Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that Respondent, Ramiro Palma, be found guilty as charged in the Administrative Complaint dated August 31, 1981. It is further RECOMMENDED that Respondent's registered building contractor's license be suspended for one year after the date of the final order entered in this proceeding and that Respondent pay a $1000 administrative fine. DONE and ENTERED this 3rd day of February, 1982, 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 3rd day of February, 1982.
Findings Of Fact At all times material to this proceeding, the Respondent has been licensed as a residential contractor in the State of Florida, holding license number CR C022406, and was the licensed contractor qualifying Rothberg Homes, Inc. On or about May 21, 1986, the Respondent entered into a contract to build Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sargent a new home in Palm Harbor, Florida, for $95,670. The home was to be completed before November 15, 1986, so that the Sargents could qualify for a lower interest rate. The Respondent relied heavily on his construction superintendent, Frank Jackson, to accomplish the work in a timely and workmanlike manner. The Respondent was responsible primarily for selling contracts and for taking care of the company finances. To comply with the technical requirements of the contract, the Respondent had construction begin in July, 1986, with the clearing of the lot. But foundation footers were not dug and poured until about a month later, and construction proceeded at a slow pace (then it went on at all.) The Sargents registered numerous complaints to Jackson about the slow pace and some complaints to the Respondent about Jackson, but nothing was done to speed construction along. In October, 1986, the Sargents, who were on the job site daily, began hearing complaints from suppliers and subcontractors that the Respondent was slow paying them but was told that he eventually was coming through with the payments due. By November, the Respondent was not making payments at all in some cases. Also in October and November, Jackson was in the process of opening his own business (not construction-related) and was devoting less and less time to the Sargent job. November 15, 1986, approached, and it became obvious that the deadline would not be met. The Sargents and the Respondent met and agreed to extend the deadline one month to December 16. On December 11th, the Sargents again reminded the Respondent of the deadline and its importance to them, but the December 16 deadline also came and went with the house only about 70 percent complete. In December, Jackson quit altogether. The Sargents complained to the Respondent, who promised to replace Jackson but never did. Because the Respondent had stopped paying subs and suppliers, they refused to do any more work, and the Sargents wound up having to pay some of them out of their own pockets in order for work to continue. In March 1987, some of the subs and suppliers also filed claims of liens for unpaid work which the Sargents had to clear out of their own pockets in order to close the purchase of the house. Mr. Sargent himself did some of the work, some of which would have been warranty work if the Respondent had paid his bills on time, to save some additional expense caused by the Respondent's failure to keep current on his accounts with the subs and suppliers and to avoid some of the additional hassle of trying to persuade an unpaid sub or supplier to do warranty work. On March 16, 1987, the Sargents met with the Respondent to arrive at an accounting for purposes of the upcoming closing. They agreed that the Sargents should receive the last construction loan draw of about $9,500 to compensate them for payments they made that should have been made by the Respondent and that the Respondent still owed them $6,000, which the parties agreed would be the subject of a promissory note from the Respondent to the Sargents. (This does not even account for the Sargents being shortchanged when a three-foot roof overhang for which they had contracted turned out to be only a two-foot overhang.) The Respondent has paid the promissory note.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings Of Fact and Conclusions Of Law, it is recommended that the Construction Industry Licensing Board enter a final order finding the Respondent, Daniel S. Rothberg, guilty of violating Section 489.129(1)(h) and (m), Florida Statutes (1987), and imposing an administrative fine in the amount of $1,500. RECOMMENDED this 19th day of December, 1988, in Tallahassee, Florida. J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON 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 19th day of December, 1988. COPIES FURNISHED: Elizabeth R. Alsobrook, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Daniel S. Rothberg 624 Charisma Drive Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689 Daniel S. Rothberg 196 Mayfair Circle Palm Harbor, Florida 34684 Warren A. Wilson, III, Esquire 2101 U.S. Highway 19 North Suite 201 Palm Harbor, Florida 33563 Fred Seely, Executive Director Department of Professional Regulation Construction Industry Licensing Board Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Bruce D. Lamb, Esquire General Counsel Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750
The Issue Whether Respondent, a certified general contractor, violated the construction industry licensing law, by: (1) willfully or deliberately disregarding and violating the applicable building codes or laws of the State or any municipalities, cities or counties thereof; (2) diverting construction funds resulting in his unwillingness or inability to perform pursuant to a construction contract; and (3) abandoning a construction project; and if the Respondent is guilty of such violations, the appropriate disciplinary penalty which should be imposed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Recommendation That Respondent's certified general contractor's license No. CGC005174 be suspended until such time as Respondent furnishes the Board satisfactory evidence of having made restitution to Simon H. and Alexandra U. Ramos in the amount of $2,515 for monies expended by them to pay for lumber, electric and plumbing charges arising out of their construction contract.
