15-006204RP The Public Health Trust Of Miami-Dade County, Florida vs. Department Of Health
 Status: Closed
DOAH Final Order on Friday, April 8, 2016.


View Dockets  
Summary: Trauma center certification applicant did not have standing to challenge rules for creating trauma agencies that coordinate trauma systems. Alleged injury was speculative and not immediate.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST OF

13MIAMI - DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA,

18Petitioner,

19vs. Case No. 15 - 6204RP

25DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,

28Respondent,

29and

30KENDALL HEALTHCARE GROUP, LTD ,

34d/b/a KENDALL REGIONAL MEDICAL

38CENTER ; AND O RANGE PARK MEDICAL

44CENTER, INC ., d/b/a ORANGE PARK

50MEDICAL CENTER,

52Intervenors.

53_______________________________/

54FINAL ORDER

56Administrative Law Judge John D. C. Newton, II, of the

66Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) conducted the final

74hearing on February 22, 2016, in Tallahassee, Florida.

82APPEARANCES

83For Petitioner : Thomas Francis Panza, Esquire

90Paul Buckley, Esquire

93Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A.

98Bank of America Building, Third Floor

1043600 North Federal Highway

108Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308

112For Respondent: Daniel Ryan Russell, Esquire

118Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,

122Carrere and Denegre, LLP

126Post Office Box 351

130Tallahassee, Florida 32302 - 0351

135Nichole Chere Geary, General Counsel

140Department of Health

143Bin A - 02

1474052 Bald Cypress Way

151Tallahassee, Florida 32399

154For Intervenors: Stephen A. Ecenia, Esquire

160J. Stephen Menton, Esquire

164Gabriel F.V. Warren, Esquire

168Rutledge, Ecenia and Purnell, P.A.

173119 South Monroe Street, Suite 202

179Post Office Box 551

183Tallahassee, Florida 32302 - 0551

188STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

192A. Doe s Petitioner, The Public Health Trust of Miami - Dade

204County, Florida (Health Trust), have standing to challenge

212Department of Health (Department) proposed rules 64J - 2.007,

22164J - 2.008, and 64J - 2.009?

228B. Is proposed rule 64J - 2.007 an invalid exercise of

239dele gated legislative authority?

243C. Is proposed rule 64J - 2.008 an invalid exercise of

254delegated legislative authority?

257D. Is proposed rule 64J - 2.009 an invalid exercise of

268delegated legislative authority?

271PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

273This is a challenge, brought u nder the authority of

283section 120.56, Florida Statutes (2015), 1/ to the validity of

293three proposed rules of the Department. Health Trust filed a

303Petition for Determination of Invalidity of Proposed Rules. The

312petition challenges the validity of proposed rules 64J - 2.007,

32264J - 2.008, 64J - 2.009, and 64J - 2.010. Three of those rules

336regulate approval of trauma agencies. Kendall Healthcare Group,

344Ltd. , d/b/a Kendall Regional Medical Center (Kendall Regional),

352and Orange Park Medical Center, Inc., d/b/a Orang e Park Medical

363Center (Orange Park), were granted leave to intervene.

371After the parties conducted discovery, the Department

378withdrew proposed rule 64J - 2.010. The validity of that proposed

389rule is no longer an issue in this proceeding. The parties twice

401s ought and obtained a continuance of the final hearing scheduled,

412thereby waiving the time periods established by section

420120.56(1)(c). By Order Granting Second Continuance and

427Scheduling Pre - Hearing Conference, the undersigned scheduled the

436final hearing for February 22, 2016. The final hearing convened

446as scheduled.

448Health Trust presented testimony from Leah Colston and

456offered Exhibits 1 through 11 into evidence. The exhibits were

466admitted. The Health Trust also offered as Exhibit 12 exce r pts

478of the d eposition of Laura Hunter. Those excerpts along with

489other excerpts , designated by the other parties for completeness ,

498were accepted. The excerpts of the deposition admitted are:

507page 5, line 5, through page 7, line 23

516page 11, line 15, through page 13, line 2

525page 12, line 6, through page 13, line 2

534page 17, Line 2, through page 18, line 4

543page 52, line 2, through page 55, line 12

552page 59, line 15, through page 61, line 16

561page 61, line 17, through page 62, line 18

570page 65, line 7, through page 68 , line 1

579page 66, line 9 through page 66, line 23

588page 67, line 24, through page 68, 2/ line 1

598page 97, lines 4 through 18

604The Department, Kendall Regional, and Orange Park did not

613otherwise offer evidence. The parties timely filed proposed

621orders , whic h have been considered in the preparation of this

632Final Order.

