02-000558 Robert L. Parker vs. Department Of Business And Professional Regulation And Florida Real Estate Commission
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Wednesday, June 26, 2002.


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Summary: Petitioner convicted of misdemeanor larceny, driving while impaired, and passing worthless checks, with last offense occurring in August 2000. Petitioner`s application for licensure as real estate salesperson should be dismissed.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8ROBERT L. PARKER, )

12)

13Petitioner, )

15)

16vs. ) Case No. 02 - 0558

23)

24DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND )

29PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, )

32FLORIDA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION, )

37)

38Respondents. )

40_________________________________)

41RECOMMENDED ORDE R

44Pursuant to notice, a formal hearing was held in this case

55on April 10, 2002, by video teleconference, with the parties

65appearing in Miami, Florida, before Patricia Hart Malono, a

74duly - designated Administrative Law Judge of the Division of

84Administrativ e Hearings, who presided in Tallahassee, Florida.

92APPEARANCES

93For Petitioner: Donna K. Ryan, Esquire

99Department of Business and

103Professional Regulation

105Hurston North Tower

108400 West Robinson Street, Suite N308

114Orlando, Florida 32801 - 1772

119For Respondent: Robert L. Parker, pro se

12644 Douglas Drive

129Boynton Beach, Florida 33435

133STATEMENT OF TH E ISSUE

138Whether the Petitioner's application for licensure as a

146real estate salesperson should be granted or denied.

154PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

156In an Order entered November 27, 2001, the Florida Real

166Estate Commission ("Commission") denied the application of

175R obert L. Parker for licensure as a real estate salesperson.

186The Commission stated in the Order that the application was

196denied "based on the applicant's criminal record and answer to

206Question #9." Mr. Parker timely requested an administrative

214hearing, an d the Department of Business and Professional

223Regulation, Division of Real Estate, transmitted the matter to

232the Division of Administrative Hearings for assignment of an

241administrative law judge. Pursuant to notice, the final hearing

250was held on April 10, 2002.

256At the hearing, Mr. Parker testified in his own behalf; he

267did not offer any exhibits into evidence. The Commission did

277not present the testimony of any witnesses, but Respondent's

286Exhibits 1 through 6 were offered and received into evidence.

296Offi cial recognition was accorded to Chapters 120, 455, and 475,

307Florida Statutes, and to Rule Chapter 61J - 2.

316The transcript of the proceedings was filed with the

325Division of Administrative Hearings on April 23, 2002. Neither

334party filed proposed findings of fact or conclusions of law.

344FINDINGS OF FACT

347Based on the oral and documentary evidence presented at the

357final hearing and on the entire record of this proceeding, the

368following findings of fact are made:

3741. The Commission operates within the Department of

382Business and Professional Regulation and is the entity

390responsible for certifying to the Department that an applicant

399for licensure under Chapter 475 is qualified to practice as a

410real estate broker or salesperson. Sections 475.02 and .181,

419Florida Sta tutes (2001).

4232. On or about June 12, 2001, Mr. Parker submitted his

434application for licensure as a real estate salesperson to the

444Commission.

4453. In the application, Mr. Parker answered "yes" to

454Question 9, which asks in pertinent part:

461Have you ever bee n convicted of a crime,

470found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or

479nolo contendere (no contest), even if

485adjudication was withheld? . . .

491If you answered "Yes," attach the full

498details including dates and outcome,

503including any sentence and conditions

508i mposed, on a separate sheet of paper.

5164. Mr. Parker attached to his application the results of a

527North Carolina criminal records check, which consisted of a

536cover sheet and three pages.

5415. Relevant to this proceeding, the information attached

549to Mr. Par ker's application establishes the following:

557a. On May 26, 1994, Mr. Parker was found guilty of

568misdemeanor larceny; there is no indication that he received a

578sentence or paid a fine, court costs, or restitution.

587b. On June 29, 1995, Mr. Parker was found guilty of

598driving while impaired; he was sentenced to one year's

607unsupervised probation and paid either a fine or court costs in

618the amount of $160.00.

622c. On July 8, 1996, Mr. Parker waived trial on a charge of

635passing a worthless check; he paid either a fine or court costs

647in the amount of $60.00 and restitution in the amount of $76.30.

659d. On July 31, 1998, Mr. Parker was convicted of

669misdemeanor larceny; he was sentenced to six month's

677unsupervised probation and paid either a fine or court costs in

688the amount of $130.00.

692e. On June 12, 2000, Mr. Parker was found guilty of

703violating a domestic violence protective order; he was sentenced

712to six month's unsupervised probation and paid either a fine or

723court costs in the amount of $186.00.

730f. On August 6, 2000, Mr. Parker was charged with driving

741while impaired and driving without a license in his possession;

751trial was scheduled for February 21, 2001, but no disposition is

762indicated in the materials Mr. Parker provided.

7696. Mr. Parker admits to having driv en while impaired in

780August 2000, but he has not been in trouble since his arrest on

793this charge. He completed an alcohol treatment program and has

803not consumed alcohol for one and one - half years.

8137. Mr. Parker understands that he has had problems in the

824past and believes that he has done better in the past two years.

837He moved to Florida in January 2001 in order to make a new life.

851At the time of the hearing, he was employed as a server at a

865restaurant. In that job, he routinely handles up to $1,000.00

876in cash each day and always turns the money over to management.

888CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

8918. The Division of Administrative Hearings has

898jurisdiction over the subject matter of this proceeding and of

908the parties thereto pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57( 1),

918Florida Statutes (2001).

