17-005900 Department Of Financial Services, Division Of Workers&Apos; Compensation vs. A.S.A.P. Flooring, Inc.
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Monday, February 12, 2018.


View Dockets  
Summary: Petitioner proved by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent failed to secure workers' compensation insurance for its employee during the audit period, and Petitioner correctly calculated the penalty to be imposed.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIA L

12SERVICES, DIVISION OF WORKERS Ó

17COMPENSATION,

18Petitioner,

19vs. Case No. 17 - 5900

25A.S.A.P. FLOORING, INC.,

28Respondent.

29_______________________________/

30REC OMMENDED ORDER

33On January 10, 2018, Administrative Law Judge Hetal Desai of

43the Division of Administrative Hearings conducted the final

51hearing at sites in Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida, by video

61teleconferenc e .

64APPEARANCES

65For Petitioner: Jonathan Anth ony Martin, Esquire

72Florida Department of Financial Services

77Legal Services Division

80200 East Gaines Street

84Tallahassee, Florida 32399

87For Respondent: Eric Reinartsen , pro se

93A.S.A.P. Flooring, Inc.

96215 Mason Street

99Brandon, Florida 33511

102STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE S

107Whether Respondent violated the provisions of chapter 440,

115Florida Statutes (2016) , 1/ by failing to secure the payment of

126wor kers Ó compensation coverage, as alleged in the Third Amended

137Order of Penalty Assessment; and, if so, what penalty is

147appropriate.

148PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

150On October 24, 2016, the Department of Financial Services,

159Division of Workers Ó Compensation ( Ð Departme nt Ñ ) , issued a

172Stop - W ork Order ( Ð SWO Ñ ) to Respondent A.S.A.P. Flooring, Inc.

187( Ð ASAP FlooringÑ) for failing to secure workers Ó compensa t ion

200for its emplo yees as required by chapter 440 . T he Department

213also issued a n Order of Penalty Assessment (ÐOPAÑ) , wh ich was

225amended multiple times . 2/

230On June 13, 2017, Respondent timely filed a request for a

241formal administrative hearin g to dispute the SWO and OPAs.

251On October 27, 2017, the Department referred this matter to

261the Division of Administrative Hearings ( Ð D OAH Ñ ). DOAH assigned

274an Administrative Law Judge (ÐALJÑ) to hear the dispute who

284noticed the matter for final hearing.

290A week before the final hearing, on January 3, 2018 , t he

302Department amended its penalty assessment in the Third Amended

311OPA .

313A pre - heari ng conference call was scheduled for January 8,

3252017, but ASAP Flooring Ó s representative and owner, Eric

335Reinartsen , did not call in and could not be reached.

345The final hearing was held as scheduled on January 10, 2018 .

357At the hearing , the Department pr esented the testimony of

367Christina Brigantty, a Department compliance investigato r ; and

375Lynne Murcia, a Department penalty auditor (ÐAuditorÑ) . The

384Department offered Exhibits 1 through 11 and 13 through 17, which

395were adm i tted into evidence. Respondent offered no exhibits and

406only the testimony of Mr. Reinartsen .

413The Transcript of the final hearing was filed with DOAH on

424January 19, 2018. Although the Department timely filed a

433proposed recommended order (ÐPROÑ), Respondent did not file any

442post - hearing submittal . The Department Ó s PRO was considered in

455preparing this Recommended Order .

460FINDING S OF FACT

464Parties .

4661. The Department is responsible for enforcing the

474requirements of chapter 440, which mandate employers in Florida

483secure the payment of workers Ó compensation insurance to cover

493their employees in case of workplace injuries . § 440.107, Fla.

504St a t.

5072. ASAP Flooring is owned and operated by Mr. Reinartsen;

517it has been an active corporation since 2006 . ASAP Flooring

528provides flooring, painting and drywall services for construction

536projects.

5373. Ms. Brigantty is a Department compliance investigator .

546Her job is to ensure compliance by employers in her district with

558the workers Ó compensation insurance regulations . Her job duties

568include conducting investigations triggered either through a

575report to the Department of non - compliance or through random

586inspections of workplaces and jobsites. As part of her

595investigative duties she conducts employer and employee

602interviews, collects financia l documenta tion, and researches

610various data banks for corporate and workers Ó compensation

619status .

621Department Ó s Investigation and Assessment .