634FINDINGS OF FACT

637The Parties

6391. Health Trust is an entity of Miami - Dade County. Health

651Trust oversees the Jackson Health System, a health care provider

661functioning as a three - hospital system . One hospital is Jackson

673Memorial Hospital, a licensed acute care general hospital located

682in Trauma Service Area (TSA) 19. It operates a verified Level I

694trauma center, which is a part of the Miami - Dade County trauma

707system. Health Trust also operates Jackson South Community

715Hospital (Jackson South), a licensed acute care general hospital

724in TSA 19.

7272. There is no trauma agency in TSA 19. Health Trust is

739not a trauma agency. It is not attempting to form or to be a

753part of a coalition to form a trau ma agency for Miami - Dade

767County.

7683. Jackson South is committed to obtaining authority to

777operate a Level II trauma center. In April 2015 , it applied to

789operate a Level II trauma center. The Department denied the

799application. Jackson South challenged th e denial and requested a

809formal administrative hearing. The Department referred the

816challenge to DOAH, where it was assigned Case No. 15 - 3171. Since

829the hearing in this case, Administrative Law Judge John

838Van Laningham issued an order recommending appro val of Jackson

848SouthÓs application. 3/ As of the date of this O rder, the

860Department has not issued a final order.

8674. In September 2015, Jackson South submitted a trauma

876center letter of intent to the Department expressing its intent

886to become a Level II t rauma center in TSA 19. This was a

900cautionary filing in the event the Department denies Jackson

909SouthÓs first application now pending in DOAH Case No. 15 - 3171.

9215. Kendall Healthcare is located in Miami, Florida. It is

931a licensed acute care general hospi tal located in TSA 19.

942Kendall Hea lthcare is a verified Level II trauma c enter.

9536. Orange Park is located in Orange Park, Florida. Orange

963Park is a licensed acute care general hospital located in TSA 5.

975There is no trauma agency in TSA 5. Orange Park s ubmitted a

988Trauma Center letter of i ntent to the Department in September

9992015 , express ing its intent to file an application to become a

1011Level II trauma center.

10157. The Department is the state agency authorized to verify

1025and regulate trauma centers and appr ove the establishment of

1035trauma agencies in the state of Florida. It published the

1045p roposed t rauma a gency r ules challenged in this proceeding.

1057The Florida Trauma System

10618. Chapter 395, Part II, Florida Statutes , creates a plan

1071to establish an inclusive t rauma system to meet the needs of

1083trauma victims. § 395.40(2), Fla. Stat. The Legislature defined

1092Ðinclusive trauma systemÑ to mean Ða system designed to meet the

1103needs of all injured trauma victims who require care in an acute -

1116care setting and into whic h every health care provider or

1127facility with resources to care for the injured trauma victim is

1138incorporated.Ñ Id . The Legislature placed primary

1145responsibility for the planning and establishment of this

1153statewide inclusive trauma system with the Depart ment.

1161§ 395.40(3), Fla. Stat.

11659. Section 395.402 establishes trauma service areas. One

1173component of the trauma system is the option for certain local or

1185regional organizations to form and operate trauma agencies to

1194plan, implement, and evaluate trau ma services systems in their

1204trauma system area. § 395.401(1)(a), Fla. Stat.

121110. Section 395.4001(11) defines a Ðtrauma agencyÑ as Ða

1220department - approved agency established and operated by one or

1230more counties, or a department - approved entity with which one or

1242more counties contract, for the purpose of administering an

1251inclusive regional trauma system.Ñ According to Leah Colston,

1259Bureau Chief for the DepartmentÓs Bureau of Emergency Medical

1268Oversight, a trauma agency Ðis the coordinating body for all of

1279the emergency health care systems in a regional area that is

1290designed to evaluate the system and perform its improvement

1299opportunities to better outputs for patients.Ñ (Tr. 34, lines

130822 - 25.)

131111. Section 395.401 governs establishment of trauma

1318a gencies. It provides that the Department Ðmay approve or not

1329approve trauma agency plans based on the conformance of the plan

1340with [sections 395.401,] 395.4015, 395.404, and 395.4045 and the

1350rules and definitions adopted by the department.Ñ

1357§ 395.401(1)(c) , Fla. Stat .

136212. There are four trauma agencies in Florida. One agency

1372covers 13 rural counties. The other three are for single

1382counties. The counties are Palm Beach, Broward, and

1390Hillsborough. There are no trauma agencies in TSA 19, which

1400covers Miami - Dade and Monroe Counties.

140713. The last time the Department received an application to

1417establish a new trauma agency was in 1991. There is no dedicated

1429funding source for trauma agencies. They must find their own

1439funding. Absent a consistent funding source , how and where and

1449when future trauma agencies may develop is unclear.

1457Rulemaking Process

145914. Over the past five years, there has been a considerable

1470amount of litigation about the DepartmentÓs rules governing the

1479allocation of the trauma centers around the state and

1488applications for new trauma centers.

