Department of Professional Regulation v. Norris

24 Fla. Supp. 2d 269
CourtState of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings
DecidedOctober 9, 1986
DocketCase No. 86-0002
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Fla. Supp. 2d 269 (Department of Professional Regulation v. Norris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Department of Professional Regulation v. Norris, 24 Fla. Supp. 2d 269 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION

WILLIAM R. DORSEY, JR., Hearing Officer.

[270]*270 RECOMMENDED ORDER

A formal hearing was held in this case before William R. Dorsey, Jr., the Hearing Officer assigned by the Division of Administrative Hearings on July 28, 1986, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

ISSUES

The issues framed by the Stipulated Issues, Facts and Exhibits are whether the license of David L. Norris as a certified general contractor should be disciplined for violation of:

1) Section 489.129(l)(e), Florida Statutes, (1983), by aiding an unlicensed person to evade the requirements of Chapter 489;

2) Section 489.129(l)(f), Florida Statutes (1983), by knowingly conspiring with an unlicensed person to use Norris’ certificate with the intent to evade the requirements of Chapter 489;

3) Section 489.129(l)(j), Florida Statutes (1983), through the violation of Section 489.119, Florida Statutes (1983), by failing to qualify a firm through which Respondent was acting;

4) Section 489.129(l)(g), Florida Statutes (1983), by acting in a name not on his license.

At the final hearing, the Department amended the Administrative Complaint to dismiss the violations of Sections 489.129(l)(k) (abandoning a contracting job) and (m) (gross negligence or malpractice in contracting).

The Department presented two witnesses and the Respondent presented one witness. Twelve exhibits for the Department were received into evidence, and Mr. Norris offered one exhibit. The parties also stipulated to certain facts. (See Stipulated Issues, Fact and Exhibits filed May 15, 1986, Tr. 4-5)1

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. At all times material, Respondent, David L. Norris, was a certified general contractor, having been issued license numbers CG C011081 and CG CA 11081, by the State of Florida, Department of Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board. (PX 2; Stp. F. #1, Administrative Complaint paragraph 2)

2. At all times material, Mitch Kobylinski (Kobylinski) was unlicensed, and KMK Remodeling and Repair (KMK) had no qualifying [271]*271agent for the purpose of engaging in contracting under Section 489.119, Florida Statutes (1983). At times Kobylinski has done business as KMK. (PX 1; Stp. F. #2; Tr. 18-21)

3. At no time did the name Koblinsky or KMK appear on the license issued to Norris by the Construction Industry Licensing Board, nor did Norris qualify a business by that name. (Stp. F. # 1, Administrative Complaint paragraph 9)

4. Norris knew Kobylinski was not licensed to engage in contracting. (Stp. F. #1, Administrative Complaint paragraph 5)

5. Koblinsky had worked for Norris on prior jobs, including working for Norris in the capacity as overseer on a large room addition. Norris had paid Kobylinski by the hour, by the day or by the type of work Kobylinski did. On one other job, Norris and Kobylinski shared the job in that Kobylinski was paid by the day, however,, at the end both Respondent and Kobylinski split the profit. (Tr. 21.22)

6. Kobylinski, not Norris, was initially contacted by a leasing agent to improve a structure for Marianne Tomlinson (Tomlinson) at 21073 Jog Road, Suite 21, Boca Raton, to become Tootsie’s, a nail salon. Kobylinski indicated to the leasing agent and Ms. Tomlinson that he would have to perform the work with a general contractor. (Stp. F. #3; Tr. 24)

7. Kobylinski presented a proposal on KMK’s letterhead, dated August 17, 1984, to Tomlinson for the work to be done. (PX 3; Tr. 16, 19)

8. Norris also submitted a proposal, dated August 15, 1984, to Tomlinson. The evidence does now show what letterhead was used by Norris, because the exhibit is a carbon copy. (RX 1)

9. The proposed cost of the work from Kobylinski was $23,593.75 and from Norris was $23,600. Both proposals made separate provisions for formica work at additional prices of $10,600 and $10,500 respectively. (Stp. F. #4; PX 3; RX1)

10. Only Kobylinski’s proposal was signed by Ms. Tomlinson. (PX 3; Tr. 39)

11. Norris and Kobylinski agreed that Norris would act as the overseer of the job and that, as compensation, Norris initially was to receive $1,000.00 to begin the job (Tr. 26) and further monies depending upon time Norris expended on the job. (Tr. 22-23, 28-29) They also agreed that Kobylinski was to deal exclusively with Tomlinson and be responsible for all monies on the job and paying subcontractors. (Tr. 26, 43)

[272]*27212. No agreement was signed between Norris and Tomlinson providing that Norris would be the contractor for the job. (Tr. 38-39)

13. Norris applied for and was issued, on September 18, 1984, the building permit for the Tomlinson job. (PX 4, 5; Stp. F. #1, Administrative Complaint paragraph 6; Tr. 39)

14. Norris contacted the electrician, at the initial stage of the job, for the electrical work. (Tr. 56)

15. A certificate of occupancy was issued for the job. (Stp. F. #6; Tr. 46)

16. Tomlinson made all payments for the construction work by checks payable to Kobylinski, drawn on Tomlinson’s business account for Tootsie’s. (PX 7; Tr. 30)

17. Near the end of the job, Tomlinson gave Kobylinski a check, dated December, 1984, for $4,000.00. There were not sufficient funds in the account for Kobylinski to cash the check. Koblinsky returned to Tomlinson with the check, and Tomlinson issued him a replacement check for $2,000.00. She requested the return of the $4,000.00 check to her, but Kobylinski had not brought that check with him. At this point in time, the working relationship between Kobylinski and Tomlinson broke down. (PX 7; Tr. 31, 32)

18. Tomlinson submitted her punch list, dated December 17, 1984, to Norris. On it she identified him as the contractor for her job and stated she wanted to make the final payment to him. (PX 6)

19. On January 20, 1985, due to problems with the punch list and remaining payment, Tomlinson and Norris met. As a result of that meeting, they reached an agreement dated January 20, 1985, as to what remained to be paid, viz., $4,113.75, and what work remained to be done. The August 17th agreement between Kobylinski and Tomlinson was referenced in the agreement of January 20, 1985. (PX 8; Tr. 45)

20. By January 20, 1985, Kobylinski would have received all the monies for the cost of the work, according to the August 17th agreement, if the $4,113.75 were paid by Tomlinson. (Stp. F. #5)

21. On January 21, 1985, Norris filed a claim of lien against the Tomlinson job. The lien indicated that the total value of the work was $23,593.75 (which was the cost of construction according to the contract with Kobylinski) and that the amount unpaid was $4,113.75. Norris filed the lien because, after signing the agreement of January 20, 1985, he and Tomlinson had further disagreements. (PX 9; Tr. 46)

22. In a letter to Norris, dated April 23, 1985, in an attempt to get [273]*273Respondent to release his lien, Tomlinson indicated that she had contracted with Kobylinski, not Norris, to do the work for her. (PX 11)

23.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
24 Fla. Supp. 2d 269, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/department-of-professional-regulation-v-norris-fladivadminhrg-1986.