-year guarantee on the roof. Respondent initially attempted to correct (repair) the roof, although he failed to return to the project after two or three visits during the first two months following completion of the project during July 1985. Thomas Chiplinsky is an inspector for the City of Clearwater whose area of responsibility includes the inspection of roofing projects. As part of his duties, Inspector Chiplinsky inspected Schwartz' roof following a complaint received by the City of Clearwater and found that the roof was installed in July 1985 by Gulfstream and no permit was obtained or inspections called for or made by Respondent. Inspector Chiplinsky observed soft spots in the roof and noted that Respondent failed to install counter flashing. Respondent acknowledges his responsibility as qualifier for Gulfstream. Respondent admits that he neither obtained a permit to perform the roof repairs, nor did he call for inspections as required by the City of Clearwater. Within months after Respondent completed the Schwartz project, the entity, Gulfstream Contractors, was disbanded and therefore no one responded to Schwartz' request that his roof be repaired.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that: Petitioner enter a Final Order imposing a $500 fine against Respondent, payable to Petitioner within 30 days of the entry of its Final Order. Respondent's license number CC C014700 be suspended for a period of one (1) year within the further condition that Respondent be allowed a period of 20 days following the entry of the Final Order to revisit the Schwartz project and make the necessary repairs to correct the roof repairs and abide by the terms of his guarantee. In the event that Respondent makes the necessary repairs within 30 days of entry of the Final Order, it is further RECOMMENDED that the period of suspension be suspended. RECOMMENDED this 16th day of March, 1989, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. JAMES E. BRADWELL Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 16th day of March, 1989. COPIES FURNISHED: David Bryant 500 North Tampa Tampa, Florida 33602 Richard Domingo 4032 41st Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 Kenneth E. Easley, Esquire General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Fred Seely, Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board 111 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, Florida 3220
Findings Of Fact At all times relevant thereto, Respondent, Ronald E. Lotz, held registered roofing contractor license number RC0031773 issued by petitioner, Department of Professional Regulation, Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. He has been a licensed roofing contractor since February, 1978. His present address is 1650 Palm Avenue, Winter Park, Florida. In April, 1979 Lotz and Allen Hartwell entered into a contract whereby Lotz agreed to install a "new truss, and shingle roof" on Hartwell's house located at 4005 Northwest 19th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. The agreed upon price for the job was $1,225. As is relevant here, Lotz agreed, inter alia, that a "(n)ew exterior siding (would) be used on all gables". According to their agreement, Lotz was to purchase the plywood necessary to complete the work while Hartwell agreed to buy all their necessary materials. Section 6 of Marion County Ordinance 78-5, adopted on January 24, requires that a roofing permit be obtained on all jobs where the value of the work exceeds $100.00. Lotz did not obtain such a permit even though he conceded at the hearing that such a permit was required. Although the contract called for a new exterior side on all gables, Lotz did not install the same. Instead, he installed tongue and groove 3/4 inch boards which he felt were an adequate substitute. He discussed this with Hartwell at the time the job was performed and Hartwell did net object to this change in the contract. Hartwell, who filed a complaint against Lotz, was primarily dissatisfied with a wavy roof. However, that aspect of the job is not a part of this proceeding. The contract itself was modified by the parties a number of times. As a result, Lotz omitted certain requirements therein but added others without additional charge. In all, he was paid $1,125 for the project.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law it is, RECOMMENDED that respondent be found guilty of failing to obtain a roofing permit in violation of Subsection 489.129(I)(d) Florida Statutes, and that he be given a public reprimand and fined $250. It is further RECOMMENDED that all other charges against respondent be DISMISSED. DONE and ENTERED this 27th day of September, 1985, in Tallahassee, Florida. DONALD R. ALEXANDER Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 27th day of September, 1983 COPIES FURNISHED: Charles P. Tunnicliff, Esquire Deaptment of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Mr. Ron Lotz 1650 Palm Avenue Winter Park, Florida 32789 Mr. J. K. Linnan, Executive Director Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board Post Office Box Jacksonville, Florida 32201
The Issue Whether Respondent committed the offenses set forth in Count I of the Administrative Complaint and, if so, the penalties which should be imposed.
Findings Of Fact At all times pertinent to these proceedings, Respondent was licensed by Petitioner as a certified general contractor in the State of Florida and held license number CG- C016730. At all times pertinent to these proceedings, Respondent was the qualifying agent for Bilo Homes, Inc. (Bilo), a corporation engaged in Florida in the business of general contracting with its principal place of business in Miami, Florida. At all times pertinent to these proceedings, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Huston resided at 29843 S.W. 149th court, Leisure City, Florida. On February 24, 1988, the Hustons contracted with Bilo to build an addition to their house for the sum of $20,000 pursuant to plans and specifications that had been prepared by an architect. The Hustons' existing house was valued between $30,000-$40,000. The contract called for a one-story room addition to be built on a concrete slab with stucco exterior and sheet rock interior. The addition was to have a sliding glass door and was to be connected to the existing structure by a tie beam. The roof of the existing house was to be reshingled to match the shingles on the addition. The project also involved electrical work and plumbing work. The contract was signed on Wednesday, February 24, 1988, and work began on Friday, February 26, 1988. The contract did not specify a time for the completion of the project. The following draw schedule was agreed to by the Hustons and Bilo: 20% of the contract price upon the acceptance of the contract by the Hustons; 10% of the contract price upon the pouring of the concrete slab; 10% of the contract price upon ice completion of the tie beam: 20% of the contract price upon the drying in of the roof; 10% of the contract price upon the completion of the rough mechanical work; 10% of the contract price upon ice completion of the shingling of the roof; 10% of the contract price upon the installation of the plumbing fixtures;; 10% of the contract price (the balance) upon completion of the job. The Hustons made payments to Bilo in the total amount of $14,000.00. These payments were broken down as follows: $4,000.00 paid on February 24, 1988, upon acceptance of the contract; $2,000.00 paid on March 22, 1988, upon the pouring of the concrete slab; $2,000.00 paid on April 5, 1988, upon the completion of the tie beam; $4,000.00 paid on April 18, 1988, upon the drying in of the roof; and $2,000.00 paid on June 25, 1988, upon the completion of the shingling of the roof. Before June 25, 1988, Respondent had asked the Hustons for the draw due upon completion of the rough mechanical work in addition to the draw due upon completion of the shingling. The Hustons refused to pay both draws because they were dissatisfied with the quality of Bilo's work. The Hustons engaged the services of a lawyer and, on June 29, 1988, presented Respondent with a list of items they wanted corrected before paying the draw for the rough mechanical work. Respondent and the Hustons disagreed as to when the items on the list should be corrected. Respondent contended that the items could have been corrected as part of the punch list prior to the final payment. The Hustons contended that the items should be corrected before Respondent received any further draws. This dispute is resolved by finding