Category Archives: Domestic Violence

IS REPORTING MANDATORY?

Posted on by

Our communications are not intended to deal exclusively with mandatory reporting requirements, whether applicable or not. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) is found in the California Government Code, section 11340 et seq. This statute establishes “rulemaking” procedures and standards for California state agencies. Additionally, California regulations must be in compliance with regulations adopted by OAL (see California Code of Regulations, title 1, sections 1-280).  The California Code of Regulations is the official publication of regulations adopted, amended or repealed by California state agencies. Reporting requirements vary from state to state and may be different from one California Regulatory Agency to another. The mandated reporting can be found in the particular license “Practice Act” as well as the rules and regulations that apply to  the profession or occupation.

Example for a Pharmacist: ANY controlled substance loss, small or large, must be reported to the California Board of Pharmacy (BOP) within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of loss when it was a result of the theft by a licensed employee, or when it is from any other type of loss, within thirty (30) calendar days.

Example for an RN: is the reporting of convictions by Applicants for an RN license issued by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). All prior convictions substantially related to the duties, functions and/or qualifications of a registered nurse are reviewed by the BRN on a case by case basis. Since July 1, 2020, applicants are not asked about their prior criminal conviction history, but they will be discovered upon the Board’s receipt of an individual’s fingerprint results.The Board will not generally take action on convictions older than seven years, however, there are several exceptions, such as a serious felony that includes approximately 42 different crimes. Upon renewal of a nurse’s license, the BRN requires nurses to disclose whether they have had ANY license disciplined by a government agency or other disciplinary body; or if they have been convicted of any crime in any state, U.S. territory, military court or other country since their  last renewal. Failing to disclose ANY conviction may be grounds for disciplinary action as the government will contend you falsified information required on your renewal form; this is mandatory even when a conviction is expunged. As stated earlier in this paragraph, any felony or misdemeanor conviction substantially related to the duties, functions and/or qualifications of a registered nurse can be the basis for disciplinary action.

Example for a Physician, who is licensed in California is required to notify the Medical Board (MBC) of certain specific occurrences. Reporting forms and links are set forth below. Pursuant to California Business & Professions Code:

  • § 801.01(b)(2), a licensee must report malpractice settlements over $30,000 and judgments or arbitration awards of any amount, if the licensee does not possess professional liability insurance. (See Report of Settlement, Judgment or Arbitration Award)
  • § 802.1, a licensee must report:
  • An indictment or information charging a felony against the licensee.
  • A conviction, including any verdict of guilty, or plea of guilty or no contest, of any felony or misdemeanor. (See Physician Reporting – Criminal Actions)
  • §2240, a licensee who performs a medical procedure outside of a general acute care hospital, that results in the death of any patient on whom that medical treatment was performed by the licensee, or by a person acting under the licensee’s orders or supervision, shall report, in writing, on a form prescribed by the board, that occurrence to the board within 15 days after the occurrence. (See Outpatient Surgery – Patient Death Reporting Form)
  • § 2021, each licensee shall report to the board each and every change of address within 30 days after each change. (See Notification of Name Change and Address of Record )

We begin with a laser focused analysis of all of the facts and circumstances, and a pivotal strategy to develop a lengthy and comprehensive written presentation, 60 to 75 pages, so that our client is not defined by the actual and perceived conclusions regarding an underlying case. In addition, we pursue and underscore exculpatory evidence and other proof by initiating steps that minimize the risk our client is charged with unprofessional conduct &/or other grounds for disciplinary action. We do not gamble on the Regulatory Agency claiming the underlying situation is substantially related to the duties, functions and qualifications of a licensed professional or occupation. We also do not want to gamble the governmental agency may not perceive there is a basis  to conclude a possible threat to the health and safety of the public; nor do we want to risk by assuming that unequivocally the underlying matter does not evince unfitness, lack of good judgment, etc.

Please note the CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, 16 CCR § 1444 states: [§ 1444. Substantial Relationship Criteria]. “A conviction or act shall be considered to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a registered nurse if to a substantial degree it evidences the present or potential unfitness of a registered nurse to practice in a manner consistent with the public health, safety, or welfare Such convictions or acts shall include but not be limited to the following: [Emphasis Added; we prefer to error on the side of caution and, therefore, have provided the information herein]:  (a) Assaultive or abusive conduct including, but not limited to, those violations listed in subdivision (d) of Penal Code Section 11160. (b) Failure to comply with any mandatory reporting requirements. (c) Theft, dishonesty, fraud, or deceit. (d) Any conviction or act subject to an order of registration pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code (Emphasis Added).

We understand a previous case may be unsettling; however, our role is to level the playing field and we do so by underscoring in a long written argument both a defense and offense. If you have a situation you would like us to be of  assistance, do not hesitate to send an email [or call us at 1.619.583.0350] during our regular hours of 8:30 am to 8:30 pm seven (7) days a week.

 

What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)?

