10-000038 Department Of Business And Professional Regulation, Division Of Hotels And Restaurants vs. Bradford Motel
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Friday, April 9, 2010.


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Summary: Failure to provide smoke detectors for hearing-impaired residents is a critical violation.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND )

13PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, )

16DIVISION OF HOTELS AND )

21RESTAURANTS, )

23)

24Petitioner, )

26)

27vs. ) Case No. 10-0038

32)

33BRADFORD MOTEL, )

36)

37Respondent. )

39)

40RECOMMENDED ORDER

42On February 17, 2010, an administrative hearing in this

51case was held by video teleconference between Tallahassee and

60Tampa, Florida, before William F. Quattlebaum, Administrative

67Law Judge, Division of Administrative Hearings.

73APPEARANCES

74For Petitioner: Charles F. Tunnicliff, Esquire

80Department of Business and

84Professional Regulation

861940 North Monroe Street, Suite 42

92Tallahassee, Florida 32399

95For Respondent: Tom Collins, pro se

101Bradford Motel

1032811 Highway 60 East

107Valrico, Florida 33594

110STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

114The issues in the case are whether the allegations of the

125Administrative Complaint are correct, and, if so, what penalty

134should be imposed.

137PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

139By an undated Administrative Complaint, the Department of

147Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and

155Restaurants (Petitioner), alleged that the Bradford Motel

162(Respondent), owned and operated by Tom Collins, was determined

171after inspection to be in violation of various health and safety

182regulations. Mr. Collins filed a request for a formal

191administrative hearing dated September 8, 2008, with the

199Petitioner. On January 4, 2010, the Petitioner forwarded the

208request to the Division of Administrative Hearings, which

216scheduled and conducted the formal hearing.

222At the hearing, the Petitioner presented the testimony of

231two witnesses and had Exhibits 1 through 4 admitted into

241evidence. Mr. Collins participated in the hearing by telephone

250and testified on behalf of the Respondent.

257The Transcript of the hearing was filed on March 8, 2010.

268The Petitioner filed a Proposed Recommended Order on March 16,

2782010.

279FINDINGS OF FACT

2821. The Petitioner is the state agency charged with

291regulation of hotels and restaurants pursuant to Chapter 509,

300Florida Statutes (2008).

3032. At all times material to this case, the Respondent was

314a residential hotel located at 2811 East Highway 60, Valrico,

324Florida 33594, and holding license number 6268431.

3313. On May 6, 2008, Mark Cannella, a trained inspector

341employed by the Petitioner, performed a routine inspection of

350the Respondent.

3524. Mr. Cannella identified various safety regulation

359violations in a written report that was provided at the time of

371the inspection to Carolyn Seas, a representative of the

380Respondent.

3815. Safety regulation violations that constitute an

388immediate threat to public safety are deemed to be "critical"

398violations.

3996. Mr. Cannella noted in his inspection report that, at

409the time of the inspection, the Respondent had no smoke

419detectors capable of providing appropriate warning to hearing-

427impaired motel residents.

4307. The absence of smoke detectors capable of warning

439hearing-impaired residents was identified as a critical

446violation because hearing-impaired guests may be unable to hear

455the alarm presented by a standard smoke detection device.

4648. Mr. Cannella's inspection report also noted that there

473was no backflow prevention device installed on a water heater

483hose bibb.

4859. A backflow prevention device prevents potentially

492contaminated water from being drawn into supply lines. The lack

502of a backflow prevention device presents a contamination risk to

512the entire water supply, should tainted water be drawn back into

523the supply lines.

52610. A re-inspection was conducted on June 11, 2008, by

536Eric Singletary, another inspector employed by the Petitioner.

544Mr. Singletary's inspection report noted that the violations

552related to the smoke detection devices and the backflow

561prevention device had not been corrected. A copy of

570Mr. Singletary's written report was again provided to Ms. Seas.

58011. A second re-inspection was conducted by Mr. Singletary

589on July 9, 2008. Mr. Singletary's inspection report noted that

599the violations related to the smoke detection devices and

608backflow prevention device still remained uncorrected. Ms. Seas

616was again provided a copy of Mr. Singletary's written report.

626CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

62912. The Division of Administrative Hearings has

636jurisdiction over the parties to and the subject matter of this

647proceeding. §§ 120.569 and 120.57, Fla. Stat. (2009).

65513. The Petitioner is the state agency charged with the

665regulation of public lodging establishments in the State of

674Florida. See Chapter 509, Fla. Stat. (2008).

68114. The Administrative Complaint alleged that, at the time

690of the inspections identified herein, the Respondent lacked

698proper smoke detection devices and a backflow prevention device.

707Additional allegations set forth in the Administrative Complaint

715that were related to mattress pads were dismissed by the

725Petitioner at the hearing.