that while several of the items on the list could have been corrected as part of the final punch list, there were items on the list that should have been corrected by Respondent before he proceeded. Considering the very poor quality of work that went into this job, the Hustons were justified in their demand that Respondent make these corrections before receiving an additional draw. Respondent contends that the Hustons did not pay the draw for the rough mechanical work because they ran out of money. This contention is rejected as being contrary to the greater weight of the evidence. After the Hustons presented Respondent with the list and refused to pay the draw for the rough mechanical work, Bilo stopped work on the project. Bilo performed no work on the project after June 29, 1988. Prior to the work stoppage, Respondent hired K & H Plumbing as the subcontractors to the plumbing work on the Huston job. K & H Plumbing's work failed to pass a Metro Dade County tub and water pipe inspection because the work did not meet the South Florida Building Code. K & H never completed its work on the Huston addition and no final inspection of its work was approved. K & H Plumbing filed suit against the Hustons for the unpaid portion of their contract with Bilo. In addition, K & H Plumbing failed to properly replace wood decking which it had pulled up during the course of its work on the Huston job. Respondent had received funds which1 should have been used to pay K & H. Prior to the work stoppage, Respondent hired Tom Mentelos to perform the electrical subcontracting work on the Huston addition. The work performed, by Mentelos was substandard. His work failed to pass inspection by the Metro Dade County Building and Zoning Department on six different occasions. In addition to this substandard work, one of Mentelos' employees cracked the Huston's kitchen ceiling while working in the attic over the existing portion of the house. This crack was never corrected by Mentelos or by Bilo. Mentelos never completed his work on the Huston addition, although he was never fired by the Hustons. Mentelos filed a claim of lien against the Hustons in he amount of $2,000.00. The first claim of lien was released and Mentelos filed a second claim of lien against the Hustons in the amount of $2,623.00. Respondent had received funds which should have been used to pay Mentelos. Respondent obtained the roofing permit to build the new roof on the Huston addition and to reroof the existing roof. The roofing work involved a process commonly referred to as "hot mopping", a process which requires the services of a licensed roofing contractor. Respondent exceeded the scope of his licensure by engaging in hot mopping. Bilo's employees punched two unnecessary vent pipes through the roof and placed a flat piece of PVC material around the vent holes to keep the, roof from leaking. This is an improper and unacceptable construction practice. Bilo's employees damaged the existing screen porch while working on the roof. The metal flashing which connected the existing roof to the aluminum screen porch was taken off but was never replaced. As a result, the screen porch leaked, a problem that had not been corrected as of the time of the final hearing. While Bilo's employees were working on the roof of the existing structure, a rainstorm occurred which resulted in water stains to the ceiling of the Hustons' main structure. The workmen were not supervised by Respondent and were unprepared for the rain. Other than the water stains, no damage was done to the ceiling. To repair the ceiling stains would require a chemical coating, followed by repainting of the ceiling. The cost of the repair would be approximately $75.00. Bilo engaged in poor construction practice in constructing the exterior wall by facing the poorer grade side of the exterior plywood toward the outside as opposed to inside. The better construction practice is to place the poorer grade side toward the inside where it will not be exposed to view. There is a gap in the area where the metal flashing comes down the exterior side of the end gable and meets the top of the roof. In the work performed by Bilo, the piece of sheathing was above the bottom of the sill plate which caused a gap from one inch to five inches over a distance between eight and ten feet. This gap is a source of potential leaks. Bilo attempted to cover the v-notch in the area of the gag with tar pitch in an attempt to correct this deficiency. Both the gap and the attempted repair are unacceptable construction practices. Bilo had not cut vents in the soffits at the time it stopped work on the project. Without vent holes in the soffits, the job would have not passed inspection. Bilo could have, at little expense, cut the soffit vents at a later point in the job. The end member of the frame for the partition wall between the laundry room and the masonry wall is not pressure- treated wood. The South Florida Building Code requires that the wood used for the end member of such construction be pressure treated or that there be a barrier between the end member and the adjoining wall. Here, Bilo failed to exercise either acceptable option, and, consequently performed work that failed to comport with acceptable construction practices and did not meet code. The manner in which Bilo supported the timber girder that supports the roof trusses fails to meet code because the tie beam, into which this girder is pocketed for support, is improperly supported. A hole was knocked in the cement block wall that supported the tie beam when a plumbing vent was redirected. As a result of this hole, the tie beam rests on only approximately two inches of concrete, which is inadequate to support the tie beam and the timber girder. This work fails to comport with acceptable construction practices. Bilo failed to brace the roof trusses as required by the plans and specifications of the architect. This is an unacceptable construction practiced. Bilo cut into the roof truss without authority from the truss manufacturer or from a qualified engineer. Cutting into a truss can impair its structural integrity and is a violation of code. Respondent maintained at hearing that he would have been able to get approval from the truss manufacturer for the modification of the truss caused by the cut. Respondent did not have such approval as of the time of the final hearing, and there was no evidence, other than his unilateral expectation, to support this contention. The facia board on the eaves did not join properly because Bilo's workmen did not take the time to properly cut the boards with the aid of a square. Although this is a matter that could be corrected for approximately $25.00, this work, along with the other deficiencies detailed herein, demonstrates the substandard work that went into this project and establishes that Bilo failed to provide its workmen adequate supervision or adequate training. At hearing, there was a dispute as to how much time Respondent personally spent at the Huston job site. This conflict is resolved by finding that Respondent was personally on the job site for at least 30 minutes on days when work was progressing. When major items were being performed on the job, he spent more time on the job site. When minor work was being done, Respondent did not go to the job site on a daily basis. Regardless of the number of minutes or hours that Respondent spent on the job site, the conclusion is inescapable that Respondent failed to properly supervise his workmen in light of the low level of skill the workmen exhibited throughout the job. Respondent had the responsibility as the general contractor to properly supervise his workmen and his subcontractors. He failed to perform that responsibility. As of the final hearing, the Huston addition remained uncompleted. At the time of the work stoppage, it would have cost the Hustons more than $6,600 to complete the job, the difference between the contract price and the amount that the Hustons had paid Respondent. The evidence was clear that the Hustons had incurred damages as a result of their dealings with Respondent. The amount of those damages were not established with any degree of certainty. On or about July 15, 1988, Respondent filed a claim of lien against the Hustons' property claiming that Bilo was owed $8,350 for the work that had been done. Respondent has been a certified general contractor for fifteen years and has been certified as a general contractor in the State of Florida since 1980. Respondent's licensure had not been disciplined prior to the filing of the Administrative Complaint in this proceeding.