149315. In September 2011, Administrative Law Judge David

1501Watkins issued a Final Order invalidating Department rules

1509governing the allocation of trauma centers throughout the state.

1518The First District Cou rt of Appeal affirmed the Final Order. 4/

153016. The Department pr oposed a new trauma allocation rule in

1541February 2014. Health Trust and other providers challenged that

1550rule. The rule was determined valid. 5/ Afterwards , several

1559providers applied for designati on as a trauma center in TSA 19,

1571including Jackson South.

157417. After adoption of the new rule , the Department

1583undertook review of its trauma center rules, including the rules

1593pertaining to trauma agencies. This was part of the DepartmentÓs

1603compliance with it s rule reduction mandate. In an effort to

1614reduce the number of Department rules and to align the rules with

1626the statutory requirements, the Department promulgated the

1633proposed rules challenged in this proceeding. As Ms. Colston

1642explained, the Departme nt intended for the proposed rules to

1652align the rule requirements with the statutory provisions

1660governing the formation of a trauma agency and to delete

1670unnecessary or redundant information.

167418. During the rulemaking process, the Department conducted

1682seve ral workshops. They were well - attended by representatives of

1693health care providers, including representatives of trauma

1700centers and emergency medical services providers. Health TrustÓs

1708representatives and legal counsel participated in the workshops.

17161 9. The Department heard testimony and accepted written

1725comments from the public. The Department thoroughly reviewed the

1734public comments and considered them in finalizing the proposed

1743rules.

1744CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

174720 . The Division of Administrative Hearings has

1755jurisdiction over the subject matter of this proceeding.

1763§§ 120.56(1)(a), 120.569 and 120.57(1), Fla. Stat.

1770Section 120.56(1)(a) provides:

1773Any person substantially affected by a rule

1780or a proposed rule may seek an administrative

1788determination of t he invalidity of the rule

1796on the ground that the rule is an invalid

1805exercise of delegated legislative authority.

181021 . Jurisdiction attaches when a person who is

1819substantially affected by a proposed rule claims that it is an

1830invalid exercise of delegated l egislative authority. The party

1839challenging the proposed rule bears the burden of going forward.

1849The agency then must prove by a preponderance of the evidence

1860that the proposed rule is not an invalid exercise of delegated

1871legislative authority. § 120.56 (2), Fla. Stat.

187822 . The Department, Kendall Regional, and Orange Park

1887maintain that Health Trust does not have standing to challenge

1897the proposed rules. Health Trust relies on its status as an

1908applicant for certification as a trauma center for its standi ng.

1919Health Trust must demonstrate that the proposed rules will

1928substantially affect it in order to prove standing.

1936§ 120.56(1)(a); Agrico Chemical Co. v. DepÓt of Envtl. Reg. , 406

1947So. 2d 478 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981).

195423 . Ð[T]he law of standing is often hard to define and

1966subject to dispute.Ñ NAACP, Inc. v. Fla. B d . of Regents , 822 So.

19802d 1, 14 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)(dissenting opinion, Judge Browning),

1990reversed , 863 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 2003). But standing has its

2001limits. Fla. Soc. of Ophthalmology v. State Bd. of Optometry ,

2011532 So. 2d 1279, 1284 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988) . A party's substantial

2024interests are determined if: (1) the party will suffer injury in

2035fact which is of sufficient immediacy to entitle it to a section

2047120.57 hearing, and (2) the party's substanti al injury is of a

2059type or nature which the proceeding is designed to protect.

2069Agrico , 406 So. 2d at 482. The first prong of this test deals

2082with the degree of injury or "injury in fact." The second deals

2094with the nature of the injury. The Department, K endal Regional,

2105and Orange Park argue that Health Trust does not have standing

2116under this test because the injury asserted is not real and

2127immediate. It is instead hypothetical, conjectural and

2134speculative, and based on future events that may never happen .

214524 . Determination of Health TrustÓs standing requires

2153analysis of a trauma agencyÓs role in the regulation of trauma

2164centers. Health Trust rests its claim for standing on specific

2174statutory provisions on the subject.

217925 . Section 395.4025(1), Flori da Statutes, is one. That

2189statute charges the Department with responsibility for developing

2197a system of trauma centers. It says that the Department Ðshall

2208establish the approximate number of trauma centers neededÑ in

2217each TSA Ðbased on the state trauma s ystem plan, the local or

2230regional trauma services system plan, and recommendations of the

2239lo cal or regional trauma agency. Ñ The Department must develop

2250this allocation by rule. The validity of the DepartmentÓs rule

2260for developing the allocation is no lon ger at issue in this

2272proceeding. However, Health Trust has challenged the newly -

2281proposed allocation rule in Public Health Trust of Mi ami - Dade

2293County, Florida v. Departmen t of Health , DOAH Case

2302No. 16 - 001596RP. 6 /

230826 . In order to be considered by the De partment, a would - be

2323trauma center Ðthat operates within the geographic area of a

2333local or regional trauma agency must certify that its intent to

2344operate as a trauma center is consistent with the trauma services

2355plan of the local or regional trauma agency. Ñ § 395.4025(2)(a),

2366Fla. Stat.