The Issue The primary factual issue was whether the company which the Respondent had qualified was in fact the contractor on the job from which the allegations in the Amended Administrative Complaint arose. The Petitioner submitted post hearing findings of fact in the form of a proposed recommended order. To the extent that the proposed findings of fact have not been included in this order, they are specifically rejected as being irrelevant, not being based upon the most credible evidence, or not being findings of fact.
Findings Of Fact The Respondent, Edward Ryan, is a certified building contractor holding license number C3 C006481 and was the qualifying agent for Behr Contracting, Inc. (thereafter "Behr Contracting"), at all times relevant to the allegations of the Amended Administrative Complaint. Behr Contracting was, and is a business engaging in, contracting, selling building materials, and mortgage brokerage. Its operations as a mortgage broker are now carried on under a separate corporation; however, at the time involved in these proceedings, its mortgage brokerage operation was carried out in the name of Behr Contracting, Inc. Willie Mae Williams resides at 1451 Northwest 92nd Street, Miami, Florida. In 1980, Ms. Williams had extensive modifications made to her house at the foregoing address. With regard to the work on her house, Ms Williams' initial contact was with S. J. (Jerome) Farmer. Farmer was an independent contractor who was doing home repairs in early 1980 to several homes close to the Williams home. He was not doing these jobs as an employee of Behr Contracting, and no evidence was introduced that at said time he was an employee of Behr Contracting. After he had already begun working on the Williams home, Farmer approached the Respondent and requested Respondent's assistance in helping him estimate additional repairs and modifications to Ms. Williams' home and assistance in obtaining the financing for this job. Farmer was not affiliated in any manner with Behr Contracting. The Respondent arranged for an estimator to assist Farmer in estimating the cost of the project and in obtaining financing for the project. (Testimony of Ryan, Tr. 58 et seq.) This estimator had two contract forms signed by Ms. Williams, one for financing and one for construction. These documents were identified by Ms. Williams and were received into the record. (See Petitioner's Exhibits 2 and 3.) Petitioner's Exhibit 2 is the contract between Behr Contracting and Ms. Williams for the financing of the modifications to the Williams house. Financing for the project was obtained through the mortgage brokerage operation of Behr Contracting and the money funneled through Behr Contracting to pay for materials purchased through Behr's building materials operation. Ms. Williams has made payments and is making payments as required under said contract to the finance company, Uni Credit of Jacksonville, Florida. Behr Contracting provided cabinets, windows and certain appliances, to include a dishwasher. The Respondent was at Ms. Williams' house approximately three times prior to the delivery of building materials from Behr Contracting. (Testimony of Ryan, Tr. 23.) On none of these occasions was the Respondent there as a building contractor qualifying Behr Contracting. At all times, Farmer was in charge of the project. (See testimony of Williams, Tr. 184.) Farmer was the contractor in fact. Subsequent to installation of the dishwasher, the Respondent was present at the Williams house often because of Ms Williams' complaints about the dishwasher. The Respondent replaced this dishwasher and had Ms. Williams' septic tank pumped in order to solve the drainage problem which was causing the dishwasher to malfunction. This was done to honor the warranty on the dishwasher. (Supra, Tr. 45-51.) A salesman for Behr Contracting gave Ms. Williams an estimate on both the contracting and on the financing for the modifications and remodeling of the Williams house. Under its business practices, Behr Contracting disapproved or rejected the contract for construction, yet approved the financing contract. Approval of a construction contract in the amount of the instant contract, over $11,000, would have required an officer's approval. (See testimony of Stanley Weiss, Tr. 21-28.) Although Ms. Williams identified her signature on the purported construction contract (Petitioner's Exhibit 3), she could not identify the signature appearing on the lefthand side of the page at the bottom of the contract in the area of "Agent" and "Officer." This signature also could not be identified by Stanley Weiss or Margaret Behr, officers of Behr Contracting. It was not the signature of Weiss, Ms Behr or the Respondent, who were the only officers of the corporation authorized to approve a contract of this amount at the time that this contract was prepared. This contract (Petitioner's Exhibit 3) was never accepted by Behr Contracting (See testimony of Weiss, Tr. 35.) Although a copy of Petitioner's Exhibit 3 was discovered by Weiss in the files of Behr Contracting, this was a photo copy given to Weiss by the Respondents who had received it from the Board's investigators when the Respondent first spoke to them about this case. (See page 8, deposition of Ryan taken September 17, 1982; see pages 3, 4 and 