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered finding Respondent guilty of having violated the provisions of Section 489.129(1)(h), (j), and (m), Florida Statutes, which imposes administrative fines in the amount of total amount of $5,000 for such violations, and which suspends his licensure as a general contractor for a period of six months. DONE AND ENTERED this 20th day of June, 1990, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. CLAUDE B. ARRINGTON Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 20th day of June, 1990. APPENDIX TO THE RECOMMENDED ORDER IN CASE NO. 89-0765 The following rulings are made on the proposed findings of fact submitted by Petitioner: The proposed findings in Section VI (A) are adopted in material part except to the extent that the proposed findings are subordinate to the findings made. (Section VI (A) pertains to facts established through Respondent's failure to respond to Request for Admissions.) The proposed findings in paragraphs 1 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are adopted in material part. The proposed findings in paragraphs 5 - 10 are adopted in material part except to the extent that the proposed findings are subordinate to the findings made or are unnecessary to the conclusions reached. The proposed findings of paragraphs 11, 19, and 25 are adopted in material part except to the extent that the proposed findings are unnecessary to the conclusions reached. The proposed findings of paragraph 12, 26, and 27 are rejected to the extent that the proposed findings are conclusions of law. The proposed findings of fact in paragraphs 13 and 20 are rejected as being subordinate to the findings made or as being unnecessary to the conclusions reached. The following rulings are made on the proposed findings of fact submitted by Respondent: The proposed findings of fact in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 16, 18, 19, 27, and 30 are adopted in material part. The proposed findings of fact in paragraphs 5, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, and 32, are rejected as being unnecessary to the conclusions reached. The proposed findings of fact in paragraphs 9 and 11 are rejected as being subordinate to the findings made. The proposed findings of fact in paragraph 10 are adopted in part and are rejected in part as being contrary to the findings made. The proposed findings of fact in paragraphs 12, 14, 33, 35, and 37 are rejected as being contrary to the greater weight of the evidence. The proposed findings of fact in paragraph 15 are adopted in part and are rejected in part as being unsubstantiated by the evidence. The proposed findings of fact in paragraph 24 are adopted in part and are rejected in part as being unnecessary to the conclusions reached. The proposed findings of fact in paragraph 34 are rejected as being the recitation of testimony. COPIES FURNISHED: regory A. Victor, Esquire 3225 Aviation Avenue Suite 400 Miami, Florida 33133 Robert S. Cohen, Esquire Post Office Box 10095 Tallahassee, Florida 32302 Fred Seely, Executive Director Construction Licensing Board Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Kenneth E. Easley, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Suite 60 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792
The Issue The issues in Case No. 07-4376PL are whether Respondent violated Subsections 489.129(1)(i), 489.119(2), 489.126(2)(a), and 489.129(1)(j), (m), and (o), Florida Statutes (2004),1 and, if so, what discipline should be imposed. The issues in Case No. 07-4377PL are whether Respondent violated Subsections 489.1425(1), and 489.129(1)(i) and (o), Florida Statutes, and, if so, what discipline should be imposed.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of contracting pursuant to Section 20.165 and Chapters 455 and 489, Florida Statutes. Mr. Roach is, and was at all times material to this action, a certified roofing contractor in the State of Florida having been issued License No. CCC1326005. Mr. Roach's Certified Roofing Contractor License No. CCC1326005 is current and active. Mr. Roach's current addresses of record are Post Office Box 345, Orange Springs, Florida, and 22204 U.S. Highway 301, Hawthorne, Florida. At all times material to this action, Mr. Roach was a licensed qualifier for All Florida Roofing Contractors, Inc. (All Florida). There is evidence in the record sufficient to establish that Mr. Roach has been previously disciplined for a violation under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes. Notably, Mr. Roach has been previously disciplined for, among other things, violations of Subsections 489.129(1)(m) and (o), Florida Statutes. Case No. 07-4376PL Mr. Roach failed to obtain a Certificate of Authority for All Florida, as required by Subsection 489.119(2), Florida Statutes. On or about August 23, 2004, Mr. Pang contracted with Mr. Roach, to remove and replace the hurricane-damaged roof of his hotel property located at 1620 West Vine Street, Kissimmee, Florida. The contract price for the aforementioned project was $40,000.00. Mr. Pang made an initial payment of $2,250.00 on August 22, 2004, and another payment of $20,000.00 on August 23, 2004. As part of the contract, All Florida was required to pull the building permits for the project, and Mr. Roach failed to do this. Mr. Roach commenced work on the project on or about September 7, 2004. On or about late September 2004, he ceased work on the project, and the project remained unfinished. Mr. Pang paid All Florida an additional $10,000.00 on September 16, 2004. On October 1, 2004, the City of Kissimmee issued a Notice of Violation against Mr. Pang for failure to have a building permit for the work that had been performed by Mr. Roach on the roof. Mr. Roach scheduled repairs on the project, but did not return to the project. Mr. Roach did not have any inspections performed on the roof. Later, another contractor hired by Mr. Pang finished the roofing project at a cost of an additional $32,975.00. Case No. 07-4377PL On or about September 15, 2004, Ms. Perez contracted with Mr. Roach to repair roof damage to her residence at 1502 Golden Poppy Court, Orlando, Florida. The contract price for the aforementioned project was $7,268.32, of which Mr. Roach was paid $3,634.16 on September 18, 2004. The contract entered into between Ms. Perez and Mr. Roach failed to inform the homeowner of the Construction Industry Recovery Fund. On or about October 27, 2004, the Orange County Building Department issued Mr. Roach a permit for the aforementioned project (Permit No. T04018050). Mr. Roach did not have any inspections performed on the roof. On September 25, 2004, Ms. Perez paid $3,614.16 to All Florida, which was the remaining amount of the contract. Another contractor was hired by Ms Perez to correct deficient aspects of Mr. Roach's work on the roof at a cost of $900.00.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered whose outcome is the following: That in Case No. 07-4376PL Respondent violated Subsections 489.129(1)(i), (j), (m) and (o), Florida Statutes; Dismiss Count II of the Administrative Complaint in Case No. 07-4376PL; In Case No. 07-4376PL, imposing an administrative fine of $1,000.00 for the violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(i), Florida Statutes; imposing an administrative fine of $5,000.00 for the violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(j), Florida Statutes; imposing an administrative fine of $2,500 for the violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(o), Florida Statutes; no administrative fine is recommended for the violation of 489.129(1)(m), Florida Statutes, because the violation is included in the violations of Subsections 489.129(1)(j) and (o), Florida Statutes; That in Case No. 07-4377PL, Respondent violated Subsections 489.129(1)(i) and (o), Florida Statutes; In Case No. 07-4377PL, imposing an administrative fine of $1,000 for the violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(i), Florida Statutes; imposing an administrative fine of $2,500 for the violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(o), Florida Statutes; Requiring Respondent to make Restitution to Mr. and Mrs. Pang in the amount of $25,000; Requiring Respondent to make Restitution to Ms. Perez in the amount of $900; and Revoking Respondent's contractor license. DONE AND ENTERED this 31st day of March, 2008, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S SUSAN B. HARRELL Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 31st day of March, 2008.
