01-000322PL
Department Of Health, Board Of Massage Therapy vs.
Deborah Lynn Keys
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, September 4, 2001.
Recommended Order on Tuesday, September 4, 2001.
1STATE OF FLORIDA
4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
8DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF )
14MASSAGE THERAPY, )
17)
18Petitioner, )
20)
21vs. ) Case No. 01-0322PL
26)
27DEBORAH LYNN KEYS, )
31)
32Respondent. )
34)
35RECOMMENDED ORDER
37The parties having been provided proper notice,
44Administrative Law Judge John G. Van Laningham of the Division
54of Administrative Hearings convened a formal hearing of this
63matter by video teleconference on May 22, 2001. The parties and
74witnesses appeared in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the
82Administrative Law Judge presided in Tallahassee, Florida.
89APPEARANCES
90For Petitioner : Gary L. Asbell, Esquire
97Agency for Health Care Administration
1022727 Mahan Drive
105Building Three, Mail Station 39
110Tallahassee, Florida 32308
113For Respondent : John G. George, Esquire
120Law Offices of John G. George, P.A.
127409 Southeast 7th Street
131Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
135STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE
139The issue in this case is whether, on December 29, 1997,
150Respondent, a licensed massage therapist, engaged or offered to
159engage a client in sexual activity while practicing massage
168therapy, in violation of Section 480.0485, Florida Statutes, and
177Rule 61G11-30.001(1)(d), Florida Administrative Code (1997).
183PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
185On June 28, 1999, Petitioner Department of Health (the
"194Department"), through the Agency for Health Care Administration
203(the "Agency"), which is under contract with the Department to
214perform prosecutorial services for, among other boards within
222the Department's jurisdiction, the Board of Massage Therapy (the
"231Board"), brought an Administrative Complaint against Respondent
239Deborah Lynn Keys ("Keys"), charging her with one count of
251engaging or offering to engage a client in sexual activity while
262practicing massage therapy.
265Keys timely requested a formal hearing. On January 23,
2742001, the Agency referred this matter to the Division of
284Administrative Hearings for further proceedings. After the case
292was assigned to the undersigned, a final hearing was scheduled
302for May 22, 2001.
306At the hearing, the Department called four w itnesses :
316Detectives Edward Domako and Steven Drum of the Broward
325Sheriff's Office; Officer Jimmy Ho, City of Lauderhill Police
334Department; and Louis Garriga, an Agency employee. In addition,
343the Department introduced seven exhibits into evidence, numbered
3511 through 7; Petitioner's Exhibit 8 was rejected.
359Keys, who appeared through counsel and was not physically
368present at the hearing, called no witnesses and offered two
378exhibits, numbered 1 and 2, which were received.
386The Department timely filed a proposed recommended order,
394which was considered in the preparation of this Recommended
403Order. Keys did not submit any post-hearing papers.
411FINDINGS OF FACT
414The evidence presented at final hearing established the
422facts that follow.
425The Parties
4271. Keys is a Florida-licensed massage therapist. Her
435license, numbered MA 19097, was issued on March 27, 1995. She
446is subject to the regulatory and disciplinary jurisdiction of
455the Board.
4572. At all times material, Keys worked at Shogun Health
467Spa, Inc. ("Shogun"), which was located in Lauderhill, Florida.
478The Charge
4803. The Department has charged Keys with one count of
490engaging or offering to engage a client in sexual activity, in
501violation of Rule 61G11-30.001(1)(d), Florida Administrative
507Code (1997). 1 The incident is alleged to have occurred at Shogun
519on December 29, 1997. The "client," allegedly, was an
528undercover sheriff's detective.
531Ultimate Factual Determination
5344. The Department proved that on December 29, 1997, on the
545premises of Shogun, a white, brown-haired masseuse using the
554name "Debbie" offered sexual services to an undercover detective
563who was posing as a client in connection with an investigation
574of suspicions that Shogun was a bordello. Based on the evidence
585in the record, however, the factfinder is unable to form a firm
597belief or conviction, without hesitancy, that "Debbie" was, in
606fact, Keys. Therefore, Keys is not guilty of the offense
616charged.
6175. It will be seen that the foregoing factual
626determination, which is dispositive, does not constitute an
634affirmative finding about what Keys did on the date in question.