8, deposition of Weiss; testimony of Ryan, Tr. 70-75; testimony of Weiss, Tr. 10-12.) The Respondent's involvement in this matter was "limited to providing gratuitous advice to Farmer at Farmer's request on one occasion, concerning a broken major waste drain, and representing Behr Contracting who was a major supplier of materials and appliances for the job. It is specifically found that the Petitioner failed to establish the existence of a construction contract between Ms. Williams and Behr Contracting. Regarding the allegations that the Respondent abandoned the job, the Respondent caused the dishwasher supplied by Behr Contracting to be replaced under warranty service. The septic tank at the Williams house was pumped and cleaned at the request of Uni Credit in an attempt to solve the problem. Finally, over a year after the job had begun, the Respondent had the septic tank and drainfeild rebuilt and solved Ms. Williams' drainage problems. This last action was taken under threat of prosecution by the Board's investigators and was done in spite of the fact, which is uncontroverted, that the construction did not address modifications to the plumbing in the house. After the Respondent had taken these actions, Ms. Williams than wanted the cabinets and other work, which had been done by Farmer, replaced because of water damage caused by the drainage problem.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is recommended that the Amended Administrative Complaint against the Respondent, Edward Ryan, be dismissed. DONE and RECOMMENDED this 20th day of September, 1983, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. STEPHEN F. DEAN, 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 20th day of September, 1983 COPIES FURNISHED: Michael J. Cohen, Esquire Kristin Building, Suite 101 2715 East Oakland Park Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, Florida 32206 Mr. Edward Ryan 19762 Bel Aire Drive Miami, Florida 33138 Frederick Roche, Secretary Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 James Linnan, Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Post Office Box 2 Jacksonville, Florida 32202
The Issue The issue in this case is whether Respondent, Wayne H. Wagie, committed the offenses alleged in an Administrative Complaint filed with Petitioner, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, on August 11, 2004, and, if so, what penalty should be imposed.
Findings Of Fact The Parties. Petitioner, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (hereinafter referred to as the "Department"), is the agency of the State of Florida charged with the responsibility for, among other things, the licensure of individuals who wish to engage in contracting in the State of Florida; and the investigation and prosecution of complaints against individuals who have been so licensed. See Ch. 689, Fla. Stat (2005). Respondent, Wayne H. Wagie, is and has been at all times material hereto a licensed certified general contractor in Florida. Mr. Wagie was originally licensed as a certified general contractor on or about December 28, 1978, license number CGC 13331. At all times material hereto, the status of his license has been "Current, Active." At all times material, Mr. Wagie was the qualifying agent for Unified Construction Technologies, Inc (hereinafter referred to as "Unified Construction"), a Florida corporation. Unified Construction did not have a certificate of authority as a qualified business organization. The Department has jurisdiction over Mr. Wagie's license. The Spiegel Brothers. At the times material to this matter, Mr. Wagie engaged in a business arrangement with two brothers, Abraham and Yosef Spiegel (hereinafter referred to jointly as the "Spiegel Brothers), whereby Mr. Wagie allowed the Spiegel Brothers to use his general contractor's license number and qualifying number to pull permits for a company through which the Spiegel Brothers conducted construction business. The Spiegel Brothers' construction company was Mega Construction Group, Inc., d/b/a Mega Construction Group, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Mega Construction"). Pursuant to their agreement, Mega Construction, through the Spiegel Brothers, was to handle all aspects of any construction contracts the Spiegel Brothers were able to enter into, including negotiating the contract, handling funds received from customers, and performing all necessary work. The only function not to be carried out by the Spiegel Brothers or Mega Construction was to actually obtain the necessary building permits; that was Mr. Wagie's responsibility. In exchange for his services, Mr. Wagie was to receive a percentage of the sales price, with half paid upon execution of the contract and half after completion of the work. Neither of the Spiegel Brothers was a licensed general contractor in Florida. Nor was Mega Construction certified as a contractor qualified to do construction business in Florida. Mr. Wagie was aware of these facts. The Sicre Contract. In 2001, Candida Sicre owned and resided at a house located at 650 82nd Street, Miami Beach, Florida. Ms. Sicre was interested in adding a handicap accessible bathroom to her home and, when she received a flyer in the mail advertising Mega Construction, she contacted the Spiegel Brothers. On August 13, 