236827 . The critical elements for a trauma center application

2378include Ðreview of whether the applicant hasÑ the necessary

2387equipment and physical facilities, sufficient qualified

2393personnel, an effective quality assurance process , and written

2401confirmation by the local or regional trauma agency that the

2411applicant is consistent with the trauma agencyÓs plan, Ðas

2420approved by the department, if such agency exists.Ñ

2428§ 395.4025(1)(c) , Fla. Stat .

243328 . Ultimately , during the Departmen tÓs review of competing

2443trauma center applications, the trauma agencyÓs recommendation,

2450in a Department - approved plan, may serve as a Ðtie - breaker.Ñ

2463Florida Administrative Code Rule 64J - 2.016(11) currently says:

2472If the number of Provisional trauma centers

2479found eligible for selection by the

2485department in a given TSA exceeds the number

2493permitted, as provided in subsection 64J -

25002.010(3) , [7 /] F.A.C. , the following criteria

2507shall be applied independently and

2512consecutively to all Provisional trauma

2517centers in th e TSA un til application of the

2527criteria results in the number of trauma

2534centers authorized in subsection 64J -

25402.010(3), F.A.C., for that TSA. When that

2547occurs, the remaining cri teria shall not be

2555considered. The criteria to be applied are

2562as follows:

2564(a) A hospital recommended to be a trauma

2572center in the department - approved local or

2580regional trauma agency plan pursuan t to

2587subparagraph 64J - 2.007(2)(d)3., F.A.C., shall

2593be given approval preference over any

2599hospital which was not recommended.

260429 . The que stion is: Is the secondary role of trauma

2616agencies in the DepartmentÓs review of trauma center applications

2625explicated above sufficient to create an injury in fact of

2635sufficient immediacy to support standing for Health Trust to

2644challenge the rules governi ng the establishment of the agencies?

2654It i s not.

265830 . In every instance , it is the Department, not the

2669agency , that makes the decisions which may substantially affect a

2679trauma center applicant like Health Trust. The trauma agencies

2688are secondary and remo ved from any concrete decision. In

2698addition, all along the process, the decisions that Health Trust

2708claims may affect it, such as approval of trauma system plans or

2720trauma agency recommendations, are decisions separately subject

2727to challenge under section 120.569 as decisions affecting

2735substantial interests. Finally the ineluctable fact is that the

2744likelihood of a trauma agency being established in TSA 19 in the

2756foreseeable future is remote. Health TrustÓs theory for standing

2765rests on speculation and con jecture.

277131 . The cases Health Trust relies upon do not involve facts

2783where the effect is as remote as presented here. None involve

2794challenges to a process for selecting a group permitted to make

2805comments or recommendations to a decision maker. A discuss ion of

2816representative cases follows.

281932 . Professional Firefighters of Florida v. Departmen t of

2829Health & Rehabilitative Services . 396 So. 2d 1194 (Fla. 1 st DCA

28421981) , involved changes in rules for certification as a paramedic.

2852The petitioning association represented firefighters who performed

2859paramedic functions in their employment as firefighters. The rule

2868changes required state certification as a paramedic and would have

2878made it illegal for the firefighters to continue performing

2887paramedic functions in their jobs . The First District Court of

2898Appeal easily found that people who would be prohibited from

2908continuing to perform their job duties by a rule change had

2919standing to challenge the rule change.

292533 . Judge BoothÓs opinion noted the difference betwe en the

2936case and Department of Health & Rehabilitation Services v.

2945Alice P. , 367 So. 2d 1045, 1052 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979) , and Florida

2958Departmen t of Offender Rehab ilitation v. Jerry , 353 So. 2d 1230

2970(Fla. 1st DCA 1978), cert. denied , 359 So. 2d 1215 (Fla. 197 8),

2983in words appropriate here: ÐIn both Jerry and Alice P. , supra ,

2994the challengers were not subject to the rule or immediately

3004affected by it at the time suit was filed and were unlikely to be

3018affected in the future.Ñ ProfÓl Firefighters of Fla. V. DepÓt of

3029Health & Rehabilitative Servs . , 396 So. 2d 1194, 1196 (Fla. 1 st

3042DCA 1981).

304434 . Health TrustÓs reliance upon the opinion of Coalition

3054of Mental Health Professions , 546 So. 2d 27 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989) ,

3066is also misplaced. That opinion, like the opinions i n

3076Professional Firefighters and Reiff v. Northeast Florida State

3084Hosp ital , 710 So. 2d 1030 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998), holds that parties

3097whose behavior a rule directly regulates or whose rights a rule

3108limits have standing to challenge the rule. The challenged r ules

3119in Coalition of Mental Health Professions Ðdefine[d] the

3127practices of clinical social workers, marriage and family

3135therapists and mental health counselors, respectively.Ñ Coal. of

3143Mental Health Professions , 546 So. 2d at 28 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).