645Nor is a finding made here regarding who "Debbie" actually was
656or that "Debbie" was not Keys. Although Keys argued that she
667was not at work on December 29, 1997, being instead, she
678claimed, on vacation, she adduced no evidence that she was
688someplace else that day, and so no affirmative finding can be
699made in this regard.
7036. The Department's failure to prove, clearly and
711convincingly, that "Debbie" and Keys were one and the same
721person necessarily renders all of the other evidence irrelevant,
730because it is immaterial that someone besides Keys engaged in
740misconduct. Understanding, however, that it may be enlightening
748to explicate what the evidence showed as a means of explaining
759how the evidence fell short of establishing the wrongdoer's
768identity by the requisite quantum of proof, the following
777summary of the pertinent proof, as viewed by the factfinder, is
788offered. 2
790Keys' Physical Description and
794Identifying Information : A Baseline
7997. According to the Application for Licensure that Keys
808submitted in January 1995, Keys is five feet, three inches tall
819with blue eyes. Her weight, at that time, was 131 pounds. She
831was born on November 25, 1956. Keys' social security number is
842disclosed in the application.
8468. A photograph of Keys was attached to the application.
856The original was probably a color picture, but the copies
866introduced in evidence (four copies are included in Petitioner's
875Exhibit 1) are black and white. The photograph is grainy from
886being reproduced more than a few times. Nevertheless, the image
896of a woman's face is sufficiently visible that anyone familiar
906with Keys' appearance should be able to tell that it is her. To
919everyone else, the photograph depicts a white female adult of
929indeterminate age with long, dark hair.
9359. The descriptive data from Keys' application is
943considered to be highly reliable because it was put together
953nearly three years before the incident in question, at a time
964when Keys had no discernable motive to be untruthful. Moreover,
974Keys signed the application before a notary public under a
984certificate that provided, in part, as follows:
991I have carefully read the questions in the
999foregoing application and have answered them
1005completely, without reservation of any kind,
1011and I declare that my answers and all
1019statements made by me herein are true and
1027correct and that the photograph attached to
1034the application is a photograph of me.
1041Should I furnish any false information on
1048this application, I understand that such
1054action shall constitute cause for the
1060denial, suspension or revocation of any
1066license to practice in the state of Florida
1074the profession for which I am applying.
1081(Emphasis added).
1083The Department's Evidence
108610. The "Event Report." Detective Edward Domako of the
1095Broward Sheriff's Office was involved in the undercover
1103investigation of Shogun. Through Detective Domako, the
1110Department introduced a one-page exhibit which he described as a
1120Broward Sheriff's Office event report. This undated document
1128contains information about two "arrestees," one of whom is
"1137Debbie Lynn Keys."
114011. In response to a leading question from the
1149Department's counsel, Detective Domako agreed that he had
1157prepared this report around January 5, 1998. On cross-
1166examination, however, the detective admitted that he had never
1175personally been involved with Keys.
118012. It is undisputed that the information set forth in
1190this event report was not based on Detective Domako's personal
1200knowledge. Rather, he claimed to have taken the data from
1210another detective's probable cause affidavit, which is discussed
1218below. Detective Domako also testified that "some of this
1227information [in the event report] may have been garnered from"
1237Keys herself, but this statement has been given no weight
1247because (a) the witness was simply speculating and clearly did
1257not know one way or the other if he were correct and (b) no
1271other evidence corroborated his speculation.
127613. In this event report, Keys is described as a white
1287female, five feet, three inches tall, 136 pounds, with long,
1297straight, brown hair, blue eyes, and no visible scars, marks,
1307tattoos, or deformities. A residence address is listed which
1316matches her known address at the time.
132314. The description of Keys in the event r eport is similar
1335to that contained in her application for licensure. The
1344problem, however, is that the information in the event report is
1355not consistent with the description of Keys contained in the
1365probable cause affidavit from which Detective Domako asserted he
1374had derived the data. See Paragraph 29, infra .
138315. Ironically, the undated event report prepared by a
1392detective without personal knowledge concerning Keys' physical
1399appearance is the only piece of evidence that the Department
1409offered which matches the description of her found in the
1419Department's application file.