Findings Of Fact Respondent is Richard K. Willis, a registered roofing contractor licensed by Petitioner and holding license RC-0041275 at all times pertinent to these proceedings. His address of record is Winter Haven, Florida. Respondent and Jeffrey Smith entered into a contract in July of 1986. Under terms of the agreement, Smith, a chiropractor, agreed to pay Respondent the sum of $2,200 to re-roof the facility which served as Smith's home and office. The agreement signed by the parties contains a written guarantee that materials to be used in the project would meet specifications set forth in the document. Further, the guarantee stated that work would be completed in "a workmanlike manner according to standard practices." The project was completed by Respondent and Smith paid him the agreed upon amount of $2,200 in July of 1986. About three weeks after completion of the job, Smith noticed a leak in the roof and telephoned Respondent. Two or three weeks later and after several more telephone calls from Smith, Respondent returned to the job site. By that time, interior damage to the ceiling tiles had been sustained. The tiles became discolored by leaking water and started to collapse. Respondent proceeded to patch the leaking roof with tar. In June of 1987, Smith's facility developed a second leak in the roof over the back portion of the house. Respondent returned, reviewed the problem and agreed to tear off the leaking section of the roof and replace it. As a result of this action by Respondent, the leakage increased. More extensive damage was caused by water leaking down door frames and across the ceiling of the house. Respondent had also promised that he would put a "tarp" over Smith's roof to temporarily stop the leakage until repairs could be effected, but such covering never materialized. After Respondent's second attempt to fix the roof, Smith advised him that the leakage was continuing. Smith then tried several times without success to communicate with Respondent and get him to return to the job site. Finally, after Smith contacted local government building officials, Respondent returned and stopped the leakage. The repairs came too late to prevent ceiling damage which cost Smith $400 to repair. When a third leak developed in the roof in February of 1989, Smith hired another contractor to fix the leak for the sum of $60. Petitioner provided expert testimony which establishes that Respondent demonstrated incompetence in the practice of roof contracting. Further, the work performed by Respondent did not meet the terms of the guarantee he gave to Smith. These conclusions are based on the fact that workmanship provided by Respondent failed to meet standard practices of the industry. Such failure is demonstrated by the irregularity with which surface material was applied to the roof; the lack of sufficient gravel; the lack of uniform distribution of that gravel; missing metal flashing and lifted or separated flashing at the vertical surfaces of the roof; and improper installation of flashing around the plumbing vent exiting through the roof. Respondent's previous disciplinary history with Petitioner consists of an administrative fine of $250 on June 19, 1985, and letter of guidance issued on August 14, 1986.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered finding Respondent in violation of Subsection 489.129(1)(m), Florida Statutes, (1988) and revoking his license as a roofing contractor in accordance with provisions of Rule 21E-17.001, Florida Administrative Code. DONE AND ENTERED this 6th day of April, 1989, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DON W. DAVIS Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 6th day of April, 1989. APPENDIX The following constitutes my specific rulings, in accordance with Section 120.59, Florida Statutes, on findings of fact submitted by Petitioner. Petitioner's Proposed Findings 1.-17. Addressed in substance. COPIES FURNISHED: Elizabeth R. Alsobrook, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Richard K. Willis 2106 Winter Lake Road Winter Haven, Florida 33880 Fred Seely, Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Department of Professional Regulation Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 =================================================================
The Issue Whether Respondent, Glenn V. Curry, committed the offenses alleged in the Administrative Complaint and, if so, what discipline should be imposed against Respondent's roofing contractor's license.
Findings Of Fact At all times pertinent to this proceeding, Respondent, Glenn V. Curry, was a certified roofing contractor having been issued license C-3810. During times material hereto, Respondent was the qualifying contractor for Economic Roofing Company, 2538 Surinam Court, Holiday, Florida. On or about December 27, 1995, Connie Socash, an investigator with the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, observed two individuals performing roofing work on the structure located at 2024 Cleveland Street in Pinellas County, Florida. Adjacent to the Cleveland Street property was a truck from which the individuals were working. Affixed to the truck was a magnetic sign with the words "Economic Roofing" printed on it. When approached by Ms. Socash, the two people performing the roofing work stated that they were subcontractors for Economic Roofing. One of the individuals performing the roofing work identified herself as Bonnie Sargent. However, neither of the individuals provided Investigator Socash with a roofing contractor's license or license number. After determining that Petitioner had not issued a roofing contractor's license to Bonnie Sargent, Investigator Socash issued a citation to the person identifying herself as Bonnie Sargent. The citation was issued to Ms. Sargent for subcontracting and performing "roofing work without a competency license as required by law." The citation, which was signed by Ms. Sargent, listed the following two options that were available to her: (1) pay a fine of $125.00 within a specified time period; or (2) appear at the Pinellas County Misdemeanor Courthouse on January 19,1996. Ms. Sargent chose the first option and paid the fine of $125.00 on or about January 9, 1996. After issuing the citation to Bonnie Sargent, Investigator Socash contacted Respondent regarding the Cleveland Street roofing project. Respondent refused to cooperate with Investigator Socash and failed to provide her with any information regarding the relationship of Bonnie Sargent to Economic Roofing. Prior to this case, Respondent has not been the subject of any disciplinary action by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is recommended that the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board enter a Final Order: Finding Respondent, Glenn V. Curry, guilty of violating Section 489.129 (1) (e), Florida Statutes, and Chapter 89-504, Section 24 (2) (d), (e), (j), and (m), Laws of Florida as alleged in the Administrative Complaint. Imposing an administrative fine of $750.00. Suspending Respondent's roofing contractor's certificate for one year. Such suspension may be stayed subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board. DONE and ENTERED this 27th day of August 1996, in Tallahassee, Florida. CAROLYN S. HOLIFIELD Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 27th day of August, 1996. COPIES FURNISHED: William J. Owens Executive Director Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board 11701 Ulmerton Road Largo, Florida 34643-5116 Glenn V. Curry 2538 Surinam Court Holiday, Florida 34691 Howard Bernstein, Esquire County Attorney's Office 315 Court Street Clearwater, Florida 34616-5165