2001, Ms. Sicre entered into a written contract with Mega Construction (hereinafter referred to as the "Sicre Contract"). Pursuant to the Sicre Contract, Mega Construction agreed to construct a new handicap-accessible bathroom for which Ms. Sicre agreed to pay a total of $15,762.00. As part of their contract, it was agreed that an air-conditioning unit would be relocated. While the relocation of the air-conditioning unit is listed as "1" and the construction of the new bathroom is listed as "2" in the Sicre Contract, in fact the relocation of the air-conditioning unit was a necessary component of the construction of the new bathroom, for the new bathroom was to be constructed from where the air-conditioning unit was to be relocated. Ms. Sicre paid a total of $7,762.00 on the agreed Sicre Contract price. On September 17, 2001, Mr. Wagie, pursuant to his agreement with the Spiegel Brothers, signed a building permit application required to complete the Sicre Contract. That application was filed with the City of Miami Beach building department on or about January 4, 2002. On the permit application, Unified Construction was listed as the "Company," Mr. Wagie was listed as "Qualifier," and Mr. Wagie's license number was listed as the "License No." under "Contractor Information". The permit application was approved by the City of Miami Beach on or about May 31, 2002, and permit number KB0201178 was issued. Pursuant to an agreement between the Spiegel Brothers and Ms. Sicre, the starting date for the Sicre Contract was postponed to August 15, 2002, just over a year after it had been entered into. At some time after the Sicre Contract was entered into, the air-conditioning unit was relocated as specified in the contract. Except for the relocation of the air-conditioning unit, no further work specified under the Sicre Contract was performed. The actual construction of the new bathroom was never started. Eventually, Ms. Sicre was told that the work would not be performed because Mega Construction was going to declare bankruptcy. After being told that the new bathroom would not be completed, Ms. Sicre sold her house. She attempted, however, to obtain a refund of some of the $7,762.00 she had paid Mega Construction. Eventually, Ms. Sicre learned of Mr. Wagie's involvement with the Spiegel Brothers and, through a series of negotiations, it was agreed that she would receive a refund of $2,000.00 through Mr. Wagie from the Spiegel Brothers. She was eventually given two $1,000.00 checks in furtherance of this agreement, but the checks ultimately "bounced." The only work performed on the Sicre Contract by Mega Construction was the drawing of a building permit and the relocation of the air-conditioning unit. For this work, Ms. Sicre paid a total of $7,762.00. Ultimately, Mega Construction, although beginning the project by relocating the air-conditioning unit, abandoned the project without its completion. Prior Disciplinary Action. On July 15, 1996, the Department filed a Final Order reflecting that a settlement stipulation had been approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board"), pursuant to which Mr. Wagie agreed to pay an administrative fine in the amount of $250.00, plus investigative and legal costs in the amount of $368.30 to resolve charges against his license, which Mr. Wagie denied. The Department's Costs of Investigation and Prosecution. The Department has incurred $597.69 in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered by the Department: Finding that Wayne H. Wagie violated Section 489.129(1)(i), Florida Statutes (2000), as alleged in Counts I and III of the Administrative Complaint; and violated Section 489.129(1)(d), Florida Statutes (2000), as alleged in Count II of the Administrative Complaint; Dismissing Counts IV and V of the Administrative Complaint; and Imposing an administrative fine in the total amount of $3,250.00; requiring that Mr. Wagie pay Ms. Sicre $2,000.00 in restitution; requiring that Mr. Wagie pay $597.69 as the costs of the investigation and prosecution of this matter; and that his license be suspended for a period of two years. DONE AND ENTERED this 31st day of August, 2005, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S LARRY J. SARTIN 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 August, 2005. COPIES FURNISHED: Theodore R. Gay Assistant General Counsel Department of Business and Professional Regulation 8685 Northwest 53rd Terrace, Suite 100 Miami, Florida 33166 Wayne H. Wagie 220 Northeast 45th Street Miami, Florida 33137 Tim Vaccaro, Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792 Leon Biegalski, General Counsel Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202