3155That substantially affected members of those mental health

3163professions.

316435 . The DepartmentÓs proposed rules do not directly

3173regulate the behavior of Health Trust or limit its rights in the

3185way that the behavior and rights of the petitioners were affected

3196in P rofessional Firefighters and Reiff . The opinion in

3206Professional Firefighters has been discussed.

321136 . Dr. Reiff was a licensed psychologist and Director of

3222Psychological Services at Northeast Florida State Hospital. He

3230challenged bylaws of the hospital Ó s Professional Staff

3239Organization because they had not been formally adopted. He also

3249challenged the by laws because they excluded psychologists from

3258obtaining clinical privileges to perform services that they were

3267authorized by the licensing laws to perf orm. The court reversed

3278a final o rder holding Dr. Reiff did not have stand ing. Reiff v.

3292Ne. Fla. State Hosp. , 710 So. 2d 1030 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998). It

3305held that the bylaws directly limited Dr. ReiffÓs rights. T he

3316proposed rules here do not directly, or even indirectly, limit

3326Health TrustÓs rights.

332937 . Health Trust, citing Shands Jacksonville Medical

3337C enter , Inc. v. State , 123 So. 3d 86 (Fla . 1st DCA 2013), tries

3352to piggy back on the unchallenged, but inapplicable , proposition

3361that a determination of t he number of trauma centers permitted in

3373a TSA would affect would - be trauma centers in that TSA. That is

3387not this case.

339038 . Parties do not have to prove immediate and ac tual harm

3403to establish standing, NAACP, Inc. v. Fla. Bd. of Regents , 863

3414So. 2d 294, 300 (Fla. 2003). But they have to show something.

3426This case involves rules that just do not have a real and

3438sufficiently immediate effect upon Health Trust. The record

3446demonstrates no effect that the proposed rules might have on

3456Health Trust. Its argu ments about how it may be affected are

3468speculation.

346939 . Health TrustÓs speculation is much like the speculation

3479of the Jai - Alai Players Association in International Jai - Alai

3491Players Association v. Florida Pari - Mutuel Com munity , 561 So. 2d

35031224 (Fla. 3d D CA 1990). The Association tried to contest an

3515application by jai - alai fronton owners to change opening and

3526closing dates, operation dates and make - up performance dates.

3536The Association claimed that the date changes would help fronton

3546owners in a labor di spute with the players. The court held that

3559the alleged injury was Ðfar too remote and speculative in nature

3570to qualify under the first prong of the Agrico standing test. Ñ

3582IntÓl Jai - Alai Players Ass'n v. Fla. Pari - Mutuel Com. , 561 So. 2d

3597at 1226 . The sa me applies to Health TrustÓs amorphous claims.

360940 . Florida Society of Ophthalmology v. State Board of

3619Optometry , 532 So. 2d 1279 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988) , is another

3630instructive case. The Florida Society of Ophthalmology tried to

3639challenge Board of Optometry rules for certifying optometrists to

3648administer and prescribe some topical drugs. The theory was that

3658optometrists prescribing the drugs to patients would take

3666business, and therefore revenue, from ophthalmologists who would

3674otherwise have prescribed them . The court recognized that

3683ophthalmologists might suffer some economic injury because of

3691competition from optometrist s performing services that

3698ophthalmologists Ðalone were pr eviously permitted to perform. Ñ

3707Id. at 1285. But the potential injury did not satisfy the

3718ÐimmediacyÑ requirement.

372041 . Health TrustÓs possible injury, whatever it may be, is

3731not immediate enough. Notably Health Trust has not identified

3740what injury might follow from the rules for creating trauma

3750agencies. How would one process as opposed to another result in

3761an agency more or less favorable to a Health Trust application?

3772Who could say? Health Trust does not. It just speculates that

3783there may be some injury.

378842 . Standing under FloridaÓs Administrative Procedure Act

3796is broad. I t i s not and should not be limitless , as the opinion

3811in Florida Society of Ophthalmology , 532 So. 2d at 1284 ,

3821ob serves:

3823We initially observe that not everyone having

3830an interest in the outcome of a particular

3838dispute over an agency's interpretation of

3844th e law submitted to its charge, or the

3853agency's application of that law in

3859determining the rights and interests of

3865members of government or the public, is

3872entitled to participate as a party in an

3880administrative proceeding to resolve that

3885dispute. Were that not so, each interested

3892citizen could, merely by expressing an

3898interest, participate in the agency's efforts

3904to govern, a result that would unquestionably

3911impede the ability of the agency to function

3919efficiently and inevitably cause an increase

3925in the num ber of litigated disputes well

3933above the number that administrative and

3939appellate judges are capable of handling.

