What can I expect if I face charges against my professional license?
The disciplinary process is full of surprises. The first thing that will happen is that you will receive a letter from an investigator. That letter will take one of two forms: 1) it will either give a sparse overview of a complaint against you and ask you to address a number of specific questions and produce documents, or 2) the investigator will forward the complaint and ask you to answer the accusations. Frequently the demand for written responses is followed up with a request for an in-person interview. Often the investigator has no right to ask for an in-person interview. They will also refuse to have the interview recorded or transcribed. I would recommend consulting an attorney regarding how to respond to the written questions and whether you should submit to an unrecorded interview.If you are not going to be charged, you may receive a letter that the case is closed. You might also hear nothing. If you are going to be charged, you will not hear anything for a while. This lapse in time can be as short as a matter of weeks, and as long as months or even a year or more. You will then receive a statement of charges in the mail that details the factual allegations and proposed punishment. You may find that document shocking in what it has concluded and what it proposes in terms of a punishment. You will be required to either request an administrative hearing, or default and receive the punishment that the department has proposed. Always request a hearing. The department will usually negotiate a lesser punishment than what is contained in the statement of charges.If you receive a letter from an investigator, consult with an attorney right away. Investigators are there to build cases. They are not your friends. The answers you provide will be used against you. It is not expensive to consult with an attorney at this stage and have them guide you through the process. The repercussions of losing your license or being disciplined can follow you through the rest of your life.