Findings Of Fact At all material times, the Respondent Morris Marder was a registered building contractor, having been issued license number RB 0004509. On March 4, 1980, the Respondent Marder contracted with Erwin and Joan Ravich to convert the garage of the Ravich home into a family room. The March 4, 1980 contract between the Raviches and Marder, who was also doing business as "Home Remodeler Morris Marder", 1/ was signed by the Raviches and accepted by M. Marder. An undated addendum to the contract, which was prepared by the Raviches' attorney, was signed by the Raviches and Dan Rossman, a salesman and contract estimator for the Respondent Marder. However, no evidence was presented that the Respondent Marder had knowledge of or signed the addendum, which required completion of the project by an unspecified date. The execution of the addendum delayed beginning construction on the project until May of 1980. The Respondent Marder subcontracted the performance of work on the Ravich job to Ken Nieset, who with his brother, Steve, a licensed general contractor, was doing business as Brothers Two Construction. During the course of the project, Nieset received three of the four payments made under the contract directly from the Raviches. Although Nieset worked for the Respondent previously, he was neither Marder's foreman nor employee. When additional subcontractors were required, they were hired for the Ravich job by Nieset. The Raviches paid a total of $9,190 under the contract. The first payment of $1,190 was made directly to Home Remodeler on May 3, 1980, the approximate date that work on the project actually began. A partial release of lien was furnished by Morris Marder to Erwin Ravich on May 6, 1980 based on the first payment. The second payment was made by Erwin Ravich on June 20, 1980 for $2,500. This check was made payable to Ken Nieset per authorization of lien furnished on June 20, 1980, in connection with the second payment. 2/ On June 27, 1980 and July 11, 1980, checks were issued to Ken Nieset by the Raviches for $3,500 and $2,000, respectively. The Raviches' received a release of lien for $2,000 from Nieset, but did not obtain a release of lien for the $3,500 payment. The release of lien for the $2,000 payment executed by Nieset did not involve Home Remodeler or the Respondent Marder. After receiving payments totaling $5,500 directly from the Raviches, Nieset abandoned the project. During the course of the Ravich job, the Respondent Marder employed Jorge Gamez, a draftsman/supervisor, who he believed was supervising the Ravich job. However, Gamez' involvement with the job was limited to drawing the plans and did not include supervising construction, since he was not a licensed general contractor. King Cole Plumbing, a state licensed contractor, subcontracted with Nieset to install the plumbing and septic tank at the job site. When King Cole left the job, the rough plumbing was installed and all that remained on the job was interior finishing. The septic tank with an appropriate cover was in place and all work performed by King Cole had passed inspection. The septic tank cover originally agreed to by the parties was required to be changed to a heavier type when the Raviches altered their plans and decided to continue using their driveway. This change resulted in a $512 charge from Sun Gold Industries, who supplied the new cover. Additionally, the original contract was modified to add higher grade plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and tile. In August, 1980, the Respondent Marder entered Saint Frances Hospital for treatment of phlebitis. At the same time, Rossman, Marder's employee, left for vacation in California for seven to eight weeks. As a consequence, the Ravich job was delayed and an unauthorized payment of $2,500 to Nieset was made without securing the approval of the Respondent Marder or Rossman. The Respondent Marder calculated that approximately $2,000 was due as the balance of the job and an added $1,500 was due for extras to the contract. Faced with a substantial loss, the Respondent Marder contacted the Raviches and their attorney in August, 1980, and offered to finish the job and pay for the specified extras in return for Ravich placing $4,500 in escrow with his attorney. Ravich's attorney declined the Respondent's offer and ordered him off the job site. Subsequently, Dade County cancelled the Respondent's building permits, which effectively prohibited him from completing the work at the site. Subsequently, a lien was filed against the Ravich job by King Cole Plumbing for nonpayment of monies due from Ken Nieset. The lien was determined to have been filed in violation of Florida's Mechanics Lien Law and was voluntarily removed. The work performed by the Respondent and his subcontractors prior to being ordered off the job was satisfactory and passed periodic inspection by the Dade County Building Department. The charges in this administrative proceeding formed the basis of action taken against the Respondent by the Dade County Division of Construction Trades Qualifying Board on September 11, 1981, which resulted in revocation of the Respondent's certificate as a subgeneral building contractor in Dade County. The Respondent Marder has been in the construction business since 1954 and licensed as a general contractor in Florida since 1968. Other than the instant case, the Respondent has never been forced off a job. He has been in business in South Florida for many years and has been involved in thousands of construction jobs.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Petitioner Construction Industry Licensing Board enter a Final Order suspending the Respondent's license for a period of six (6) months. DONE and ENTERED this 27th day of September, 1983, in Tallahassee, Florida. SHARYN L. SMITH Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings 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.