39454 3 . Health Trust does not have standing to challenge the

3957DepartmentÓs proposed rules. There is no need to address the

3967arguments about the v alidity of the rules.

3975ORDER

3976Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

3986Law, it is ORDERED that the Petition for Determination of

3996Invalidity of Proposed Rules is DISMISSED.

4002Jurisdiction to determine entitlement to attorneyÓs fees and

4010costs a nd, if any , their amounts is reserved.

4019DONE AND ORDERED this 8th day of April , 2016 , in

4029Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

4033S

4034JOHN D. C. NEWTON, II

4039Administrative Law Judge

4042Division of Administrative Hearings

4046The DeSoto Building

40491230 Apalachee Parkway

4052Tal lahassee, Florida 32399 - 3060

4058(850) 488 - 9675

4062Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847

4068www.doah.state.fl.us

4069Filed with the Clerk of the

4075Division of Administrative Hearings

4079this 8th day of April , 2016 .

4086ENDNOTES

40871 / All citations to Florida Statutes are to the 2015 comp ilation

4100unless otherwise noted.

41032 / The Order on Hunter Deposition Excerpts inadvertently and

4113incorrectly referred to page 67, line 24, through page 28,

4123line 1.

41253 / Section 90.202, Florida Statutes, permits official

4133recognition of the status of the proc eeding.

41414/ Bayfront Med. Ctr., Inc. v. DepÓt of Health , Case No. 11 - 2602RX

4155(Fla. DOAH Sept. 23, 2011)), affÓd , DepÓt of Health v. Bayfront

4166Med. Ctr., Inc. , 134 So. 3d 1017 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).

41775 / Shands Teaching Hosp. and Clinics, Inc. v. DepÓt of Heal th ,

4190Case No. 14 - 1022RP ( Fla. DOAH June 20, 2014).

42016 / Section 90.202, Florida Statutes, permits official

4209recognition of the status of the proceeding.

42167 / Rule 64J - 2.010 governs allocation of trauma centers among the

4229TSAs.

4230COPIES FURNISHED:

4232Thomas Fran cis Panza, Esquire

4237Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A.

4242Bank of America Building, Third Floor

42483600 North Federal Highway

4252Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308

4256(eServed)

4257Nichole Chere Geary, General Counsel

4262Department of Health

4265Bin A - 02

42694052 Bald Cypress Way

4273Tallahasse e, Florida 32399

4277(eServed)

4278Abigail Price - Williams, Esquire

4283Miami - Dade County Attorney's Office

4289West Wing, Suite 108

42931611 Northwest 12th Avenue

4297Miami, Florida 33136

4300Daniel Ryan Russell, Esquire

4304Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,

4308Carrere and Dene gre, LLP

4313Post Office Box 351

4317Tallahassee, Florida 32302 - 0351

4322(eServed)

4323Marc W. Dunbar, Esquire

4327Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,

4331Carrere and Denegre, LLP

4335Post Office Box 351

4339Tallahassee, Florida 32302

4342(eServed)

4343J. Stephen Menton, Esquire

4347Rutledge E cenia, P.A.

4351Post Office Box 551 (32302)

4356119 South Monroe Street, Suite 202

4362Tallahassee, Florida 32301

4365(eServed)

4366Stephen A. Ecenia, Esquire

4370Rutledge, Ecenia and Purnell, P.A.

4375119 South Monroe Street, Suite 202

4381Post Office Box 551

4385Tallahassee, Florida 323 02 - 0551

4391(eServed)

4392Gabriel F.V. Warren, Esquire

4396Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.

4399Post Office Box 551

4403Tallahassee, Florida 32301

4406(eServed)

4407Shannon Revels, Agency Clerk

4411Department of Health

44144052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A02

4420Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 1703

4425(eServed)

4426Celeste Philip, M.D., M.P.H.

4430Interim State Surgeon General

4434Department of Health

44374052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A00

4443Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 1701

4448(eServed)

4449Ernest Reddick, Chief

4452Alexandra Nam

4454Department of State

4457R. A. Gray Building

4461500 South Bronough Str eet

4466Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0250

4471(eServed)

4472Ken Plante, Coordinator

4475Joint Admin istrative Proced ures Committee

4481Room 680, Pepper Building

4485111 West Madison Street

4489Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 1400

4494(eServed)

4495NOTICE OF RIGHT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW

4501A party who is adversely affected by this Final Order is

4512entitled to judicial review pursuant to section 120.68, Florida

4521Statutes. Review proceedings are governed by the Florida Rules

4530of Appellate Procedure. Such proceedings are commenced by

4538filing the original not ice of administrative appeal with the

4548agency clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings within

455730 days of rendition of the order to be reviewed, and a copy of

4571the notice, accompanied by any filing fees prescribed by law,

4581with the clerk of the Distric t Court of Appeal in the appellate

4594district where the agency maintains its headquarters or where a

4604party resides or as otherwise provided by law.

