Board Meeting

FEBRUARY 5, 2004

Aristides E. Arche-Unshelm
Case No. 2003-004481

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $200.00 fine and costs of $60.00 against Aristides Arche-Unshelm. While the Respondent was licensed, a final order was entered on February 20, 1997, requiring Respondent to pay a $500.00 fine within thirty days. Respondent failed to comply with the terms of the final order, by only paying $300.00.

David M. Asbell
Asbell Associates
Case Nos. 2003-077737 & 2003-077749

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order imposing a fine of $3,000.00 and costs of $396.00 against Mr. Asbell. The complaint alleged that Mr. Asbell is licensed to practice architecture in Georgia but is not licensed in Florida. Mr. Asbell contracted to perform architectural services on commercial property in Florida. Mr. Asbell received payment for architectural services performed on this project and his stationary offered architectural services in Florida. He was also listed as the architect on the project directory.

Jorge L. Bouza
Case No. 2003-042298

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation placing Jorge L. Bouza's license to practice architecture on probation for two years and imposed a fine of $13,000.00 and costs of $144.00. The complaint alleged that Mr. Bouza was the architect in supervisory control of a firm previously known as Mummaw and Associates. At this firm, an employee held herself out as the project architect in a letter and an individual who was not licensed signed an architect's certificate of payment. Also, the firm advertised interior design services with a null and void license number and the firm operated under the name of an individual who was not licensed.

Raul Carrasco
Carrasco Design Group
Case No. 2003-042253 & 2003-064346

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $1,000.00 fine against Raul Carrasco. The complaint alleged that Mr. Carrasco's letterhead offered commercial design services and in a Complaint for Damages and Accounting filed in Circuit Court and Respondents held themselves out as an interior designer and interior design company.

Ernest Hedric Clay
E. Hedric Clay & Associates
Case No. 2003-072183 & 2003-072187

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $2,500.00 fine against Ernest Hedric Clay. The complaint alleged that Respondent held himself out as a registered architect in a letter and his business stationary offers architectural services.

Jenny Cocanougher
Case No. 2003-050487

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order imposing a $10,000.00 fine and costs of $318.00 against Jenny Cocanougher. The complaint alleged that Respondent was previously a licensed interior designer but her license was placed in a null and void status for failing to renew. Ms. Cocanougher's business card and resume held her out as an interior designer and she contracted to provide interior design services.

Theresa D'Amico
Terri D'Amico Interiors
Case No. 2003-067773

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $5,000.00 fine and costs of $252.00 against Theresa D'Amico. The complaint alleged that Ms. D'Amico was previously a licensed interior designer in the state of Florida, but her license was placed in a null and void status for failing to renew. Terri D'Amico Interiors does not have a certificate of authorization to practice interior design services. Ms. D'Amico's website holds herself and her business out as licensed interior designers and includes her null and void license number.

Kimberly Dellastatious
Case No. 2003-074981

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $1,000.00 fine and costs of $258.00 against Kimberly Dellastatious. The complaint alleged that Ms. Dellastatious held herself out to the public as a member of the American Institute of Architects when she was not a member.

Sheila Hawley
Case No. 2003-052693

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving settlement stipulation imposing a $1,000.00 fine and costs of $342.00 against Sheila Hawley. The complaint alleged that Ms. Hawley was not duly registered or certified to engage in the practice of interior design and provided interior design services by choosing paint types and colors for two commercial projects.

Joseph M. McHarris
Case No. 2003-042411

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $5,000.00 fine and costs of $564.00 against Joseph M. McHarris. The complaint alleged that Mr. McHarris held himself out as an architect on his resume and contracted to perform architectural services by developing Architecture & Site Design Standards.

William P. Niblock
Las Casitas Architecture & Planning, Inc.
Case Nos. 2003-084662 & 2003-077427

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation reprimanding Respondents' licenses and imposing a $2,000.00 fine and costs of $450.00 against Respondents. The complaint alleged that the firm's website held out an employee as being able to offer interior design services when she is not licensed to practice interior design; held an employee as a Senior Architect when he is not a licensed architect; held an employee out as the Project Architect when he is not a licensed architect and held Mr. Niblock with the designation "AIA" when he is not a member of the American Institute of Architects. Also, Mr. Niblock was the sole architect in responsible supervisory control but during February 20, 2001 through March 3, 2003, he was employed full time at another firm.