6284 . On October 24, 2016, Ms. Brigantty was driving around

639Pinellas County as part of her work duties. She stopped to

650condu ct a random check at a residential construction site located

661at 358 3 Douglas Place, Palm Harbor, Florida 34683 (ÐJobsiteÑ).

6715 . At the Jobsite, Ms. Brigantty observed two men -- later

683identified as Eric Reinartsen and Wallace Humbert -- preparing

692and insta lling floors. After identifying herself as a compliance

702officer and interviewing them, she discovered Mr. Reinartsen was

711the owner of ASAP Flooring, and Mr. Humbert was an ASAP Flooring

723employee.

7246 . Mr. Reinartsen admitted ASAP Flooring did not have

734wor kers Ó compensation. At the time , he believed ASAP Flooring

745was exempt from the workers Ó compensation insurance requirements

754due to his role as a corporate officer and because it only had

767one employee.

7697 . During the initial interview, Ms. Brigantty learn ed

779Mr. Humbert had worked for ASAP Flooring for four or five months

791and was paid a flat fee per job.

7998 . After meeting with Mr. Reinartsen, Ms. Brigantty checked

809the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations website

818to confirm Respondent Ó s st atus as an active corporation, and that

831Mr. Reinartsen was its only officer.

8379 . Mr. Brigantty then used the Department Ó s database,

848Coverage and Compliance Automated System ( Ð CCAS Ñ ), which

859contained information on employers and their workers Ó

867compensation status and any exemptions . According to CCAS, at

877the time of Ms. Brigantty Ó s inspection , ASAP Flooring had no

889workers Ó compensation insurance. CCAS also reflected Respondent

897had an exemption from the workers Ó compensation insurance

906requirements for Mr. Reinartsen because he was its sole corporate

916officer , but there was no exemption for Mr. Humbert or for any

928other employees.

93010 . On October 24, 2016, after confirming ASAP Flooring had

941at least one employee, but had not secured workers Ó compensation

952insur ance, the Department issued a SWO and had it personally

963served on Mr. Reinartsen at the Jobsite. 3 /

97211 . At this time, the Department also served Mr. Reinartsen

983with a Request for Production of Business Records for Penalty

993Assessment Calculations. I n resp onse , Respondent provided bank

1002statements, check images, check stu bs, tax information and

1011e - mails to the Department . These documents showed that during

1023the previous tw o - year period ( Ð look - back period Ñ) , October 24,

10392014 , to October 24, 2 0 1 6, Respondent h ad a number of employees,

1054but did not have workers Ó co mpensation coverage for them.

106512 . At the hearing, Respondent did not dispute ASAP

1075Flooring was required to have workers Ó compensation insurance,

1084the status of the people identified as employees, or th e fact

1096that it did not have adequate workers Ó compensation coverage. 4/

1107Penalty Calculatio n .

111113 . To calculate the penalty assessed against Responden t,

1121the Department Ó s Auditor utilized the information she gleaned

1131from documents submitted by Respondent an d through

1139Mr. Reinartsen Ó s deposition testimony taken in these proceedings .

1150She then applied the formulas and rules set forth in the Florida

1162Administrative Code to the information and utilized a Penalty

1171Calculation Worksheet (the ÐworksheetÑ) to compute the final

1179penalty assessment amount . The worksheet for the Third OPA is

1190attached as Appendix ÐAÑ to this Recommended Order (ÐAppx. AÑ) .

120114 . Through her review of ASAP Flooring Ó s business records

1213and Mr. Reinartsen Ó s deposition testimony, the Auditor con firmed

1224(1) the individuals who were direct employees or construction

1233subcontractors during those periods of non - compliance ( App x . A,

1246column ÐEmployer Ó s PayrollÑ) ; (2) the periods of non - compliance

1258( App x. A, column Ð b Ñ ) ; (3) the gross payroll for those

1273indi viduals during these p eriods of non - compliance (Appx . A,

1286column ÐcÑ ) ; and (4) the services provided by those individuals.

129715 . T he Auditor used the services to determine the

1308classification codes created by the National Council on

1316Compensation Insurance ( ÐNCCIÑ), and listed i n the NCCI Ó s Scopes

1329Manual, which has been adopted by the Department through Florida

1339Administrative Code Rule 69L - 6.021(1) . The se classification

1349codes are four - digit codes assigned to various occupations by the

1361NCCI to assist in the c alculation of workers Ó compensation

1372insurance premiums.