142216. Because Detective Domako was plainly mistaken about
1430the source of the information he put in the event report;
1441because the event report was not based on the preparer's
1451personal knowledge; and because the undated report was based not
1461on information provided by someone who allegedly had seen Keys
1471engage in the alleged misconduct (for that witness described her
1481differently) but instead upon information acquired after-the-
1488fact from a source or sources unknown, Detective Domako's
1497testimony and the event report are unreliable proof of Keys'
1507identity as the wrongdoer. Hence, this evidence has little or
1517no probative value and is certainly not clear and convincing
1527proof that Keys engaged in the alleged misconduct on
1536December 29, 1997.
153917. Officer Ho's Testimony. Jimmy Ho is a police officer
1549with the City of Lauderhill. Officer Ho was involved in the
1560undercover investigation of Shogun.
156418. Officer Ho was present at Shogun on January 5, 1998,
1575when detectives from the Broward Sheriff's Office executed a
1584search warrant on the premises. He was there to assist the
1595sheriff's detectives and described his role as that of
"1604spectator."
160519. Officer Ho detained several suspects in a room at
1615Shogun. He claimed that Keys was one of the detainees, and that
1627she had identified herself to him by providing her driver's
1637license, which he reviewed to make a positive identification at
1647the time.
164920. Neither Officer Ho nor anyone else at the scene on
1660January 5, 1998, however, bothered to make a copy of the
1671driver's license supposedly tendered by "Keys." No one took
"1680Keys'" fingerprints or photograph either.
168521. Officer Ho had not seen "Keys" before January 5, 1998.
1696At no time did he observe her performing or offering to perform
1708any improper acts.
171122. Asked at hearing to describe "Keys," Officer Ho
1720testified: "All I can remember, she's a white female, that
1730time, short hair. . . . I think [her hair] was brown color
1743[and not blonde]. . . . I'd say she was somewhere between
1755five [feet]-three [inches] and five [feet]-four [inches tall]."
1763Final Hearing Transcript ("T.") at pp. 107-08.
177223. The facts to which Officer Ho testified regarding
"1781Keys'" appearance were not distinctly remembered; his
1788recollection was neither precise nor explicit. Undoubtedly
1795hundreds if not thousands of women in Broward County would
1805satisfy "Keys'" physical profile as generally described by
1813Officer Ho. Moreover, incidentally, his testimony that "Keys'"
1821hair was short does not match the description in Detective
1831Domako's event report, where she is said to have long hair.
184224. For these reasons, Officer Ho's testimony is minimally
1851useful at best. Moreover, even if Officer Ho's testimony
1860clearly and convincingly proved that Keys was present at Shogun
1870on January 5, 1998, that fact would not establish, even by a
1882preponderance of evidence, that Keys engaged in the alleged
1891misconduct on December 29, 1997.
189625. The Investigative Action Report. Detective Steven
1903Drum of the Broward Sheriff's Office, who was involved in the
1914undercover investigation of Shogun, was the Department's key
1922witness. He is, in fact, the one and only witness to the
1934alleged sexual misconduct that Keys is charged with having
1943engaged in on December 29, 1997.
194926. Detective's Drum's account of his visit to Shogun on
1959December 29, 1997, is set forth in an Investigative Action
1969Report that he prepared on January 5, 1998. In his report,
1980Detective Drum recounted a one-hour massage session with
"1988Debbie" who, he claimed, had offered to perform various sexual
1998services.
199927. According to Detective Drum's report, "Debbie" was a
2008white female in her mid- 30's with brown hair, brown eyes, and a
2021medium build.
202328. The Probable Cause Affidavit. Detective Drum wrote a
2032summary of his December 29, 1997, encounter with "Debbie" in a
2043probable cause affidavit signed January 6, 1998.
205029. In his probable cause affidavit, Detective Drum
2058described "Debbie" as a white female with brown hair, brown
2068eyes, five feet, six inches tall, with no visible scars, marks,
2079or tattoos. The affidavit contains Keys' social security number
2088and date of birth.
209230. Detective Drum's Testimony. At hearing, Detective
2099Drum's testimony regarding the December 29, 1997, incident
2107closely followed the Investigative Action report and probable
2115cause affidavit. Asked to describe Keys, Detective Drum
2123responded: "She's a white female, approximately five-six,
2130medium build with brown hair." T. 144.
213731. Detective Drum testified that he saw "Debbie" again at
2147Shogun on January 5, 1998, when the search warrant was served,
2158and that "Debbie" identified herself to him as Keys. He
2168testified that there was "no doubt" in his mind that the woman
2180who identified herself as Keys on January 5, 1998, was the
"2191Debbie" who had offered him sexual services on December 29,
22011997.