Findings Of Fact At all times material to the Administrative Complaint, the Respondent, Joseph H. Rayl, was licensed as a registered roofing contractor in the State of Florida, holding license number RC 0034055. At all times material to the Administrative Complaint, the Respondent, Joseph H. Rayl also was licensed in the State of Florida as a certified roofing contractor holding license number CC C035625 and as a certified building contractor holding license number CB C033206. At all times material to the Administrative Complaint, through the time it closed its doors in November, 1987, the Respondent was the sole qualifying agent, owner, and president of Unique Construction, Inc. (Unique). On or about July 19, 1985, Mrs. Anna M. Adams contracted through a salesman for Unique to reroof the flat roof of her house in St. Petersburg Beach for $1076. Mrs. Adams contracted with Unique because the company offered a five year warranty on workmanship. In August of 1985, Unique reroofed the flat roof of Mrs. Adams' house. Mrs. Adams' roof continued to leak. Mrs. Adams called Unique every Monday and advised that her roof continued to leak. Repeated promises were given by Unique that her roof would be repaired. Unique responded to Mrs. Adams calls for repairs on or about February 18, 1986. Mrs. Adams' roof continued to leak, and she notified Unique repeatedly. After Mrs. Adams complained to Consumer Affairs in Tampa, Unique again attempted to repair the roof on April 30, 1987. Mrs. Adams left her home after the April 30th repairs by Unique, but when she returned in August, 1987, the roof had continued to leak. The interior of Mrs. Adams' home was damaged, including, but not limited to, ceiling tiles falling down and her floor and furniture getting wet. Mrs. Adams repeatedly telephoned Unique from August 5, 1987, advising of the leaking roof. Mrs. Adams sought the assistance of the Better Business Bureau. On September 15, 1987, Unique again attempted to repair the roof. In January, 1988, Mrs. Adams hired another roofing contractor to repair her entire roof, which included reroofing the shingle roof over the main part of her house, for $2100. No permits were obtained nor inspections called for by Unique for Mrs. Adams' job. Unique had continuous access to Mrs. Adams' home to repair her home. The Respondent repaired the interior of Mrs. Adams' house after he received notice of the complaint from Department of Professional Regulation in February, 1988. Prior to the hearing, the Respondent had not seen the contract Unique had with Mrs. Adams. The Respondent had no knowledge of the Adams' job until receiving the Department of Professional Regulation complaint. Until February, 1988, the Respondent had not seen or examined Mrs. Adams' roof. Until February, 1988, the Respondent had never spoken with Mrs. Adams. Despite Mrs. Adams repeated requests to speak to the Respondent when she called Unique, the requests never were passed along to the Respondent. During the late part of 1985 and early part of 1986, Unique had five locations and did 600-700 jobs a year. The Respondent could not personally supervise all the jobs and relied on supervisors. The Respondent placed authorization letters in the building departments so that his office managers could pull permits for Unique. The Respondent instructed his office managers to pull permits and call for inspection on all jobs. But he did not adequately monitor the operations of his Tampa office to assure that his instructions were followed in the case of the Adams job. Failing to obtain building permits and failing to call for inspection constitutes improper supervision as well as violations of local building codes. The cause of the leak in the Adams roof was in the shingle roof over the main part of the house, not in the flat roof Unique put on or in the "tie- in" between the flat roof and the shingle roof. A roofer is responsible to advise the customer of the cause of continuous leaks. Unique did not advise Mrs. Adams that repairing her main roof was required to stop the leaks. The Respondent previously has received letters of guidance from the Construction Industry Licensing Board on October 5, 1987, for violations of Florida Statutes 489.129(1)(d) and 489.129(1)(m).
Recommendation Based upon the Findings Of Fact and Conclusions Of Law, it is recommended that the Construction Industry Licensing Board enter a final order (1) finding the Respondent, Joseph H. Rayl, guilty of violating Section 489.129(1)(j) by failing to supervise the activities of his company as required by Sections 489.119 and 489.105(4), Florida Statutes (1987); (2) fining him $1000; and (3) suspending his license for three months. DONE and ENTERED this 9th day of February, 1989, at Tallahassee, Florida. J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 9th day of February, 1989. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 88-3299 To comply with Section 120.59(2), Florida Statutes (1987), the following rulings are made on the Petitioner's proposed findings of fact: 1. Accepted but unnecessary. 2.-24. Accepted and incorporated to the extent necessary and not subordinate. 25. Accepted; subordinate to facts found. 26.-29. Rejected as subordinate to facts contrary to those found. The evidence did not prove that the leak was at the tie-in or any other part of the work Unique did in re-roofing the Adams' flat roof. Unique did not fail to honor its guarantee on the work it did. Accepted; subordinate to facts found. Rejected as not proven. 32.-33. Accepted and incorporated. COPIES FURNISHED: Fred Seely Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Department of Professional Regulation Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Elizabeth R. Alsobrook, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 William E. Whitlock, III, Esquire Donald L. Tucker, Esquire 16 East 3rd Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32303 Bruce D. Lamb General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750
Findings Of Fact Based on my observation of the witnesses and their demeanor while testifying, the documentary evidence and the positions of the parties, I hereby make the following: Thomas G. Walker (herein sometimes called "Licensee" or "Respondent") is a registered residential contractor and is issued license number RR 0009839. Thomas G. Walker was initially licensed by the Board in July of 1969 as an individual and during January, 1975, he changed his registration status as an individual to qualify Insulshield Roofing as the business entity through which he would conduct his business (Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1). An examination of the official records pertaining to the Licensee reveals that he does not now nor has he ever held a roofing license in the State of Florida. On February 16, 1979, the Licensee was apprehended contracting roofing without a State roofing contractor's license by the Board's representative and was issued a Notice of Violation (Petitioner's Exhibit No. 3). On July 26, 1977, the Licensee entered into an agreement with Jan Soderstrom, 501 Orlando Avenue, Indialantic, Florida, to remove the tile from the Florida Room of her residence and hot mop the herein-described roofing area, to replace tile as needed, to clean and coat the entire roof, and to install a cap over Ms. Soderstrom's chimney. He guaranteed the work for a period of five (5) years and charged a contracted price of $800.00. The Licensee was paid the contracted price of $800.00 by check dated August 4, 1977 (Petitioner's Exhibit No. 5). During early February, 1978, Ms. Soderstrom detected a leak in her roof and summoned the Licensee back to her residence to repair same. During February, 1978, Respondent returned to Ms. Soderstrom's residence to repair the leak in her roof. Upon his return, he removed several roof tiles and since February, 1978, to the present, he has not returned to this project. Clyde Pirtle, a field investigator for the Board, investigated the Licensee based on complaints that he received from Ms. Soderstrom and from a Mr. Capitz. On or about February 16, 1977, Mr. Pirtle discussed a Notice of Violation with the Licensee and explained to him the necessity to register as a Roofing Contractor, if he was in the business of acting as a Roofing Contractor. Mr. Charles D. Franklin, a building official of Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, is the custodian of the records in Indian Harbor, Florida. Based on an examination of the records by Mr. Franklin, the Respondent/Licensee is not registered as a Roofing Contractor locally.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is hereby, RECOMMENDED: That the registered residential contractor's license, number 0009839, of the Licensee, Thomas G. Walker, d/b/a Insulshield Roofing, be suspended for a period of one (1) year. RECOMMENDED this 4th day of April, 1979, in Tallahassee, Florida. JAMES E. BRADWELL, Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings Room 530, Carlton Building Tallahassee, Florida 32304 (904) 488-9675 COPIES FURNISHED: Barry S. Sinoff, Esquire 2400 Independent Square Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Thomas G. Walker d/b/a Insulshield Roofing 170 5th Street South Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951 J. K. Linnan, Executive Director Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board Post Office Box 8621 Jacksonville, Florida 32211
The Issue The central issue in this case is whether Respondent is guilty of the violations alleged in the amended administrative complaints.