137416 . To derive the gross pay figures in the worksheet

1385(Appx. A, column ÐcÑ ) the Auditor explained she utilized payment

1396information in the ASAP Flooring Ó s business records. Although

1406Respondent init ially asserted some of these payments were

1415actually for both labor and materials, these distinctions were

1424not detailed in the business records created at the time of

1435service or payment.

143817 . Regardless, pursuant to rule 69L - 6.035(i) and (j), the

1450Auditor excluded the cost of materials from the payroll

1459calculations. Specifically , she applied an Ð80 : 20Ñ ratio n rule

1470for those payments Respondent claimed were partly labor and

1479pa rtly materials: considering 80 percent of the total payment as

1490ÐlaborÑ for penalt y calculation purposes; and excluding

149820 percent for penalty calculation purposes as Ðmaterials.Ñ

150618. Using the gross payroll ( Appx. A, column Ð c Ñ ) and the

1521appropriate NCCI manual rate (Appx. A, column ÐeÑ) , the Auditor

1531calculated the premium rate (Appx . A, column ÐfÑ) for each

1542individual or entity ( Appx. A, column ÐEmployer Ó s PayrollÑ) . She

1555then multiplied the premium rate by two to reach a penalty amount

1567(Appx. A, column ÐgÑ). T his calculation method to determine a

1578final penalt y is authorized by sect ion 440.107(7)(d)1. , and

1588rule 69L - 6.027.

159219. Ultimately, based on the amounts indicated in the

1601worksheet, the Department issued a Third Amended OPA calculating

1610the penalty as $15,577.84.

161520 . The Department applied a 25 percent reduction, yielding

1625a re maining penalty of $11,683 . 38 .

163521 . According to the eviden ce, i n November 2016, Respondent

1647paid $1,000 to the Department as a Ðdown paymentÑ toward any

1659ultimate assessment. Applying this $1,000 as a credit to the

1670penalty in the Third OPA results in Res pondent owing $10,683.38 .

1683Respondent Ó s Defense s .

168922 . At the final hearing, Mr. Reinartsen did not dispute

1700any of the figures in the worksheet or the penalty amount .

1712Rather, he raised three arguments unrelated to ASAP Flooring Ó s

1723failure to secure workers Ó compensation insurance for it s

1733employees.

173423 . First, Respondent asserted Ms. Brigantty was not

1743properly outfitted to enter a construction site and therefore, h e

1754argued , she was violating rules set forth by the Occupational

1764Safety and Health Agency (ÐOSH AÑ). Ms. Brigantty admitted she

1774was not wearing a hard hat, an d did not think she was wearing

1788steel - toed boots with hard soles when she entered the Jobsite.

180024 . Second, Respondent argued Ms. Brigantty did not issue a

1811SWO to a nother contractor at a neigh boring construction site who

1823was putting in pavers , identified only as ÐLuis.Ñ

1831Mr . Reinartsen could not provide the name of the other

1842contractor Ó s company, a last name, or any other identifying

1853information; nor did Respondent provide evidence that ÐLuisÑ was

1862in a similar situation: non - com pliant with and non - exempt from

1876c hapter 440. Ms. Brigantty did not rememb er going to the

1888neighboring site or speaking to anyone else during her stop at

1899the Jobsite.

190125 . Finally, Respondent argued the penalty is subst antial

1911and payment in full ( as opposed to a payment plan sp read out over

1926a number of years) would put him and his small famil y - owned

1940company out of business.

1944Ultimate Findings .

194726. The Department demonstrated, by clear and convincing

1955evidence, Responden t violated chapter 440 a s charged in the SWO

1967by failing to secure workers Ó compensa t ion coverage for its

1979employees.

198027. The Department demonstrated, by clear and convincing

1988evidence, the penalty for this violation is $11,683.38.

1997CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

20002 8 . D OAH has jurisdiction over the subject matter and

2012parties of this proceeding pursuant to sections 120.569

2020and 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

202429 . The Department seeks to penalize Respondent, and thus,

2034has the burden of proof to show by clear and convincing e vidence

2047that Respondent (1) committed the violations alleged in the SWO,

2057and (2) that the proper penalty was calculated and assessed in

2068the Third Amended OPA. See Dep Ó t of Banking & Fin. v. Osborne

2082Stern & Co. , 670 So. 2d 932, 935 (Fla. 1996); and Dep Ó t o f Fin.