220232. The factfinder, however, has considerable doubt that
2210Detective Drum possessed any meaningful present recollection
2217either of "Debbie's" appearance or his encounter with her nearly
2227four years ago. The details of his testimony obviously were
2237drawn from the written documents he had prepared
2245contemporaneously.
224633. Significantly, moreover, Detective Drum did not
2253mention in either the Investigative Action Report or the
2262probable cause affidavit that on January 5, 1998, the woman he
2273now has no doubt was "Debbie" had told him her name was Deborah
2286Keysa fact that, had it occurred, would or should have been
2297worthy of note.
230034. Taken as a whole, Detective Drum's testimony does not
2310convincingly link Keys to the December 29, 1997, incident. He
2320described "Debbie" contemporaneously as having brown eyesbut
2327Keys' eyes are blue. He also wrote, soon after the alleged
2338misconduct, that "Debbie" was five feet, six inches tall; Keys,
2348however, is a material three inches shorter than that.
235735. Detective Drum is an experienced law enforcement
2365officer whose business it is to observe details about suspected
2375perpetrators. It is telling, therefore, that he was mistaken
2384about two obvious details concerning Keys' appearance. Given
2392that there were only a few physical characteristics with which
2402to work in this case (hair color and length, eye color, height,
2414weight, age), and most of them subject to change, Detective
2424Drum's failure to identify accurately two relatively immutable
2432characteristics of Keys was sufficient to render his testimony
2441that the "Debbie" of December 29, 1997, was the "Keys" of
2452January 5, 1998, less than clear and convincing. 3
2461Other Considerations
246336. The factfinder found it striking that the Department
2472made relatively little effort to identify Keys conclusively as
2481the wrongdoer. It would have been a simple matter to have
2492subpoenaed her for the final hearing, so that a definitive
2502identification could be made, or, failing that, to have obtained
2512photographs or videotapes of her during discovery upon which a
2522persuasive in-hearing identification could be based. The
2529Department's failure to take these or similar steps toward
2538meeting its heavy evidential burdenparticularly given the
2545paucity of information that it had concerning Keys' appearance,
2554about which nothing unique or distinguishing was elicited
2562reflected negatively on its entire case.
256837. But worse than that, the Department did not show to a
2580single witness the one photograph of Keys that it did have in
2592its possession, and which it introduced into evidence. If, for
2602example, Detective Drum had testified that the woman in the
2612picture attached to Keys' Application for Licensure is "Debbie,"
2621then the Department might have proved its case; at least the
2632decision would have been closer. But Detective Drum was not
2642asked to identify the photograph of Keys.
264938. Because the Department knew that it had this
2658photograph of Keys, its failure to question Detective Drum (or
2668anyone else) about the picture is inexplicableunless the
2676detective could not identify the photograph and therefore his
2685answer to the obvious question would not have been helpful.
269539. In this case, where the accused was not physically
2705present at hearing and the only eyewitness to the alleged
2715misconduct described her inaccurately and was not asked to
2724identify an available photograph, the Department's heavy burden
2732of proof has not been met; to find otherwise, the factfinder, in
2744effect, would need to assume that the right person was charged,
2755which he will not do.
2760CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
276340. The Division of Administrative Hearings has personal
2771and subject matter jurisdiction in this proceeding pursuant to
2780Sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.
278641. A proceeding to suspend, revoke, or impose other
2795discipline upon a professional license is penal in nature.
2804State ex rel. Vining v. Florida Real Estate Commission , 281 So.
28152d 487, 491 (Fla. 1973). Accordingly, to impose discipline, the
2825Department must prove the charges against Keys by clear and
2835convincing evidence. Department of Banking and Finance, Div. of
2844Securities and Investor Protection v. Osborne Stern & Co. , 670
2854So. 2d 932, 935-36 (Fla. 1996)(citing Ferris v. Turlington , 510
2864So. 2d 292, 294-95 (Fla. 1987)) ; Nair v. Department of Business
2875& Professional Regulation , 654 So. 2d 205, 207 (Fla. 1st DCA
28861995).
