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.
Recommended Order on Monday, February 12, 2018.
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.
- Date
- Proceedings
- 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 cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
- 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: 01/04/2018
- Proceedings: Department's Unopposed Motion for Leave to Amend Order of Penalty Assessment 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: Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for January 3, 2018; 9:00 a.m.; Tampa and Tallahassee, FL).
- 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.
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
-
Jonathan Anthony Martin, Esquire
Address of Record -
Eric Reinartsen
Address of Record