2099Serv. v. Doherty Home Repair, Inc. , Case No. 17 - 3385, 2017 Fla.

2112Div. Adm. Hear. LEXIS 770, *14 - 15 ( Fla DOAH Dec. 27, 2017)

2126(defining Ðclear and convincingÑ as where the evidence is of

2136Ðsuch weight that it produces in the mind of the trier of fact a

2150firm belief or conviction, without hesitancy, as to the truth of

2161the allegations sought to be established .Ñ ) ( c itations omitted).

217330 . Pursuant to sections 440.10, 440.107(2), and 440.38,

2182every employer is required to secure the payment of workers Ó

2193compens ation by obtaining insurance coverage for workplace

2201in j uries. Employers in Florida must obtain worke rs Ó compensation

2213insurance coverage for the benefit of their employees unless

2222exempted or otherw ise excluded under chapter 440.

223031 . Ð Employer Ñ is defined in section 440.02(16) to include

2242Ð every per son carrying on any employment.Ñ In turn, section

2253440.02(23) defines ÐpersonÑ as an Ðindividual, partnershi p,

2261association, or corporationÑ; s e ction 440.102(1 7)(a) defines

2270Ð [e] mploymentÑ as Ð any service performed by an employee for t he

2284person employing him or her.Ñ There is no question Respondent is

2295a corporation performing services in the construction industry,

2303and is an ÐemployerÑ for the purposes of chapter 440 during the

2315period from October 2 4 , 2014, to Octobe r 24, 2016.

232632 . Ð Employee Ñ is defined in section 440.1 0 2(15) to mean

2340any person who receives remuneration from an employer for the

2350performance of any work or service. There was no dispute at the

2362hearing that the individuals and entities identified on the

2371worksheet as being on ASAP Flooring Ó s payroll were employees for

2383the purposes of c hapter 440.

238933 . The Department proved, by clear and convincing

2398evidence, Respondent violated chapter 440 by failing to provide

2407workers Ó compensation coverage for its empl oyees.

241534 . Section 440.107(7)(d)1. establishes the method for

2423calculating the penalty assessment against an employer who has

2432failed to secure workers Ó compensation coverage in violation of

2442this chapter. That statute states in relevant part:

2450In addition t o any penalty, sto p - work order,

2461or injunction, the department shall assess

2467against any employer who has failed to secure

2475the payment of compensation as required by

2482this chapter a penalty equal to 2 ti m es the

2493amount the employer would have paid in

2500premium w hen applying approved manual rates

2507to the employer Ó s payroll during periods for

2516which it failed to secure the payment of

2524workers Ó compensation required by this

2530chapter within the preceding 2 - year period

2538or $1,000, whichever is greater.

2544a. For employers who have not been

2551previously issued a stop - work order or order

2560of penalty assessment, the department must

2566allow the employer to receive a credit for

2574the initial payment of the estimated annual

2581workersÓ compensation policy premium, as

2586determined by the car rier, to be applied to

2595the penalty. Before applying the credit to

2602the penalty, the employer must provide the

2609department with documentation reflecting that

2614the employer has secured the payment of

2621compensation pursuant to s. 440.38 and proof

2628of payment to t he carrier. In order for the

2638department to apply a credit for an employer

2646that has secured workersÓ compensation for

2652leased employees by entering into an employee

2659leasing contract with a licensed employee

2665leasing company, the employer must provide

2671the dep artment with a written confirmation,

2678by a representative from the employee leasing

2685company, of the dollar or percentage amount

2692attributable to the initial estimated

2697workersÓ compensation expense for leased

2702employees, and proof of payment to the

2709employee le asing company. The credit may not

2717be applied unless the employer provides the

2724documentation and proof of payment to the

2731department within 28 days after service of

2738the stop - work order or first order of penalty

2748assessment upon the employer.

2752b. For employe rs who have not been

2760previously issued a stop - work order or order

2769of penalty assessment, the department must

2775reduce the final assessed penalty by 25

2782percent if the employer has complied with

2789administrative rules adopted pursuant to

2794subsection (5) and has p rovided such business

2802records to the department within 10 business

2809days after the employerÓs receipt of the

2816written request to produce business records.

282235 . T he Department proved by clea r and convincing evidence

2834it correctly applied the penalty computati on method in

2843determining the penalty applicable to Respondent for the portion

2852of the look - back period in which Respondent was required to

2864provide workers Ó compensation coverage but failed to do so. This

2875amount is $11,683.38 .