Posted on by

For the most part, many of us have not read or heard about ACE’s, the acronym for adverse childhood experiences. Whereas highly negative experiences as a child often create indelible marks in his/her brain impacting child development, they do not have to be irreversible. For more information of significant interest, see the following:  https://acestoohigh.com/2012/10/03/the-adverse-childhood-experiences-study-the-largest-most-important-public-health-study-you-never-heard-of-began-in-an-obesity-clinic/

Negative childhood experiences inevitably can cause anxiety, toxic stress, fear, shame, disappointment, anger,  hopelessness, helplessness, despair and depression. They can arise from one or more specific incidents of neglect; physical, sexual, verbal and/or emotional abuse; and  family dysfunction in general.  When the feelings that arise from such experiences become intolerable, they can move from being an acute and temporary problem to a chronic and continuing episode. For far too many, they not only impact a child’s development but frame their adult life. They are often linked to and the causal factor behind substance abuse; mental illness; criminal behavior; separation and divorce; neuro-psychiatric and neuro-psychological problems, major medical health conditions as well as auto-immune diseases; work absences and employment problems. However,  learning more about this scourge and most importantly obtaining appropriate and if necessary ongoing care and treatment can alter the fabric of life.

Far too many examples are evident in the news every day, yet there are clues that either were ignored &/or rationalized by parents, siblings, relatives, peers, friends and associates. Become more aware of those you love and with whom you associate so that their personal feelings are addressed, if only to be the one who listens and hears the challenges and struggles they may experience. Hopefully, encouragement will suffice; however, recommending one obtain counseling and professional guidance may ultimately be the best remedy and tool for accommodating negative feelings and ultimately reduce  the ACE score.  Also, see https://www.socialjusticesolutions.org/2014/08/07/q-pediatrician-screens-parents-kids-trauma-ace-score-9/

 

Did San Diego Sheriffs Use Excessive Force When They Killed a Suicidal Suspect?

Posted on by

On December 2, 2013, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of CHELSEY HAYES V. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, Case #09-55644 , heard this civil rights Complaint brought under the Federal statute 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and California law wherein a minor daughter alleged violations of her 14th and 4th Amendment rights and her deceased father’s 4th Amendment rights when San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies acted negligently in shooting and killing her father who allegedly was suicidal and wielding a knife during a response to a domestic violence call.

 In the underlying case, the Court said there was no evidence the sheriff’s fired their guns for any other purpose than self-defense and, therefore affirmed the District Court’s Decision by declaring there was no violation of plaintiff’s rights under the 14th Amendment. On the other hand, the Court reversed the lower Court after it determined a jury could conclude the use of deadly force by the sheriffs was not objectively reasonable and that under California law supported a basis for a wrongful death claim.

A compelling argument was made on behalf of Hayes that the sheriffs could have avoided the incident by obtaining more information about the suspect or requesting a psychiatric emergency response team (“PERT”) when the first deputy responded to a domestic violence call at a neighbor’s house and learned there had been no physical altercation, and before the second deputy arrived and they both entered the home. At that point it became a matter of whether the officers used excessive force.

The above reported Decision can be found at the following link: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2013/12/02/09-55644.pdf

 

Body Found in Missing Woman’s Car in Kearny Mesa

Posted on by

Homicide detectives were called to an area of Kearny Mesa south of State Route 52 for the report of a suspicious death on Thursday.

San Diego police officers were in the 7700-block of Convoy Court on official business when they discovered a person dead inside a vehicle.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the car found at the scene is registered to Grace Ann Hall, 23. Police have not yet confirmed if the body found inside the vehicle was the person who the car is registered to.

A bulletin recently issued by the San Diego Police Department identifies Hall as a missing person. It describes her as a white female, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes.

According to the SDPD bulletin, Hall was last seen around 8 p.m. on Mar. 20 driving a grey Toyota Camry in the 9100 block of Rebecca Avenue in Serra Mesa.

The police bulletin says Hall was supposed to travel to Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles for a job interview at an unknown home. At the time the bulletin was issued, investigators did not know if Hall had ever arrived in the Sherman Oaks area.

Police say Hall’s credit card had been used in Mira Mesa since her disappearance, but hadn’t been used since Mar. 27.

As for the body discovered by police on Thursday, investigators do not yet know if the person died from natural causes or if a crime has been committed.

The deceased person has not been yet been identified.

Officers have cordoned off a section of the street and are awaiting the arrival of the personnel from the county medical examiner’s office.

Husband arrested in 2004 Westminster killing (Sam Spital)

Posted on by

COMMENTARY BY SAMUEL SPITAL, CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND DEFENSE LAWYER

“On February 4, 2013, the Orange County Registrar published a digital article in which a husband was arrested in connection with a cold case investigation for the death of his wife about nine years ago. According to the story, this was a brutal murder in which the wife had her throat slashed and her head was nearly decapitated. All of this happened in the early morning hours when the 17 year old son was tied up and placed in a his bedroom closet by another suspect. It was further revealed that the husband had previously pled guilty to spousal battery and attempting to dissuade a witness (the victim in the current criminal case), then being sentenced to one year in County Jail and formal probation for five years.

Either the author did not interview the investigating officers more thoroughly or the Police and District Attorney declined to provide any further details as to the underlying evidence that led them to arrest the defendant for the vicious killing after so many years had intervened. Defense counsel will undoubtedly perform a painstaking investigation given the substantial intervening period of time from the incident and the current filing of the criminal charges, as well as raise various pre-trial motions and to establish the defense strategy.