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Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 12/20/2016
Proceedings: Order Denying Renewed Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs.
PDF:
Date: 09/16/2016
Proceedings: Order Canceling Hearing on Motion for Award of Fees and Costs.
Date: 09/16/2016
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held.
PDF:
Date: 09/15/2016
Proceedings: The Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida's Answers to Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/15/2016
Proceedings: Petitioner's, The Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida's Response and Objections to Respondent, Department of Health's, First Request for Production Served August 16, 2016 filed.
PDF:
Date: 09/15/2016
Proceedings: Notice of Telephonic Status Conference (status conference set for September 16, 2016; 10:30 a.m.).
PDF:
Date: 08/16/2016
Proceedings: Notice of Service of Department of Health's First Set of Interrogatories Propounded to the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida filed.
PDF:
Date: 08/16/2016
Proceedings: Department of Health's First Request for Production of Documents to the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida filed.
PDF:
Date: 06/20/2016
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing on Motion for Fees and Costs (hearing set for September 29, 2016; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 06/10/2016
Proceedings: Amended Joint Response to Order Granting Continuance filed.
PDF:
Date: 06/07/2016
Proceedings: Joint Response to Order Granting Continuance filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/27/2016
Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by June 9, 2016).
PDF:
Date: 05/16/2016
Proceedings: Department of Health's Unopposed Motion for Rescheduling of Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/27/2016
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing on Motion for Fees and Costs (hearing set for June 9, 2016; 8:30 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 04/27/2016
Proceedings: Order Denying Request for Status Conference.
PDF:
Date: 04/25/2016
Proceedings: Respondent's Request for Status Conference filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/22/2016
Proceedings: PHTs Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Department's Renewed Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs Pursuant to Section 120.595, Florida Statutes filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/20/2016
Proceedings: Notice of Filing (Affidavit of Daniel R. Russell) filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/15/2016
Proceedings: Department's Renewed Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs Pursuant to Section 120.595, Florida Statues filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/08/2016
Proceedings: DOAH Final Order
PDF:
Date: 04/08/2016
Proceedings: Final Order (hearing held February 22, 2016). DOAH JURISDICTION RETAINED.
PDF:
Date: 03/18/2016
Proceedings: (Intervenor's) Proposed Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 03/18/2016
Proceedings: Intervenors' Notice of Filing Proposed Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 03/18/2016
Proceedings: Petitioner's Proposed Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 03/18/2016
Proceedings: Department of Health's Proposed Final Order filed.
Date: 03/08/2016
Proceedings: Transcript of Proceedings (not available for viewing) filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/25/2016
Proceedings: Order on Hunter Deposition Excerpts.
PDF:
Date: 02/23/2016
Proceedings: Petitioner's Motion to Offer Additional Portions of Laura Hunter's Deposition filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/23/2016
Proceedings: Intervenors' Notice of Filing Designation of Deposition Excerpts for Admission into Evidence filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/23/2016
Proceedings: Respondent's Response to Post Hearing Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/22/2016
Proceedings: Post Hearing Order.
Date: 02/22/2016
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 02/19/2016
Proceedings: PHT's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Department's Motion for Attorney's Fees filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/19/2016
Proceedings: Petitioner's Motion for Witness to Appear Telephonically filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/18/2016
Proceedings: Respondent's Motion for Attorney's Fees filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/17/2016
Proceedings: Joint Pre-hearing Stipulation filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2016
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for February 22, 2016; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL; amended as to date).
Date: 02/12/2016
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held.
PDF:
Date: 02/09/2016
Proceedings: Joint Motion to Dismiss Petitioner's Challenge to Proposed Rule 64J-2.010 filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/08/2016
Proceedings: Petitioner's Motion to Take Judicial Notice of Withdrawal of Proposed Rule 64J-2.101 filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/01/2016
Proceedings: Order Denying Motion for Discovery Extension.
PDF:
Date: 01/29/2016
Proceedings: Motion for Discovery Extension filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/08/2015
Proceedings: Amended Case Management Order.
PDF:
Date: 12/07/2015
Proceedings: Order Granting Second Continuance and Scheduling Pre-hearing Conference (hearing set for February 22 through 24, 2016; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 12/07/2015
Proceedings: Order Denying Motion in Limine.
PDF:
Date: 12/07/2015
Proceedings: Joint Motion for Continuance filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Certificate of Service of Sworn, Complete, and Substantive Answers to Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's Notice of Taking Deposition (Karen Card) filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Notice of Producing Documents in Response to Petitioner's Request for Production of Documents filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/03/2015
Proceedings: PHT's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Respondent's and Intervenors' Joint Motion in Limine filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/03/2015
Proceedings: Amended Order Partially Granting Motion to Compel.
PDF:
Date: 12/03/2015
Proceedings: Order Denying Motion to Dismiss.
PDF:
Date: 12/03/2015
Proceedings: Order Partially Granting Motion to Compel.
PDF:
Date: 12/02/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Filing Corrected Exhibit A to Motion to Strike the Department's Amended Privilege Log filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/02/2015
Proceedings: Department's Response in Opposition to Petitioner's Motion to Strike the Department's Amended Privilege Log filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/02/2015