288036 . The Department proved, by clear and convincing

2889evidence, that $10,68 3.38 (representing the remaining p e nalty in

2901the amount of $11,683.38 , minus the $1,000 penalty Respondent has

2913already paid) is the correct amount Respondent owes the

2922Department .

292437 . The violation and penalty havi ng been proven , the

2935burden shifts to Respondent to establish its defenses as to why

2946it should not be penalized or , in the alternative, why it should

2958receive a lesser pe nalty. Respondent argu e d at the hearing that

2971it should not be penalized because the Dep artment violated OSHA

2982standards by not having Ms. Brigantty dress approp riately for a

2993construction site. The undersigned treats this argument as an

3002affirmative defense that the penalty should be dismissed or

3011reduced due to wrongdoing on the part of the De partment . See

3024Armstrong v. Ormond in the Pines , 734 So. 2d 596 (Fla. 1st DCA

30371999 ) ( noting Ð an exception to a statute must be proven by the one

3053seeking to establish it Ñ ( c itations omitted ) ) . According to

3067Respondent, OSHA regulations require employees on c onstruction

3075site s to wear a hard hat and closed - toed work boots. Even if it

3091was true that Ms. Brigantty failed to wear this safety gear, DOAH

3103does not have jurisdiction over OSHA enforcement. More

3111importantly, state government entities - Î such as the Dep artment

3122-- are not subject to OSHA regulations. 29 U . S . C . S . § 652(5)

3140(defining Ð employer Ñ as Ða person engaged in a business affecting

3152commerce who has employe es, but does not include . . . any State

3166or political subd ivision of a State.Ñ). Regardless, th e

3176Department Ó s safety failures do not excuse Respondent Ó s non -

3189compliance with chapter 440.

319338 . The second defense asserted by Respondent at the

3203hearing was that Ms. Brigantty could have issued a SWO to another

3215employer in the vicinity, but did not. The undersigned treats

3225this as an a ffirmative defense that the Department was

3235selectively enforcing the workers Ó compensation compliance

3242requirements, and therefore was acting arbitrarily . See Dep Ó t of

3254Bus. & Prof Ól Reg . v. Aleong , Case No. 10 - 2388PL, 2010 Fl a. Div.

3271Adm. Hear. LEXIS 1005, *18 ( Fla. DOAH Dec. 29 , 2010; Fla. DBPR

3284July 7, 20 1 1 )(ÐAn allegation that a governmental agency is acting

3297selectively or arbitrarily in taking enforcement action states a

3306valid affirmative defense in the administrative contex t.Ñ).

331439. To establish Ðselective enforcementÑ as a defense to

3323Petitioner Ó s actions, Respondent has the burden of proving the

3334facts supporting the defense; it must prove the Department not

3344only failed to enforce the law against other offenders that were

3355similarly situated, but also that the difference in treatment was

3365motivated by an unjustifiable standard such as race, gender or

3375other arbitrary classification . See State v. A.R.S. , 684 So. 2d

33861383, 1385 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996)(ÐPetitioner is required to sho w

3397both that the passive enforcement system had a discriminatory

3406effect and that it was motivated by a discrimin atory purpose. Ñ

3418(c itation omitted ) ); Dep Ó t of Bus. & Prof Ó l Reg. v. Aleong , Cas e

3437No. 06 - 2717 , RO at 9 - 11 (Fla. DOAH Jan. 5, 2007 ; Fla. DBPR

3453Mar . 19, 2007) (rejecting selective enforcement defense where Ðthe

3463evidence did not prove that there were other similarly situated

3473veteri narians who were not prosecuted Ñ).

348040 . Respondent Ó s affirmative defense of selective

3489enforcement is rejected . Respondent provided no evidence that

3498ÐLuisÑ was similarly situated ( i.e. , he was also an employer who

3510had no workers Ó compensation insurance for his employees and was

3521not exempt). There was also no testimony that Ms. Brigantty

3531failed to issue a SWO based on any impr oper motive . Respondent

3544has not met its burden of proof, as there wa s no evidence offered

3558that it wa s arbitrarily treated differently than other similarly

3568situated employers.

357041 . Finally, Mr. Reinartsen asked for leniency, arguing the

3580Department Ó s penal ty demand and SWO has and will continue to

3593cause a significant hard ship to him personally and to A SAP

3605Flooring. He admitted at the hearing he was uninformed about the

3616workers Ó compensation rules and acknowledged he should have been

3626more diligent in gettin g proof from his subcontractors that they

3637were compliant with the requirements of chapter 440 .