9219. Because this case involves the denial of Mr. Parker's

931application for licensure as a real estate salesperson, it is

941his burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he

953meets the minimum requirements for licensure . See Department of

963Banking and Finance, Division of Securities and Investor

971Protection v. Osborne Stern and Co. , 670 So. 2d 932, 933 - 34

984(Fla. 1996).

98610. Section 475.181(2), Florida Statutes (2001),

992provides that the Commission "may refuse to certify an y

1002applicant who . . . is subject to discipline under s. 475.25."

101411. Pursuant to Section 475.25(1)(f), Florida Statutes

1021(2001), the Commission may discipline a licensee or deny an

1031application for a real estate license if it finds that the

1042applicant "[h]as been convicted or found guilty of . . . a crime

1055in any jurisdiction which . . . involves moral turpitude or

1066fraudulent or dishonest dealing.

107012. In Pearl v. Florida Board of Real Estate , 394 So. 2d

1082189, 191 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981), the court found "that moral

1093turpitude involves duties owed by man to society, as well as

1104acts 'contrary to justice, honesty, principle, or good morals,'"

1114and it held that "[c]rimes constituting violations of one's

1123duties in dealings with members of society may be classified as

1134crime s involving moral turpitude."

113913. Based on the findings of fact herein, Mr. Parker has

1150admitted to having been found guilty of the crimes of

1160misdemeanor larceny, passing worthless checks, and driving while

1168impaired. These crimes involve moral turpitude a nd dishonesty,

1177and the Commission may, therefore, refuse to certify Mr. Parker

1187for licensure pursuant to Sections 475.181(2) and 475.25(1)(f),

1195Florida Statutes (2001).

119814. However, the Commission's authority to deny an

1206application for licensure is discret ionary, as indicated by the

1216legislature's use of the word "may" in Sections 475.181(2) and

1226475.25(1), Florida Statutes (2001). Accordingly, Mr. Parker has

1234the opportunity to establish that he is entitled to licensure by

1245proving that he is "honest, truthfu l, trustworthy, and of good

1256character." Section 475.17(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2001).

126215. Based on the findings of fact herein, Mr. Parker has

1273not proven by a preponderance of the evidence that he is

1284trustworthy or of good character given his arrest and apparent

1294conviction for driving while impaired in August 2000.

1302Mr. Parker is apparently turning his life around and, perhaps,

1312in time, he will be able to meet this burden of proving

1324entitlement to licensure as a real estate salesperson. Cf.

1333Antel v. Dep artment of Professional Regulation, Florida Real

1342Estate Commission , 522 So. 2d 1056 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988)(even

1352though applicant was convicted of crime involving moral

1360turpitude, applicant may be granted license if he proves

1369rehabilitation).

1370RECOMMENDATION

1371Ba sed on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

1382Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Florida Real Estate Commission

1392enter a final order denying the application of Robert L. Parker

1403for licensure as a real estate salesperson.

1410DONE AND ENTERED this 26th d ay of June, 2002, in

1421Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

1425___________________________________

1426PATRICIA HART MALONO

1429Administrative Law Judge

1432Di vision of Administrative Hearings

1437The DeSoto Building

14401230 Apalachee Parkway

1443Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 3060

1448(850) 488 - 9675 SUNCOM 278 - 96 75

1457Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847

1463www.doah.state.fl.us

1464Filed with the Clerk of the

1470Division of Administrative Hearings

1474this 26th day of June, 2002.

1480COPIES FURNISHED:

1482Robert L. Parker

148544 Douglas Drive

1488Boynton Beach, Florida 33435

1492Donna K. Ryan, Esquire

1496Department of Business and

1500Professional Regulation

1502Hurston North Tower

1505400 West Robinson Street, Suite N308

1511Orla ndo, Florida 32801 - 1772

1517Hardy L. Roberts, III, General Counsel

1523Department of Business and

1527Professional Regulation

1529Northwood Centre

15311940 North Monroe Street

1535Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 2202

1540Dean Saunders, Chairperson

1543Florida Real Estate Commission

1547400 West Robinson Street

1551Post Office Box 1900

1555Orlando, Florida 32802 - 1900

1560NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

1566All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within

157615 days from the date of this recommended order. Any exceptions

1587to this recommend ed order should be filed with the agency that

1599will issue the final order in this case.

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PDF
Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 07/15/2004
Proceedings: Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/23/2003
Proceedings: Agency Final Order
PDF:
Date: 06/26/2002
Proceedings: Recommended Order
PDF:
Date: 06/26/2002
Proceedings: Recommended Order issued (hearing held April 10, 2002) CASE CLOSED.
PDF:
Date: 06/26/2002
Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying hearing record referred to the Agency sent out.
PDF:
Date: 04/23/2002
Proceedings: Transcripts filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/23/2002
Proceedings: Notice of Filing Transcript sent out.
Date: 04/10/2002
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held; see case file for applicable time frames.
PDF:
Date: 04/02/2002
Proceedings: Respondent`s Response to Order of Pre-Hearing Instructions filed.
PDF:
Date: 03/04/2002
Proceedings: Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
PDF:
Date: 03/04/2002
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for April 10, 2002; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 02/25/2002
Proceedings: Joint Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
PDF:
Date: 02/15/2002
Proceedings: Initial Order issued.
PDF:
Date: 02/14/2002
Proceedings: Order 2 filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/14/2002
Proceedings: Request for Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/14/2002
Proceedings: Agency referral filed.

Case Information

Judge:
PATRICIA M. HART
Date Filed:
02/14/2002
Date Assignment:
02/18/2002
Last Docket Entry:
07/15/2004
Location:
West Palm Beach, Florida
District:
Southern
Agency:
ADOPTED IN TOTO
 

Counsels

Related Florida Statute(s) (5):