288742. In Slomowitz v. Walker , 429 So. 2d 797, 800 (Fla.
28984th DCA 1983), the Court of Appeal, Fourth District, canvassed
2908the cases to develop a "workable definition of clear and
2918convincing evidence" and found that of necessity such a
2927definition would need to contain "both qualitative and
2935quantitative standards." The court held that
2941clear and convincing evidence requires that
2947the evidence must be found to be credible;
2955the facts to which the witnesses testify
2962must be distinctly remembered; the testimony
2968must be precise and explicit and the
2975witnesses must be lacking confusion as to
2982the facts in issue. The evidence must be of
2991such weight that it produces in the mind of
3000the trier of fact a firm belief or
3008conviction, without hesitancy, as to the
3014truth of the allegations sought to be
3021established.
3022Id. The Florida Supreme Court later adopted the fourth
3031district's description of the clear and convincing evidence
3039standard of proof. Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 93-62 , 645
3049So. 2d 398, 404 (Fla. 1994). The First District Court of Appeal
3061also has followed the Slomowitz test, adding the interpretive
3070comment that "[a ]lthough this standard of proof may be met where
3082the evidence is in conflict, . . . it seems to preclude evidence
3095that is ambiguous." Westinghouse Electric Corp., Inc. v. Shuler
3104Brothers, Inc. , 590 So. 2d 986, 988 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991), rev .
3117denied , 599 So. 2d 1279 (1992)(citation omitted).
312443. Whether Keys committed the wrongful act of which she
3134stands accused is a question of fact for the trier to resolve
3146not an issue of law. See Hoover v. Agency for Health Care
3158Administration , 676 So. 2d 1380, 1384 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). As
3169set forth in the Findings of Fact, the trier has determined as a
3182matter of ultimate fact that the Department failed to establish,
3192by the requisite level of proof, that Keys is guilty as charged.
3204RECOMMENDATION
3205Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of
3215Law, the Department having failed to prove the charges brought
3225against Keys by clear and convincing evidence, it is RECOMMENDED
3235that the Board enter a final order dismissing the Administrative
3245Complaint.
3246DONE AND ENTERED this 4th day of September, 2001, in
3256Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.
3260___________________________________
3261JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
3265Administrative Law Judge
3268Division of Administrative Hearings
3272The DeSoto Building
32751230 Apalachee Parkway
3278Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060
3281(850) 488- 9675 SUNCOM 278-9675
3286Fax Filing (850) 921-6847
3290www.doah.state.fl.us
3291Filed with the Clerk of the
3297Division of Administrative Hearings
3301this 4th day of September, 2001.
3307ENDNOTES
33081 / The Rule under which Keys was charged no longer exists,
3320having been substantially revised and renumbered, effective
3327September 14, 1998, after the date of the incident in question.
3338The current rule governing misconduct and negligence in the
3347practice of massage therapy is Rule 64B7-30.001, Florida
3355Administrative Code. Interestingly, the present Rule does not
3363explicitly forbid sexual misconduct per se, although the failure
3372to appropriately drape a client without first obtaining specific
3381informed consent is a punishable offense. Sexual misconduct in
3390the practice of massage therapy is proscribed by statute,
3399however, and has been since July 1, 1997. See Section 480.0485,
3410Florida Statutes (2000); see Chapter 97-264, Laws of Florida.
3419Somewhat confusingly, in its Administrative Complaint, the
3426Department accused Keys of breaking Rule 64B7 -30.001(1)(d)a
3434provision that seems never to have existedand did not cite
3444Section 480.0485. The former was probably a typographical error
3453(the Department no doubt meant Rule 61G11 -30.001(1)(d)) and the
3463latter an oversight. At any rate, Keys was adequately put on
3474notice of the charge against her.
34802 / Occasionally, a reviewing court will examine the record to
3491determine whether an administrative law judge's finding that
3499there was not clear and convincing evidence for an element of
3510the agency's case is supported by competent and substantial
3519evidence. E.g. Williams v. Davis , 459 So. 2d 406, 408 (Fla. 1st
3531DCA 1984). Respectfully, however, this analytical approach is,
3539in addition to being logically suspect, difficult to square with
3549the evidential burden imposed by the clear and convincing
3558standard.