The Issue Did Respondent violate Section 489.129(1)(h), Florida Statutes, and, if so, what discipline should be imposed?
Findings Of Fact Upon consideration of the oral and documentary evidence adduced at the hearing, the following relevant findings of fact are made: The Department is the agency of the State of Florida vested with statutory authority to regulate the practice of contracting under Chapters 455 and 489, Florida Statutes. Respondent is a licensed certified residential contractor in the State of Florida. Respondent's license number, as certified by Julie Odom, Department's Alternate Records Custodian, is CRC 20166. However, the Administrative Complaint alleges the license number to be CR C020166. Respondent's licensure status is "Delinquent, Active." On May 18, 1989, the Department entered a Final Order in DOAH Case No. 88-3308 wherein Respondent was found guilty of violating Section 489.129(1)(h),(j),(k), and (m), Florida Statutes. On September 27, 2000, the City of Cape Coral, Florida, Contractor's Regulatory Board (Board) entered into a Settlement Agreement (Agreement) with Respondent, in regard to a complaint, Case No. 00-01, wherein Respondent was charged with violating the following Sections of the City of Cape Coral Code of Ordinances: 6-10.1:, To make misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of his contracting profession; 6-10.8: Diversion of funds or property received for prosecution or completion of a specified construction project or operation when as a result of the diversion, the contractor is or will be unable to fulfill the terms of his obligation or contract; 6-10.10: Failing in any material respect to comply with the provisions of the Code; 6-10.11: Abandoning of a construction project in which the contractor is engaged or under contract as a contractor. A project is to be considered abandoned after 90 days if the contractor terminates the project without notification to the prospective owner and the City and without just cause; and 6-10.13: Being found guilty of fraud or deceit or of gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of contracting. The Agreement provided that Respondent was pleading No Contest to the charges that he violated the aforementioned sections of the City of Cape Coral's Code of Ordinances and that Respondent's plea did not act as an admission of guilt as to the above mentioned charges. The Agreement provided for Respondent's permit pulling privileges to be revoked for a period of 90 days starting August 23, 2000. By an Order dated December 29, 2000, the Board, after hearing and discussing the charges made against Respondent, voted to accept and approve the Agreement. By this Agreement, Respondent's contracting license was disciplined by the City of Cape Coral. The total investigative and prosecution costs to the Department, excluding costs associated with any attorney's time, is $967.09.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and a review of Chapter 61G4-17, Disciplinary Guidelines, Florida Administrative Code, with consideration for the repeat violation of Section 489.129(1)(h), Florida Statutes, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department enter a final order finding Respondent, Robert Mensching guilty of violating Subsection 489.129(1)(h), Florida Statutes, and for such violation: (a) impose an administrative fine in the amount of $5,000.00; (b) assess costs in the amount of $967.09; and (c) revoke Respondent's Certified Residential Contractor's License. DONE AND ENTERED this 21st day of March, 2003, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. WILLIAM R. CAVE 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 21st day of March, 2003. COPIES FURNISHED: Kimberly V. Clark, Esquire Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202 Robert Mensching 1719 Northeast 23rd Terrace Cape Coral, Florida 33909 Robert Crabill, Executive Director Construction Industry Licensing Board Department of Business and Professional Regulations Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792 Hardy L. Roberts, III, General Counsel Department of Business and Professional Regulation Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202
