Late last year, we brought to your attention the Veterinary Medical Board’s effort to increase fines associated with any harm caused to animal patients – by both licensees and unlicensed persons. Well, that amendment passed with no noted objections, requests for clarification, or further amendments proposed during the statutory regulatory Read more…
The administrative license suspension program, known as “Admin Per Se” (“APS”) was implemented in California in 1990 to serve as a stronger deterrent to drunk driving. The APS program compels the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) to immediately suspend or revoke the driving privileges of any person arrested for the Read more…
Many licenses granted by the state of California are given with a finite time period. This finite time period permits the licensing agency the opportunity to review each licensee’s fitness to practice under a license… as well as collect a small fee for having done so. Renewal Requirements The license Read more…
The Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) has proposed a regulatory action to adopt a new section that they believe will better protect animal patients and California consumers. The proposed regulation will allow licensed physical therapists and registered veterinarian technicians to perform animal rehabilitation under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Currently, Read more…
After defending hundreds of health care licensing investigations and disciplinary actions from Boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs over the years, certain things have become very apparent. First, a licensing Board or Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) investigator is not contacting you for praise or accolades – there has Read more…
What happens when a witness you subpoena to testify at your licensing defense hearing does not show up? A subpoena is used to compel attendance at a hearing, and a subpoena duces tecum is used to compel production of documents at any reasonable time and place or at a hearing. Read more…
Simas & Associates, Ltd. recently petitioned for and was awarded the granting of a Petition to Set Aside the Default Revocation of a California Department of Insurance licensed agent. “The grounds for the petition was a lack of notice of the Accusation,” explained Justin Hein, Managing Attorney of Simas & Read more…
When AB 1000 went into effect in January 2014, it was actually the combination of two bills: (1) AB 1000 for direct consumer access to physical therapy, and (2) AB 1003, sponsored by the California Medical Association, to permit professional medical corporations to employ physical therapists. Since 2010, the California Physical Read more…
Federal law bars anyone who has been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust from willfully engaging in or participating in the business of insurance. It is a criminal offense, found under the the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Title 18, United States Code, Read more…
A recent settlement agreement Simas & Associates, Ltd. on behalf of two licensed professionals inspired this blog. The parties – call them Doctor and CPA — had a business dispute and were settling the case. The settlement agreement was presented for review and contained the standard provisions, including a release Read more…