3559From a logical standpoint, one struggles to envision
3567competent substantial evidence in support of a determination
3575that the agency's proof is not clear and convincing. Such a
3586determination, as noted in the text, does not "find" any fact
3597and therefore does not appear to be subject to conventional
3607methods of proof. Put another way, a determination that X was
3618not convincingly proved is not functionally equivalent to a
3627finding that "Y, not X" occurred, with Y being either an
3638exculpatory alternative or an unknown event; rather, the
3646possibility that X happened is left open. With that in mind,
3657consider : What evidence would support an ultimate factual
3666determination that "X is possibly true, but the trier is not
3677convinced that it is highly probable that X happened as
3687alleged"? In the end, the factfinder's determination that the
3696evidence has failed to convince him of the truth of an
3707allegation sought to be established reflects his subjective
3715judgment about the quality and quantity of the evidence adduced,
3725taking into account "intangibles" such as witnesses' demeanor
3733and body language that a reviewing court cannot reliably assess.
3743More critical than the logic, perhaps, is the notion,
3752implicit in a review to determine whether there is evidence in
3763support of a determination that an agency's proof was not clear
3774and convincing, that the party against whom a clear and
3784convincing case must be made needs to come forward with evidence
3795proving the deficiencies in the agency's presentation. Indeed,
3803in Williams the court ruled that unrebutted testimony made out a
3814clear and convincing "prima facie" showing that the factfinder
3823was "bound" to believe, even though he had chosen to reject the
3835evidence as insufficiently persuasive. Id. This, it seems,
3843cannot be followed as a general rule : A factfinder must be
3855permitted to reject testimony that, in his judgment, is
3864incredible, untrue, unreliable, or mistakeneven if that
3871testimony is not contradicted either by cross-examination or
3879direct evidence. Further, for any number of reasons unique to a
3890particular case, evidence that is unrebutted may not be so
3900persuasive and of such weight that it produces in the
3910factfinder's mind a firm conviction regarding the truth of the
3920matter to be proved, despite its unchallenged status. The clear
3930and convincing standard presupposes that the proponent may
3938introduce some credible evidence in support of its positionmay
3947even prove that its allegations are more likely than not true
3958and yet lose. The raison d'etre of a heightened standard of
3969proof, after all, is to reduce the margin for error in favor of
3982the respondent whose substantial property interests (in a
3990disciplinary proceeding such as this) are at stake.
3998Here, the correct and applicable legal principle, it is
4007held, is that the respondent was not required to come forward
4018with any evidence unless and until the agency first introduced
4028proof that turned out to be, in the factfinder's ultimate
4038judgment, clear and convincing if left unchallenged. See
4046Greenfield Estate Development Corp. v. Merritt , 348 So. 2d 1199,
40561201 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977)(defendant has no duty to go forward with
4068evidence until plaintiff establishes prima facie case).
4075Needless to say, where, as here, the standard of proof is clear
4087and convincing evidence, the agency's "prima facie" case must be
4097made with clear and convincing evidenceand nothing less than
4106that will shift the burden of going forward with the
4116presentation of evidence to the respondent. Steinhardt v.
4124Steinhardt , 445 So. 2d 352, 355-56 (Fla. 3d DCA), pet. rev.
4135denied , 456 So. 2d 1181 (1984)(plaintiffs' failure to adduce
4144clear and convincing evidence, which must be presented to make
4154prima facie case for imposition of constructive trust, justified
4163involuntary dismissal at conclusion of plaintiffs' case-in-
4170chief). Obviously, a respondent takes a substantial risk when
4179she chooses not to offer evidence in support of an exculpatory
4190alternative to the agency's theory of guilt, because she does
4200not know, during the hearing, whether the agency has convinced
4210the administrative law judge that its version of history is
4220correct. Cf. Willingham v. Secretary of Health, Education and
4229Welfare , 377 F.Supp. 1254, 1257 (S.D.Fla. 1974)(plaintiff always
4237has burden of persuasion, which never shifts, but he may produce
4248sufficient proof that his opponent's failure to adduce
4256contradictory evidence may, and in some cases must, lead to a
4267decision for plaintiff). She is entitled, however, to take that
4277chance.
4278In the instant case, the Department's proof was not clear
4288and convincing in the first instance, even if unchallenged. The
4298Department, in short, failed to establish a prima facie case.
4308Consequently, the burden of moving forward with the presentation
4317of evidence never shifted to Keys. The discussion of the
4327(irrelevant) facts that follows in the text will demonstrate
4336that the factfinder did not simply choose to disbelieve the
4346Department's witnesses but, in the deliberative exercise of his
4355prerogatives as the arbiter of credibility and weigher of
4364evidence, concluded that the Department's proof simply lacked
4372the persuasive force that the clear and convincing standard
4381demands.