3646Mr. Reinartsen cooperated with the Department and even assisted

3655it by correcting erroneous names of potential employees .

3664U ltimately , at the hearing Respondent took responsibility; it

3673conceded the employee status, characterization of work performed,

3681and dates put forth by the Department at the hearing .

36924 2 . Chapter 440, however, does not provide mitigating

3702circumstances to reduce penalties; nor does it excuse n o n -

3714compliance because of ignorance of the statutory requirements,

3722and/or workers Ó compensation status of workers and

3730subcontractors . Nonetheless, the administrative rules allow the

3738Department to enter into a Payment Agreement Schedule to pay off

3749penalties incurred by those who have violated chapter 440.

3758See Fla. Adm in . Code R. 69L - 6.025. Under this rule an employer

3773pays ten percent of the total penalty or $1,000.00, whichever is

3785greater, as a down payment and thereafter pays off the penalty

3796pursuant to an installment schedule . Here, Respondent has

3805already paid the $1,000 and is willing to pay the remainder of

3818the penalty in increment s of around $100.00 a month until paid

3830off . The undersigned strongly recommends the Department

3838facilitate a payment agree ment schedule with ASAP Flooring to

3848enable it to pay off the penalty over a period time given the

3861following factors: (1) Respondent is a small business with no

3871previous non - compliance history; (2) Mr. Reinartsen fully

3880cooperated with the Department; (3) s ome of Respondent Ó s non -

3893compliance was based on the representations of other businesses

3902Mr. Reinartsen believed had sufficient workers Ó compensation

3910coverage ; (4) Respondent took steps to comply w ith the law by

3922obtaining worker s Ó compensation coverage ; and (5) the assessed

3932penalty will result in a substantial hardship on Respondent.

3941RECOMMENDATION

3942Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

3952Law, it is RECOMMENDED that:

3957The Department of Financial Services, D i vision of Worker s Ó

3969Compensation, e nter a final order determining that Respondent,

3978A SAP Flooring, violated the requirement in chapter 440 to secure

3989workers Ó compensation coverage and imposing a total penalty of

3999$11,683.38 , less the $1,000 down payment, the balance to be paid

4012in $100 a month increments.

4017DONE AND ENTERED this 12th day of February , 2018 , in

4027Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

4031S

4032HETAL DESAI

4034Administrative Law Judge

4037Division of Administrative Hearings

4041The DeSoto Building

40441230 Apalachee Parkway

4047Tallahassee, Florid a 32399 - 3060

4053(850) 488 - 9675

4057Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847

4063www.doah.state.fl.us

4064Filed with the Clerk of the

4070Division of Administrative Hearings

4074this 12th day of February , 2018 .

4081ENDNOTE S

40831/ All references to statutes, regulations and rules are to the

40942016 v ersion s in effect during the initial issuance of the Stop -

4108Work Order .

41112/ Although the record does not establish the date or amount of

4123the original OPA, the Department served the first Amended OPA for

4134$23,114.02 on March 2, 2017. A subsequent ame nded OP A was served

4148on Respondent on October 27, 2017, in the amount of $13,671.33;

4160this Second OPA was attached to the Request for Administrative

4170Hearing forwarded to DOAH on that same date.

41783 / The parties had entered into an Agreed Order of Con ditional

4191Relea se from Stop - Work Order on November 4, 2016. In that Agreed

4205Order , the Department lifted the SWO ( thereby allowing ASAP

4215Flooring to provide services ) , because ASAP Flooring had obtained

4225proper workers Ó compensation coverage and had paid $1,000 toward

4236any ultimate penalty. Respondent also agreed to make periodic

4245payments. The Department later reinstated the SWO, because

4253Respondent failed to enter into a ÐPayment Agreement Schedule for

4263Periodic Payment of Penalty with the DepartmentÑ and failed to

4273make a p ayment toward the penalty assessment within 28 days. As

4285of the final hearing date , the SWO was still in effect.

