Probable Cause Panel Meeting

July 9, 2007

I.     Unlicensed Cases

Architectural Components, Inc.
Wade Bradford
Case No. 2007-022355 

Probable cause was found that Architectural Components, Inc. of Winter Garden, Florida, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida and is doing business as Architectural Components, Inc. A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued along with the requirement that Wade Bradford sign an affidavit stating he will refrain from offering architectural services and will change his business name deleting any references to architecture or words to that effect.  Further, a citation was issued.  If Mr. Bradford fails to return the affidavit or respond to the citation, an Administrative Complaint seeking fines will be filed.

 Design Limited of Sarasota, Inc.
Case No. 2007-022003 

Probable cause was found that Design Limited of Sarasota, Inc. of Sarasota, Florida, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida.  The registered fictitious name of Design Limited has a certificate of authorization; however, the firm no longer employs a licensed architect.  The firm was previously qualified by two different architects; however, one has not had contact with the firm for over five years and the other qualifier is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.  Design Limited of Sarasota, Inc. does not have a certificate of authorization but is offering architectural services and using the title architect.  A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued and an Administrative Complaint seeking fines was filed.

James J. Kelly
Case No. 2006-054307 

Probable cause was found that James J. Kelly of Jupiter, Florida, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida and has in his possession the seal of a Florida licensed architect.  The licensed architect has knowledge of that Mr. Kelly is in possession of the seal and allows him to seal drawings on his behalf.  It appears that Mr. Kelly also has signed drawings in the past with consent of the licensed architect.  A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued and an Administrative Complaint seeking fines was filed.

Luiz De Basto Design, Inc.
Luiz De Basto
Case No. 2007-019956 

Probable cause was found that Luiz De Basto Design, Inc. of Miami, Florida, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida and is using the title architect on his website. A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued along with the requirement that Mr. De Basto sign an affidavit stating he will refrain from offering architectural  as the terms are defined in Florida Statutes, Chapter 481 (Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture). Luiz de Basto Design, Inc. returned the requested affidavit and the case is now closed.

Stephen Mayrosh
Mayrosh Interior Design
Case No. 2007-012504 

Probable cause was found that Stephen Mayrosh of Philadelphia, PA, is not licensed to practice interior design in Florida and contracted to provide interior design services on a residential project.  The contract specifically offered interior design services.  A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued and an Administrative Complaint seeking fines was filed.

 Earl G. Nelson
Case No. 2007-009089 

Probable cause was found that Earl Nelson of Lauderdale Lakes, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida.  Mr. Nelson was previously licensed; however, his license went delinquent on March 1, 1993 and then into a null and void status on March 1, 1995.  The complaint was based on a case in which Mr. Nelson practiced architecture, held himself out as an architect and used his null and void license number.  A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued and an Administrative Complaint seeking fines was filed.

Nelson Associates
Peter Nelson
Case No. 2007-027248 

Probable cause was found that Nelson Associates of Clinton, New York, is not licensed to practice architecture in Florida.  The firm is an engineering firm with offices both in New York and Florida.  The firm’s brochure offers architectural and interior design services.  A Notice and Order to Cease and Desist was issued along with the requirement that Mr. Nelson sign an affidavit stating the firm will refrain from offering interior design and architectural services and will change its brochure and website.  If Mr. Nelson fails to return the affidavit, an Administrative Complaint seeking fines will be filed.

II.        Licensed Cases

Lowry Bell
Case No. 2007-013186 

Probable cause was found that Lowry Bell of Palm Beach, Florida, is a licensed architect in Florida that falsified cubage calculations on his own house plans to circumvent the home owner’s association.  In deposition testimony, Mr. Bell states that it was an error on the part of his draftsman and that he did not have significant knowledge over the plans even though his signature and seal appear on the plans.  Further, the draftsman has Mr. Bell’s seal and seals drawings on Mr. Bell’s behalf.  Mr. Bell has knowledge of this activity and it appears that the draftsman signs the plans as well.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Oscar S. Benitez
Case Nos. 2007-013072 & 2006-066090 

Probable cause was found that Oscar Benitez of Miami, Florida, is a licensed architect in Florida that signed and sealed drawings for a residential project that were prepared by an unlicensed draftsman without ever meeting with the client.  The unlicensed draftsman had a contract that specifically offered architectural services.  The plans were reviewed by the Board’s expert, Jerry Hicks who found that the plans lacked sufficient detain and constituted negligence in the practice of architecture.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Jaime Colmenares
Case No. 2007-022009 

Probable cause was found that Jaime Colmenares of Cape Coral, Florida, is a licensed architect in Florida and acts as a consultant to a firm that is offering architectural services without a full time architect employed by the firm.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Design Limited
Case No. 2007-024787 

Probable cause was found that Design Limited of Sarasota, Florida, has a certificate of authorization to practice architecture in Florida but no longer employs a licensed architect.  The firm was previously qualified by two different architects but one has not had contact with the firm for over five years and the other qualifier is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

 Evan Evans
Case No. 2007-023566 

Probable cause was found that Evan Evans of Plano, Texas, is a licensed architect in Florida that failed to satisfy the terms of a Final Order which was entered on December 11, 2006.  Mr. Evans failed to pay the fine required by the Final Order.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

 Poetica Architecture, Incorporated
Case No. 2006-040601 

Probable cause was found that Poetica Architecture, Incorporated of Tampa, Florida, has a certificate of authorization to practice architecture in Florida but not longer employs a licensed architect.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Timothy J. Russell
Case No. 2006-068761 

Probable cause was found that Timothy J. Russell of Kinston, MA, is a licensed architect in Florida entered into a contract and prepared drawings for a commercial project.  Mr. Russell signed and sealed the drawings without maintaining the proper documentation for plans prepared outside of his office and his title block on the plans is in violation.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed. 

Slattery & Associates Architects & Planners, Inc.
Paul J. Slattery
Case No. 2007-023811 

Probable cause was found that Slattery & Associates Architects & Planners, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, is a licensed architectural firm in Florida but failed to include a license number on its website.  Further the firm’s website lists an individual who is not licensed as having 17 years of architectural experience and another individual as an interior designer whose license number has been null and void since 1992.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Joseph R. Vislay
Vislay Architects Group, Inc.
Case No. 2007-010686 

Probable cause was found that Joseph Vislay of Merritt Island, Florida, is a licensed architect in Florida.  An unlicensed individual prepared drawings for a commercial project and Mr. Vislay signed and sealed the drawings.  The unlicensed individual entered into the contract to provide architectural services for the project and Mr. Vislay signed and sealed the drawings without ever meeting with the client.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.

Richard Wu
Case No. 2007-011599 

Probable cause was found that Richard Wu of Naples, Florida, is a licensed architect in Florida that signed and sealed plans for a commercial project that were prepared by an unlicensed draftsman without ever meeting with the client.  Further, Mr. Wu has been unable to provide the proper documentation for signing and sealing drawings prepared outside of his office.  An Administrative Complaint seeking discipline was filed.