43823 / The factfinder has not forgotten that Detective Drum's
4392probable cause affidavit contains Keys' social security number
4400and date of birth, or that Detective Domako's event report
4410contains a known residence address of Keys. These facts do not
4421convincingly establish that Keys was "Debbie," however, because,
4429by January 5, 1998, after the search warrant was served on
4440Shogun, the authorities were clearly aware of Keys' namefrom
4449Shogun's employment records if from no other source; and, while
4459Shogun's records probably would have revealed Keys' social
4467security number, date of birth, and residence address as well,
4477the detectives, armed with Keys' name at least, could easily
4487have obtained that additional information about her, regardless
4495whether she had, in fact, offered to engage Detective Drum in
4506sexual activities on December 29, 1997.
4512COPIES FURNISHED:
4514Gary L. Asbell, Esquire
4518Agency for Health Care Administration
45232727 Mahan Drive
4526Building Three, Mail Station 39
4531Tallahassee, Florida 32308
4534John G. George, Esquire
4538Law Offices of John G. George, P.A.
4545409 Southeast 7th Street
4549Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
4553William H. Buckhalt, Executive Director
4558Board of Massage Therapy
4562Department of Health
45654052 Bald Cypress Way
4569Bin C06
4571Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1701
4574Theodore M. Henderson, Agency Clerk
4579Department of Health
45824052 Bald Cypress Way
4586Bin A02
4588Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1701
4591NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS
4597All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within
460715 days from the date of this R ecommended O rder. Any exceptions
4620to this R ecommended O rder should be filed with the agency that
4633will issue the F inal O rder in this case.
- Date
- Proceedings
- PDF:
- Date: 09/21/2001
- Proceedings: Letter to Judge Laningham from J. George concerning his receipt of the Recommended Order filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 09/04/2001
- Proceedings: Recommended Order issued (hearing held May 22, 2001) CASE CLOSED.
- PDF:
- Date: 09/04/2001
- Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying hearing record referred to the Agency sent out.
- PDF:
- Date: 07/09/2001
- Proceedings: Respondent`s Motion for Extension of Time to File Proposed Order filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 06/14/2001
- Proceedings: Order Regarding Proposed Recommended Orders issued. (proposed recommended orders shall be filed by 7/11/01)
- Date: 06/11/2001
- Proceedings: Transcript filed.
- Date: 06/04/2001
- Proceedings: Letter to Judge Van Laningham from Gary Asbell, Original Exhibits, Tagged filed.
- Date: 05/22/2001
- Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held; see case file for applicable time frames.
- PDF:
- Date: 05/18/2001
- Proceedings: Amended Notice of Video Teleconference issued. (hearing scheduled for May 22, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, FL, amended as to video and location).
- PDF:
- Date: 05/17/2001
- Proceedings: Petitioner`s Amended Response to Pre-trial Order (filed via facsimile).
- PDF:
- Date: 05/09/2001
- Proceedings: Letter to J. George from G. Asbell (enclosing copy of Record of Dismissal in criminal case no. 98-3966) filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 04/10/2001
- Proceedings: Memorandum of Law in Support of Respondent`s Motion to Dismiss (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
- PDF:
- Date: 03/09/2001
- Proceedings: Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for May 22, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
- PDF:
- Date: 03/09/2001
- Proceedings: Joint Response to Order Directing Discussion and Deisement of Length of Hearing and Mutually Agreeable Hearing Dates (filed via facsimile).
- PDF:
- Date: 03/05/2001
- Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance issued (parties to advise status by March 9, 2001).
- PDF:
- Date: 03/05/2001
- Proceedings: Respondent`s Emergency Motion for Continuance (filed via facsimile).
- PDF:
- Date: 03/01/2001
- Proceedings: Amended Notice of Video Teleconference issued. (hearing scheduled for March 9, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, FL, amended as to video, time, and location).
- PDF:
- Date: 02/06/2001
- Proceedings: Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for March 9, 2001; 10:00 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
Case Information
- Judge:
- JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
- Date Filed:
- 01/24/2001
- Date Assignment:
- 03/02/2001
- Last Docket Entry:
- 12/10/2001
- Location:
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- District:
- Southern
- Agency:
- ADOPTED IN TOTO
- Suffix:
- PL
Counsels
-
Gary L. Asbell, Esquire
Address of Record -
John G George, Esquire
Address of Record