42964 / Although during the investigative process Mr. Reinartsen

4305challenged the Department Ó s identification of some of the

4315individuals as Respond ent Ó s ÐemployeesÑ and asserted these

4325individuals were actually employees of subcontractors, he later

4333learned ASAP Flooring was responsible for providing workers Ó

4342compensation insurance to these workers from other subcontractors

4350because they were not covere d , as he was led to believe. See

4363Florida Administrative Code Rule 69 L - 6.032 (6), which states in

4375relevant part:

4377If a contractor fails to obtain evidence of

4385workers Ó compensation insurance or evidence

4391of a valid Certificate of Election to Be

4399Exempt as requ ired herein and the

4406subcontractor has failed to secure the

4412payment of compensation pursuant to

4417Chapter 440, F.S., the contractor shall be

4424liable for, and shall secure the payment of

4432compensation for all the employees of the

4439subcontractor pursuant to Secti on

4444440.10(1)(b), F.S., and if the contractor

4450has failed to secure the payment of

4457compensation pursuant to Chapter 440, F.S.,

4463the contractor will be issued a Stop - Work

4472Order and a penalty will be assessed against

4480the contractor pursuant to Section

4485440.107(7 )(d)1., F.S. (Emphasis added).

4490COPIES FURNISHED:

4492Jonathan Anthony Martin, Esquire

4496Florida Department of Financial Services

4501Legal Services Division

4504200 East Gaines Street

4508Tallahassee, Florida 32399

4511(eServed)

4512Eric Reinartsen

4514A.S.A.P. Flooring, Inc.

4517215 Mason Street

4520Brandon, Florida 33511

4523Julie Jones, CP, FRP, Agency Clerk

4529Division of Legal Services

4533Department of Financial Services

4537200 East Gaines Street

4541Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0390

4546(eServed)

4547NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

4553All parties hav e the right to submit written exceptions within

456415 days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions

4575to this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that

4586will issue the Final Order in this case.

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Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 12/19/2018
Proceedings: Petitioner's Exception to Recommended Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/19/2018
Proceedings: Agency Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 06/21/2018
Proceedings: Agency Final Order
PDF:
Date: 02/13/2018
Proceedings: Transmittal letter from Claudia Llado forwarding Petitioner's duplicate Exhibits to Petitioner.
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2018
Proceedings: Recommended Order
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2018
Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2018
Proceedings: Recommended Order (hearing held January 10, 2018). CASE CLOSED.
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2018
Proceedings: Worksheet of 3rd Amended Order of Penalty Assessment filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/29/2018
Proceedings: Department's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Date: 01/19/2018
Proceedings: Department's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
Date: 01/19/2018
Proceedings: Transcript of Proceedings (not available for viewing) filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/19/2018
Proceedings: Letter to Claudia Llado from Dannah Moore Regarding Transcript filed.
Date: 01/10/2018
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 01/08/2018
Proceedings: Order Granting Leave to Amend Order of Penalty Assessment.
PDF:
Date: 01/04/2018
Proceedings: Department's Unopposed Motion for Leave to Amend Order of Penalty Assessment filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/03/2018
Proceedings: Department's Proposed Pre-hearing Statement filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/03/2018
Proceedings: Department's Witness List filed.
Date: 01/03/2018
Proceedings: Department's (Proposed) Exhibit List filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
PDF:
Date: 01/03/2018
Proceedings: Department's Notice of Filing Proposed Exhibits, Exhibit List, and Witness List filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/22/2017
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 10, 2018; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to date and hearing type).
PDF:
Date: 11/14/2017
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 12, 2018; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa, FL; amended as to hearing type and date).
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2017
Proceedings: Notice of Telephonic Pre-hearing Conference (set for January 8, 2018; 4:00 p.m.).
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2017
Proceedings: Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
PDF:
Date: 11/13/2017
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 3, 2018; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 11/08/2017
Proceedings: Department's Agreed Response to Initial Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/07/2017
Proceedings: Order Granting Extension of Time.
PDF:
Date: 11/03/2017
Proceedings: Department's Agreed Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Intial Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/01/2017
Proceedings: Department's Notice of Taking Telephonic Deposition (of Eric Reinartsen) filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: Initial Order.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: Department's Notice of Service of Department of Financial Services' First Discovery Requests filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: 2nd Amended Order of Penalty Assessment filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: Stop-Work Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 10/27/2017
Proceedings: Agency referral filed.

Case Information

Judge:
HETAL DESAI
Date Filed:
10/27/2017
Date Assignment:
10/27/2017
Last Docket Entry:
12/19/2018
Location:
Brandon, Florida
District:
Middle
Agency:
ADOPTED IN PART OR MODIFIED
 

Counsels

Related Florida Statute(s) (8):