Proceedings: Second Amended Notice of Taking Depositions (of Leah Colston and Steve McCoy) filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/01/2015
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Taking Depositions (of Steve McCoy and Leah Colston) filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/01/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Taking Depositions (of Steve McCoy and Leah Colston) filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/01/2015
Proceedings: PHT's Motion to Strike the Department's Amended Privilege Log filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/30/2015
Proceedings: Department's Amended Privilege Log filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/30/2015
Proceedings: PHT's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss and Intervenors' Joinder in Same filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/30/2015
Proceedings: Intervenors' Cross-notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (of David Levitt) filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/30/2015
Proceedings: Department's Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (of David Levitt) filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/25/2015
Proceedings: Dates for Respond to Pending Motions.
PDF:
Date: 11/25/2015
Proceedings: Order Requiring Respondent to File Priviledge Log.
PDF:
Date: 11/25/2015
Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for December 7 through 9, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 11/25/2015
Proceedings: Department's Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum of Corporate Representative filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/24/2015
Proceedings: Initial Response to Document Production of November 24, 2015 at 9:30 am filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/24/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's and Intervenor's Joint Motion in Limine filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/24/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Telephonic Status Conference (status conference set for November 24, 2015; 3:15 p.m.).
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Motion Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Intervenors' Notice of Filing filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Notice of Filing (Privilege Log) filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Order Withdrawing Order Granting Continuance .
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by December 2, 2015).
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Intervenors' Joinder in Department of Health's Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum of Law in Support filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/23/2015
Proceedings: Department of Health's Supplemental Response to Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/20/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's Privilege Log to Department of Health's Request for Production filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/20/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner, the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Response and Objections to Respondent's Department of Health, First Request for Production Served on November 16, 2015, filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/20/2015
Proceedings: The Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida's Notice of Serving Answers to Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/19/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Motion to Dismiss filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/18/2015
Proceedings: Department's Response in Opposition to Petitioner's Motion for Continuance filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/18/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Telephonic Status Conference (status conference set for November 19, 2015; 8:30 a.m.).
PDF:
Date: 11/18/2015
Proceedings: Order Granting Motion to Intervene.
PDF:
Date: 11/18/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's Request for Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/17/2015
Proceedings: Department's Response to Petitioner's Motion to Compel filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/17/2015
Proceedings: Motion for Continuance of Final Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/17/2015
Proceedings: PHT's Motion to Compel Production of Documents and Better Answers to Its Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/17/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Notice of Filing filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/16/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's Notice of Filing filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/16/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's First Request for Production of Documents to Petitioner filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/16/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Department of Health's Response to Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Respondent's Certificate of Service of Answers to Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Petition to Intervene (filed by Kendall Healthcare Group, Ltd., Kendall Regional Medical Center.)
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Petition to Intervene (filed by Orange Park Medical Center, Inc., d/b/a Orange Park Medical Center.)
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (Marc Dunbar) filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (Daniel Russell) filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/10/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's First Request for Production of Documents to Department of Health filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/10/2015
Proceedings: Petitioner's Notice of Serving First Set of Interrogatories to Department of Health filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/09/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing (hearing set for December 2 through 4, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 11/09/2015
Proceedings: Case Management Order.
Date: 11/06/2015
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held.
PDF:
Date: 11/05/2015
Proceedings: Notice of Telephonic Pre-hearing Conference (set for November 6, 2015; 3:30 p.m.).
PDF:
Date: 11/05/2015
Proceedings: Order of Assignment.
PDF:
Date: 11/05/2015
Proceedings: Rule Challenge transmittal letter to Ernest Reddick from Claudia Llado copying Ken Plante and the Agency General Counsel.
PDF:
Date: 11/04/2015
Proceedings: Petition for Determination of Invalidity of Proposed Rules filed.

Case Information

Judge:
JOHN D. C. NEWTON, II
Date Filed:
11/04/2015
Date Assignment:
11/05/2015
Last Docket Entry:
12/20/2016
Location:
Tallahassee, Florida
District:
Northern
Agency:
Department of Health
Suffix:
RP
 

Counsels

Related Florida Statute(s) (12):