Findings Of Fact Based upon the testimony of the witnesses and the documentary evidence received at the hearing, I make the following findings of fact: At all times material to the allegations, Respondent, Ruth Ogen, was a licensed roofing contractor, license no. CC CO27471. A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc. was qualified by the Department as a roofing contractor. Respondent is the sole qualifier and licensee associated with the company, A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc. Respondent is married to Avraham Ogen who presents himself as the president of A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc. On or about November 9, 1986, A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc. doing business as Ogen Roofing & Waterproofing entered into a contract with Ardee Yuran to replace the entire roof of a commercial structure located at 14951 N.E. 6th Avenue, North Miami Beach (6th Avenue). The contract provided, among other things, that the top row of tiles around the parapet wall would be removed and reinstalled upon completion of the roof. In negotiating the contract described in paragraph 4, Mrs. Yuran was mindful of the work Avraham Ogen had performed at her residence. Mr. Ogen had supervised the reroofing of Mrs. Yuran's residence which had been satisfactorily performed. The residential job had required the removal of the tiles along the parapet wall and Mrs. Yuran expected the same process would be utilized in completing the commercial roof. The purpose intended to be accomplished by removing the tiles was to allow the roofers to extend the roofing materials up the sides of the parapet and over the crest. The roofing material is then sealed to the wall and the tiles replaced. This procedure results in a waterproof barrier so that when rain accumulates on the flat roof (and the water level rises) it cannot seep through the sealed perimeter. During the time Mr. Ogen was negotiating and performing the roof work for the 6th Avenue building, he was also retained to paint the structure (which was to be completed after the roof was finished). There came a time when Mrs. Yuran and Mr. Ogen disagreed regarding aspects of the roof work and the painting that was to be done. Eventually, the parties reached an impasse where neither was willing to concede: Mr. Ogen was not willing to perform the work as specified by Mrs. Yuran, Mrs. Yuran was not willing to pay Mr. Ogen any more on the contracts. At this point, Ruth Ogen, Respondent, had not been involved in the daily work progress made at the site. To make matters worse, a leak developed at the 6th Avenue property which resulted in a waterfall pouring down through the overhang of the building. As a result of the disagreement, both parties retained lawyers and, understandably, the issues escalated. Mrs. Yuran retained three individuals to review the work performed by Mr. Ogen. On March 4, 1987, Walter H. Scott, Scott Roofing & Repair, Inc., determined that water accumulating on the 6th Avenue roof was draining behind flashing which had not been properly sealed to the perimeter walls instead of running through the outlets. Mr. Scott recommended that the flashing be resealed along the wall. Had the tiles been removed and the work been performed as stated in the contract, the leak would have been avoided. A second licensed roofing contractor, Gary Carruth, Falcon Roofing Co., inspected the property on June 23, 1987, and recommended reflashing the walls along the perimeter of the 6th Avenue building. Mr. Carruth observed that the tiles had not been removed along the wall and that the roofing materials had not been properly sealed along the perimeter. James Rodgers, a consulting engineer performed a third inspection of the roof at 6th Avenue on June 25, 1987. According to Mr. Rodgers, several items of the contract work completed by Mr. Ogen were inadequately performed. Mr. Rodgers found that the pitch pans were not installed properly around the air conditioning units and that the flashing along the parapet wall was not properly completed nor performed as described in the contract. Respondent also retained a licensed roofer to review the work at 6th Avenue. Bill Mathews, Bill Mathews Roofing, completed a roof inspection report on November 21, 1988. According to Mr. Mathews, the flashing along the parapet wall required repair because it had been improperly sealed. Mr. Mathews noted that the top row of tile should have been removed so that flashing could have been taken up and over the parapet wall. Mr. Mathews also noted that the flat roof had buckles or "fish mouths" which should have been corrected as the roof was being installed. Mr. Mathews recommended that the flashing be resealed and that the buckles be cut and sealed with membrane and roofing cement. Finally, Mr. Mathews determined that the pitch pans under the air conditioning units should be filled with an asphalt cold process to prevent further cracking and potential leaks. A final inspection report was completed by Robert B. Hilson, Bob Hilson & Company, Inc., on August 18, 1988. Mr. Hilson is a consultant for the Department and made the inspection at the request of its attorney. Mr. Hilson's findings and recommendations mirrored those suggested by Mr. Mathews. The work performed by Mr. Ogen on the 6th Avenue property did not meet the terms of the contract and did not meet performance standards acceptable in the roofing industry. Mr. Ogen failed to properly seal all flashing materials along the parapet wall, failed to correct the buckles or "fish mouths," and failed to meet the contractual obligations (removing the tiles and extending the flashing over the crest). Because of the substandard work, Mrs. Yuran incurred additional expenses and inconvenience. Respondent did not view the 6th Avenue structure either before or during the time that her husband supervised the work performed. Respondent's role with the company was as secretary, bookkeeper, and office manager. Mr. Ogen supervised or performed all work at the 6th Avenue job. Respondent did not supervise Mr. Ogen or the workers under his supervision. "Ogen Roofing & Waterproofing" has not been qualified by the Department as a roofing contractor. On or about April 28, 1987, A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc. was requested to perform a roofing inspection at 1180 N.E. 204 Terrace. The subject property was under contract for sale and was ultimately purchased by Rose Zenar. According to the inspection report filed by