Jeffrey C. Nichols
Case No. 2003-066511

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a $5,000.00 fine and costs of $216.00 against Jeffrey C. Nichols. The complaint alleged that Mr. Nichols held out the firm of Nichols/Page Design Associates as an interior design firm in a letter to the Broward County Purchasing Division to perform services for the ADA Transition Plan Update. On or about March 1, 2003, Respondent renewed the Certificate of Authorization for Nichols/Page Design Associates, license number AAC001615. The application provides that Stephen M. Page is the licensed qualifier for Nichols/Page Design Associates. As of March 1, 2003, Stephen M. Page's license was null and void.

Aurelio A. Rey
Case No. 2003-077351

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order suspending Mr. Rey's license to practice architecture for a period of 15 months followed by five years probation. A fine of $5,000.00 and costs of $594.00 were imposed against Mr. Rey. The complaint alleged that Mr. Rey committed an act of misconduct by forging the initials of a professional engineer on two sets of plans.

Jose Rodriguez
Case No. 2003-004489

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order revoking Mr. Rodriguez' license and imposing a $5,000.00 fine and costs of $112.00. Mr. Rodriguez failed to respondent to the Administrative Complaint that was filed on October 22, 2003 alleging that Mr. Rodriguez failed t comply with a lawful order of the board.

Thomas V. Smith
Case No. 2003-042120

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation placing Mr. Smith's license to practice architecture on suspension for one year and probation for two years. A fine of $6,250.00 and costs of $378.00 were imposed against Mr. Smith. The complaint alleged that Mr. Smith who lives in Oakland, California is the qualifier and architect in responsible supervisory control of an office in Live Oak, Florida while maintaining a full time practice in California. Mr. Smith signed and sealed plans for a commercial project that were prepared by a draftsman that was not licensed. The draftsman entered into the contract and Mr. Smith never met with the client. Further, the plans at issue do not conform to an acceptable standard of practice.

Jim Weinberg
Jim Weinberg Designs
Case Nos. 2003-064193 & 2003-064195

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design agreed to enter a final order approving a settlement stipulation imposing a fine of $5,000.00 and costs of $282.00 against Respondents. The complaint alleged Respondents who are not licensed held themselves out as interior designers and were offering interior design on their website. Also, their invoices described services as interior design.

Edward F. Worrell
Case No. 2003-075333

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order revoking Mr. Worrell's license to practice architecture and imposed a $3,000.00 fine and costs of $1,216.50.

In May 2002, An Administrative Complaint was filed against Mr. Worrell on Case Number 2001-00352 alleging that due to design flaws beams were overstressed which caused the failure and collapse of a building. A final order was entered reprimanding Mr. Worrell's license and placing it on two years probation. As part of probation, Mr. Worrell was required to submit plans and appropriate documents for the Probable Cause Panel's review. In November 2002, Mr. Worrell submitted a project list and the Probable Cause Panel requested plans/drawings for three projects. On or about February 10, 2003, Mr. Worrell submitted plans and drawing as requested. The Board's expert determined that in preparation of the architectural and structural drawings, Mr. Worrell was negligent in that he failed to exercise due care to conform acceptable standards of architectural practice in such a manner as to be detrimental to the public.

Warren Wuertz
Architechnique Design, Inc.
Case Nos. 2003-070667 & 2003-070657

The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design ruled to enter a final order reprimanding and placing Mr. Wuertz' license on probation for five years and imposing costs of $462.00. The complaint alleges that Mr. Wuertz is the qualifier and sole architect in responsible supervisory control of Architechnique Design, Inc. which is located in Pompano Beach. Mr. Wuertz resides approximately 244 miles from the office and signs and seals drawings at his residence even though they were prepared at the office.