It is interesting to note the husband was not arrested after so many years even though the the spouse is generally considered the first and often the primary person of interest in a murder; when this nexus is coupled with the previous conviction for domestic violence along with the type of and manner of killing, there would seem to have been other circumstantial evidence as well to link the husband to the crime even if no eye witness, including but not limited to DNA. However, the spouse may have had an alibi, he may not have used the knife in question and/or his participation in the crime as a co-conspirator could not have previously been established beyond any reasonable doubt. If the defendant does not have the means to retain private counsel, a Deputy Public Defender will be appointed.”

–Sam Spital

Woman dies after Alpine crash into tree (Sam Spital)

Posted on by

COMMENTARY BY SAN DIEGO PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY SAM SPITAL:

“On December 16, 2012, the UT San Diego online edition printed an article regarding a 53 year old woman who died as a result of her crash into the flatbed of a semi-truck as she changed lanes on Highway 8, and then ran off the road and crashed into a tree.

The family and/or one of the heirs may seek advice from a personal injury lawyer to evaluate whether to bring a wrongful death case. Even though one is primarily responsible for operating his/her vehicle in the proper way to avoid accidents, the potential defendants and theories of liability in such a lawsuit would be for any dangerous condition as a result of the design and maintenance of roads and highways by the city, county and state government respectively. In addition, the overall safety, as well as design and manufacturing defects of the vehicle the woman was driving can be the principal or actual cause or a contributing cause of her death. As reported by the Centers of Disease Control and Preventing, accidents sadly remain the fifth leading cause of deaths in the United States, coming after heart disease (#1), cancer (#2), chronic lower respiratory diseases (#3) and strokes (#4). See https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm and the CDC website in general for a wealth of information related to public health issues and problems.”

–Sam Spital

Newport exec allegedly killed wife after divorce, money fight

Posted on by

Commentary by Sam Spital, San Diego Criminal Attorney:

“The Los Angeles Times reported on October 15, 2012 the Orange County District Attorney planned later on the same day to file charges against a Newport Beach man for killing his wife in a dispute over finances and a possible divorce. The newsperson noted the family resided in a $2.5 million home and the husband was arrested for felony murder near the San Diego-Mexican Border by officers a few days earlier. According to a different person, the 48 year old man claimed another individual killed his wife and forced him to place her body on a truck and then drive his own vehicle toward the Mexican border. The article does not contain any other references so it is impossible to know the facts and provide an opinion regarding the allegations and potential defenses to the charges. Suffice to say, criminal defense counsel has a variety of strategies to employ in representing a client.”

Sam Spital, Criminal Lawyer

Woman runs over, kills boyfriend after fight escalates, Commentary by Sam Spital, San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney

Posted on by

“The KFMB-TV and CBS.com news posted on October 14, 2012 that a 23 year old man was fatally injured when he was run over by his girlfriend’s vehicle after he smashed the car’s windshield and banged on her car at which point she sought to extricate herself from the dangerous situation and backed the vehicle away. This followed an alleged altercation between the two individuals in a parking lot in Chula Vista, a neighboring city in the south bay region of San Diego County, where the woman had previously gathered with friends. Is this another senseless tragedy that might have been avoided? Unfortunately, very little was reported and there is an investigation pending.”

Sam Spital, San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney

 

California sheriff sentenced for domestic violence

Posted on by

The sheriff of a major California city will spend the next three years serving a probation sentence after pleading guilty to domestic abuse in connection with a recent altercation with his wife.

According to court documents, the alleged domestic violence incident took place on New Year’s Eve, when the sheriff of San Francisco forcefully grabbed his wife’s arm during a heated argument. Last month, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false imprisonment under a plea deal that included the dismissal of three other criminal charges.

Following the guilty plea, the sheriff was sentenced to three years of probation. He must also complete 100 hours of community service and 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, and pay about $600 in fines and court fees. Under a current restraining order, he is not allowed to contact his wife until he begins his court-ordered counseling

The sheriff’s job future is also uncertain. The San Francisco mayor is reportedly assessing his options, which include suspending the sheriff for official misconduct. The sheriff says he has no plans to step down.

After his sentencing hearing, the sheriff gave a tearful statement to the waiting press, stating that the arrest and court process had been “a very public reminder that I’m not the person that I thought I was,” and admitting that he has already started counseling to deal with the issues that caused the incident.

“I deeply and humbly apologize for my behavior and the pain it caused to my wife and son. For what happened on December 31, there are no excuses,” he said. “I accept full responsibility.”

Ratings and Reviews

BBB 10.0Samuel Eugene Spital
Samuel E. SpitalClients’ ChoiceAward 2021 Samuel Eugene SpitalClients’ ChoiceAward 2020
avvo rated 10/10 in Criminal Defense avvo rated 10/10 in Juvenile Law avvo rated 10/10 in Licensing
avvo rated 10/10 in Personal Injury Top ContributorAward 2012Samuel Eugene Spital Samuel Eugene SpitalReviewsout of 207 reviews