Mr. Ogen, the roof and roof covering were in satisfactory condition with no evidence of leaks. Mr. Ogen signed the inspection report as president of A. R. Ogen Construction, Inc., state license no. CC CO27471. During the first rain after she had moved into the house, Mrs. Zenar observed water leaking through the ceiling into the kitchen. She immediately called Mr. Ogen who came out, observed the problem, but did not repair the leak. Mr. Ogen did not return Mrs. Zenar's subsequent calls. Ultimately, she contacted James Rodgers to perform a second roof inspection. As a result of Mr. Rodgers' inspection, Mrs. Zenar discovered that the leak was of long duration as it had completely rotted and decayed the roof rafters and sheathing in the area of the leak. Mr. Rodgers took pictures of the area which clearly showed the discolored wood. Evidence of the discoloration was visible from the attic entrance located in the garage adjacent to the kitchen. Mr. Ogen's failure to discover the rotted roof was due to an inadequate inspection of the crawl space between the ceiling and the roof rafters. It is the normal practice of qualified roof inspectors to examine the crawl space between the ceiling and roof supports. Respondent did not perform the roof inspection at Mrs. Zenar's home, did not supervise the inspection performed by Mr. Ogen, and did not have a checklist of items to be reviewed by him in making the inspection. The erroneous inspection performed by Mr. Ogen resulted in expenses and inconvenience to Mrs. Zenar.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Department of Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board, enter a final order finding the Respondent guilty of the violations set forth above and, based upon the penalties recommended by rule, impose an administrative fine against the Respondent in the amount of $3000.00 DONE and RECOMMENDED this 20th day of April, 1989, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. JOYOUS D. PARRISH Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 20th day of April , 1989. APPENDIX RULINGS ON PETITIONER'S PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT: Paragraphs 1 through 7 are accepted. With the correction to reflect Mrs. Yuran not Mr. Yuran, paragraph 8 is accepted. Paragraphs 9 through 12 are accepted. Paragraph 13 is accepted. Paragraph 14 is accepted with the correction that the witness' name was Gary Carruth. With the deletion of the last paragraph of paragraph 15 which is rejected as argument or comment, the first five paragraphs of paragraph 15 are accepted. Petitioner is warned not to subparagraph statements of fact or to restate testimony, but to simply set forth the fact deduced from such testimony. Paragraph 16 is rejected as irrelevant or immaterial. Paragraph 17 is accepted to the extent that it finds the reroofing work performed on the 6th Avenue building was a poor quality which was not done under the supervision of a qualified, licensed roofing contractor. Further, it was gross negligence not to properly supervise the job. No conclusion is reached as to whether Respondent is able to supervise a job. Paragraph 18 is accepted. Paragraph 19 is rejected as a recitation of testimony. Paragraphs 20 through 24 are accepted. Paragraphs 25 through 31 are accepted. Paragraph 32 is accepted. Paragraph 33--none submitted. With regard to paragraph 34, the first sentence is accepted. The remainder is rejected as conclusion of law, argument, or comment. Paragraph 35 is rejected as irrelevant. Paragraphs 36-38 are accepted. Paragraph 39 is rejected as comment, irrelevant, or recitation. The first two sentences of paragraph 40 are accepted, the remainder is rejected as comment, conclusion of law, or argument. Paragraph 41 is rejected as irrelevant, conclusion of law, or argument. RULINGS ON RESPONDENT'S PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT: Paragraph 1 is accepted. Paragraph 2 is accepted but is irrelevant. Paragraph 3 is accepted. Paragraph 4 is rejected as irrelevant to the issue of whether a competent inspection was performed. Paragraph 5 is accepted. Paragraph 6 is rejected as irrelevant to the issue of whether a competent inspection was performed. Paragraph 7 is rejected as irrelevant or unsupported by the record. Paragraph 8 is accepted. Paragraph 9 is accepted. Paragraph 10 is rejected as contrary to the weight of the credible evidence presented. Paragraph 11 is rejected as argument, speculation, or unsupported by the record. Paragraph 12 is rejected as irrelevant. Paragraph 13 is rejected as argument, irrelevant, or unsupported by the weight of credible evidence. Paragraph 14 is rejected as argument, irrelevant, or comment. Paragraph 15 is accepted but is irrelevant. Paragraph 16 is rejected as argument. Paragraph 17 is accepted but is irrelevant. Paragraph 18 is rejected as irrelevant, argument, or unsupported by this record. Paragraph 19 is rejected as irrelevant. The following are rulings on case no. 88-1776 as submitted by Respondent: Paragraph 1 is accepted. Paragraph 2 is rejected as unsupported by the record. Paragraph 3 is rejected as irrelevant. Paragraph 4 is accepted but is irrelevant, immaterial. Paragraph 5 is rejected as unsupported by the record. Paragraph 6 is rejected as irrelevant, immaterial, or unnecessary. Paragraph 7 is rejected as unsupported by the weight of credible evidence. Paragraph 8 is rejected as irrelevant, immaterial, or unnecessary. Paragraph 9 is accepted but is irrelevant. Paragraph 10 is rejected as irrelevant, immaterial or unnecessary. Paragraph 11 is rejected as irrelevant, immaterial or unnecessary. Paragraph 12 is rejected as irrelevant. Paragraph 13 is rejected as argument or unsupported by the weight of the credible evidence. Paragraph 14 is rejected as contrary to the weight of the credible evidence. Paragraph 15 is accepted but is irrelevant. COPIES FURNISHED: Fred Seely Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Department of Professional Regulation Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Bruce D. Lamb General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Elizabeth R. Alsobrook Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750
The Issue The issues are whether Mr. Ranne is guilty of gross negligence, incompetence or misconduct in the practice of contracting in connection with roofing repairs done on a residence in Sunrise, Florida, and whether he willfully violated the local building code by failing to obtain a building permit or calling for inspections of his work.
