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.
DOAH Final Order on Friday, April 8, 2016.
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.
- Date
- Proceedings
- 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: 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: 04/22/2016
- 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: 04/15/2016
- 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: Final Order (hearing held February 22, 2016). DOAH JURISDICTION RETAINED.
- Date: 03/08/2016
- Proceedings: Transcript of Proceedings (not available for viewing) filed.
- 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.
- 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: 02/12/2016
- 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: 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: 12/04/2015
- 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: 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: 12/02/2015
- 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 11/18/2015
- 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: 11/17/2015
- Proceedings: PHT's Motion to Compel Production of Documents and Better Answers to Its Interrogatories 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: 11/10/2015
- 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).
- 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.).
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
-
Marc W. Dunbar, Esquire
Jones Walker, LLP
Suite 130
215 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 425-7800 -
Stephen A. Ecenia, Esquire
Rutledge, Ecenia, & Purnell, P.A.
Suite 202
119 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 323020551
(850) 681-6788 -
Nichole Chere Geary, General Counsel
Department of Health
Bin A-02
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 245-4005 -
Christopher Charles Kokoruda, Esquire
Miami-Dade County
West Wing, Suite 109
1611 Northwest 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
(305) 585-1313 -
J. Stephen Menton, Esquire
Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.
119 South Monroe Street, Suite 202
Post Office Box 551 (32302)
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 681-6788 -
Thomas Francis Panza, Esquire
Panza, Maurer, & Maynard, P.A.
Suite 905
2400 East Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 390-0100 -
Elizabeth L. Pedersen, Esquire
Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A.
Suite 905
2400 East Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 390-0100 -
Abigail Price-Williams, Esquire
Miami-Dade County
West Wing, Suite 109
1611 Northwest 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136 -
Daniel Ryan Russell, Esquire
Jones Walker, LLP
Suite 130
215 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(561) 859-7444 -
Eugene Shy, Jr., Esquire
Miami-Dade County
West Wing, Suite 109
1611 Northwest 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
(305) 585-1313 -
Brian S. Vidas, Esquire
Panza, Maurer, & Maynard, P.A.
Suite 905
2400 East Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 390-0100 -
Laura E Wade, Esquire
Miami-Dade County
West Wing, Suite 109
1161 Northwest 12th Avenue
Miami, FL 33136-100
(305) 585-1313 -
Gabriel F.V. Warren, Esquire
Rutledge, Ecenia, & Purnell, P.A.
119 South Monroe Street, Suite 202
Post Office Box 551
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 681-6788 -
Marc W. Dunbar, Esquire
Address of Record -
Stephen A. Ecenia, Esquire
Address of Record -
Nichole Chere Geary, General Counsel
Address of Record -
Christopher Charles Kokoruda, Esquire
Address of Record -
J. Stephen Menton, Esquire
Address of Record -
Thomas Francis Panza, Esquire
Address of Record -
Elizabeth L. Pedersen, Esquire
Address of Record -
Abigail Price-Williams, Esquire
Address of Record -
Daniel Ryan Russell, Esquire
Address of Record -
Eugene Shy, Jr., Esquire
Address of Record -
Brian S. Vidas, Esquire
Address of Record -
Laura E Wade, Esquire
Address of Record -
Gabriel F.V. Warren, Esquire
Address of Record -
Stephen A Ecenia, Esquire
Address of Record