72915. The Petitioner has the burden of proving by clear and

740convincing evidence the remaining allegations set forth in the

749Administrative Complaint against the Respondent. Department of

756Banking and Finance v. Osborne Stern and Company , 670 So. 2d 932

768(Fla. 1996); Ferris v. Turlington , 510 So. 2d 292 (Fla. 1987).

779The burden has been met.

78416. Section 509.216, Florida Statutes (2008), requires

791that "[s]pecialized smoke detectors for the deaf and hearing

800impaired shall be available upon request by guests in public

810lodging establishments at a rate of at least one such smoke

821detector per 50 dwelling units or portions thereof, not to

831exceed five such smoke detectors per public lodging facility."

84017. The evidence presented in this case establishes that

849the Respondent failed to have the appropriate smoke detection

858devices available for use by hearing-impaired guests.

86518. The Petitioner has adopted by incorporation the

873applicable provisions of the Food Code. Fla. Admin. Code

882R. 61C-4.010(1). In relevant part, Food Code Rule 5-203.14

891requires that the plumbing system preclude the backflow of

900potential contaminants into the water supply through the

908installation of proper backflow devices on hose bibbs.

91619. The evidence presented in this case establishes that

925the Respondent failed to have an appropriate backflow prevention

934device installed on a water heater hose bibb.

94220. Subsection 509.261(1), Florida Statutes (2008),

948provides that each offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed

960$1,000 per offense. In addition, offenses may be disciplined by

971mandatory attendance at an educational program sponsored by the

980Hospitality Education Program, or by suspension, revocation, or

988refusal of a license.

992RECOMMENDATION

993Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

1003Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department of Business and

1013Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants,

1020enter a final order imposing a fine of $1,000 against the

1032Respondent and requiring that the Respondent complete an

1040appropriate educational program related to the violations

1047identified herein.

1049DONE AND ENTERED this 9th day of April, 2010, in

1059Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

1063S

1064WILLIAM F. QUATTLEBAUM

1067Administrative Law Judge

1070Division of Administrative Hearings

1074The DeSoto Building

10771230 Apalachee Parkway

1080Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060

1083(850) 488-9675

1085Fax Filing (850) 921-6847

1089www.doah.state.fl.us

1090Filed with the Clerk of the

1096Division of Administrative Hearings

1100this 9th day of April, 2010.

1106COPIES FURNISHED :

1109Charles F. Tunnicliff, Esquire

1113Department of Business and

1117Professional Regulation

11191940 North Monroe Street, Suite 42

1125Tallahassee, Florida 32399

1128Tom Collins

1130Bradford Motel

11322811 Highway 60 East

1136Valrico, Florida 33594

1139Reginald Dixon, General Counsel

1143Department of Business and

1147Professional Regulation

1149Northwood Centre

11511940 North Monroe Street

1155Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

1158William L. Veach, Director

1162Division of Hotels and Restaurants

1167Department of Business and

1171Professional Regulation

1173Northwood Centre

11751940 North Monroe Street

1179Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

1182NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

1188All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within

119815 days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions

1209to this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that

1220will issue the Final Order in this case.

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PDF
Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 07/06/2010
Proceedings: (Agency) Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 06/02/2010
Proceedings: Agency Final Order
PDF:
Date: 04/09/2010
Proceedings: Recommended Order
PDF:
Date: 04/09/2010
Proceedings: Recommended Order (hearing held February 17, 2010). CASE CLOSED.
PDF:
Date: 04/09/2010
Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
PDF:
Date: 03/16/2010
Proceedings: Petitioners Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Date: 03/08/2010
Proceedings: Transcript filed.
Date: 02/17/2010
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 02/17/2010
Proceedings: Letter to Whom it may Concern from T. Collins regarding unable to attend hearing in person filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/16/2010
Proceedings: Petitioner's Witness List filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/16/2010
Proceedings: Petitioner's Exhibit List filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2010
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for February 17, 2010; 11:45 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to Tallahassee hearing location and hearing time).
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2010
Proceedings: Order Denying Petitioner`s Motion for Continuance and Amending Hearing Time.
PDF:
Date: 02/05/2010
Proceedings: Petitioner's Motion for Continuance filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/01/2010
Proceedings: Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
PDF:
Date: 02/01/2010
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing (hearing set for February 17, 2010; 9:30 a.m.; Tampa, FL).
PDF:
Date: 01/19/2010
Proceedings: Response to Initial Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/15/2010
Proceedings: Letter to Attorney Tunnicliff from T. Collins reagarding money issues filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/06/2010
Proceedings: Initial Order.
PDF:
Date: 01/05/2010
Proceedings: Election of Rights filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/05/2010
Proceedings: Administrative Complaint filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/05/2010
Proceedings: Agency referral filed.

Case Information

Judge:
WILLIAM F. QUATTLEBAUM
Date Filed:
01/05/2010
Date Assignment:
01/06/2010
Last Docket Entry:
07/06/2010
Location:
Tampa, Florida
District:
Middle
Agency:
ADOPTED IN TOTO
 

Counsels

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