Findings Of Fact Mr. Ranne is a certified roofing contractor who holds license number CC C018984. On or about June 13, 1985, Mr. Ranne contracted with Town and Country Title Company to inspect the roof of a home located at 9310 best 43rd Manor in Sunrise, Broward County, Florida. The inspection was requested by the title company in connection with the sale of the home from a Mr. Wilhelmi to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder. Mr. Ranne performed the inspection and on June 13, 1985, submitted to the title company an invoice, containing the findings of his inspection. Mr. Ranne indicated that: five (5) portions of the upper flat deck of the roof needed repair, three (3) areas needed wood replacement, and the outer edges of the upper flat deck showed cracking, wood needed to be replaced and a leak needed to be repaired on the outer edge of the lower flat deck of the roof, and approximately eight (8) tiles on the peaked roof had been crushed and needed to be replaced. The seller, through the title company, hired Mr. Ranne to repair the roof before the sale closed. Mr. Ranne worked on the roof, and submitted a bill to Town and Country Title Company on June 19, 1985, stating that all of the work set out on his June 13, 1985, report had been completed. Mr. Ranne was paid for his inspection service and for the repairs through a check drawn on the account of Town and Country Title Company. Fifty dollars was paid for the inspection and $775.00 for repairs. The funds for roof repair work came from the seller of the house. Shortly after the home was purchased by the Schroeders, they experienced leaks in the roof. These leaks not only occurred in the upper and lower flat deck portions of the roof which had been repaired, but also in another part of the roof. A leak occurred in the entrance hallway. Water flowed down inside a wall and wet the entrance hallway carpet. The Department's evidence was not clear and convincing that a leak existed in a valley formed where two portions of the peaked, shingled roof joined when Mr. Ranne inspected the roof. When Mr. Ranne was asked to come back to the home, Mr. Schroeder not only complained about the leak in the entrance way caused by the roof leak in the valley; other leaks on the upper and lower flat roofs, which Mr. Ranne had repaired, were discussed. I accept the expert testimony of Mr. Sipes that his October 1985, inspection of the roof disclosed that the repair work on the lower flat roof had been incomplete and was causing leaking at that time. Neither the Schroeders nor anyone else had worked on the roof in the interim between Mr. Ranne's work and the Sipes inspection. The work Mr. Ranne did was incomplete in that the gravel had been scraped back from this built up tar and gravel roof in the area where repair was done but the gravel had not been put back in place, which is necessary to properly complete the repair. There was also a 4 foot length of damaged wood on the north overhang of that roof which had not been replaced and had been rotting for over a year, and therefore should have been repaired. On the inspection report, Mr. Ranne had recorded a leak on the outer edge of the lower flat roof and noted that wood there needed replacement. No repair had been done on the upper flat deck roof, which by the time of Mr. Sipes inspection had deteriorated to the point where the felts of the roof were exposed and therefore could no longer be repaired. The upper roof could not have deteriorated from an acceptable condition to what Mr. Sipes found in the interim between the work Mr. Ranne did or should have done in June and the time of Mr. Sipes inspection on October 23, 1985. I also accept the expert opinion of another roofer, Mr. Loden, who inspected the roof in June of 1986, approximately a year after Mr. Ranne's work. (Mr. Sipes had not been hired to make the repairs which he had thought appropriate when he inspected the roof in October of 1985.) Loden agreed that the upper flat deck roof was completely worn out and, by its condition, must have been worn out for approximately three (3) years. Loden also found that on the lower deck where there had been a partial replacement of the roof decking, 3/8 inch sheet plywood had been used while the rest of the roof was 1/2 inch roofing. Because the replacement wood was not thick enough this had caused water to pond in the area where the wood had been replaced which in turn caused that roof to leak. Mr. Ranne had not gotten a permit for the roofing work that he did in June, 1905. According to Section 301.1(k) of the Broward County edition of the South Florida Building Code, a permit was required because the repair exceeded $300.00 in the value of labor and materials. Mr. Ranne thought that the owner of the home (who was not then Mr. Schroeder, but a Mr. Wilhelmi, who sold the home to Schroeder) had obtained the permit. Mr. Wilhelmi had not done so and Mr. Ranne never saw a permit posted when he did his work, although posting was required. Neither did Mr. Ranne have his work inspected by a building official; he did not believe that an inspection was required for the repair he was doing. An inspection was required, however, by Section 3401.1(b) of the 1984 Broward County edition of the South Florida Building Code.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED: That Mr. Ranne be fined $1,000.00 as a penalty for fraud in charging for repairs on the upper flat roof which were not done, $500.00 for the incompetent inspection of the upper flat roof which failed to advise the parties to the sale transaction that the upper roof needed to be replaced and $500.00 for the incompetent work done on the lower flat deck roof. He should also be placed on probation for one year. DONE AND ORDERED this 24th day of March, 1987, in Tallahassee, Florida. WILLIAM R. DORSEY, JR. Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 24th day of March, 1987. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 86-1773 The following constitute my specific rulings pursuant to Section 120.59(2), Florida Statutes (1985), on the proposed findings of fact submitted by the parties. Rulings on Proposed Findings of Fact Submitted by Petitioner Covered in Finding of Fact 1. Covered in Finding of Fact Although the real estate salesman, Ruth Ozkell, initially contacted Mr. Ranne, the proposals and bills show that the other party to the transaction was Town and Country Title Company. Covered in Finding of Fact 3. Rejected because there is no showing that the Schroeders were directly involved in the hiring of Mr. Ranne to perform his inspection. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 3. Covered in Finding of Fact 6. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 6. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. To the extent relevant, covered in Finding of Fact 5. Rejected as unproven. Rejected as unproven. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 7. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary, but implicit in the findings made. Rejected as unnecessary. To the extent appropriate, covered in Finding of Fact. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as cumulative. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Covered in Finding of Fact 3 Rejected as unnecessary. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 9. Covered in Finding of Fact 8. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Rejected as unnecessary. Adopted in Finding of Fact 10. Adopted in Finding of Fact 10. Adopted in Finding of Fact 10. Adopted in Finding of Fact 10. Rejected as unnecessary. Adopted in Finding of Fact 10. Rulings on Proposed Findings of Fact Submitted by Respondent 1-3. Not applicable Covered in Finding of Fact 1. Covered in Finding of Fact 2, but the documents indicate the contract was with Town and Country Title Company, not with the realty firm. Covered in Finding of Fact 3. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Covered in Finding of Fact 4. Rejected as irrelevant. Covered in Finding of Fact 6. Rejected as irrelevant. To the extent relevant, covered in Finding of Fact 6. Rejected as irrelevant. 17-31. Rejected as recounting of testimony rather than findings of fact. COPIES FURNISHED: David R. Terry, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Peter N. Hanna, Esquire 500 S.E. 12th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 Fred Seely, Executive Director Construction industry Licensing Board Department of Professional Regulation Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Van Poole, Secretary Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Joe Sole, General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750
