Case ID: so2d_522/html/0033-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "COWART, Judge. COBB, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jeffrey T. LACOUR, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    No. 87-38.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
    Dec. 3, 1987.
    On Motion for Rehearing Feb. 11, 1988.
    
      James R. Dressier, Cocoa Beach, for appellant.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Sean Daly, Asst. Atty. Gen., Daytona Beach, for appellee.
   COWART, Judge.

Appellant, a licensed masseur, was convicted of five counts of attempting to practice chiropractic without a license in violation of section 460.411(l)(a), Florida Statutes.

The factual issue in this case was whether appellant intended to manipulate soft body tissue, which he as a licensed masseur was authorized to do, or whether he wrongfully intended to manipulate bones, which is the practice of chiropractic, which he was unauthorized to do. According to the evidence in this case, the intent of chiropractic is to manipulate bones or osseous body tissue in order to realign it, the success of which is signified by the occurrence of an audible click or crack or similar sound.

Although the ultimate issue involves the appellant’s mental intent which is rarely, if ever, susceptible of direct proof, in this particular case we find no competent, substantial evidence of such intent. There was no direct evidence, and no circumstantial evidence from which the jury could reasonably infer, that appellant intended by his manipulations to produce an audible click signifying the realignment of osseous or bony tissue, as distinguished from his rightful intent to produce results from manipulation only of the superficial tissues of the body and its underlying musculature. Accordingly, appellant’s convictions are

REVERSED.

COBB and SHARP, JJ., concur.

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING

COBB, Judge.

Upon reconsideration of this record pursuant to the state’s Motion for Rehearing, we are persuaded that there was sufficient evidence adduced from which a jury could properly find that the defendant, LaCour, attempted to practice chiropractic without a license. Various witnesses testified that LaCour had applied “structural adjustments” to their bodies— i.e., he manipulated the osseous or bony tissue, as opposed to merely massaging and thereby relaxing muscle tissue. There was also testimony that LaCour told patients that he was adjusting their skeletal systems. It is the intent to manipulate osseous body tissue on order to realign it which is relevant, not the intent to produce an audible click. This question of mental intent is rarely subject to direct proof; instead, such intent must be considered by the jury based on the surrounding circumstances in the case. See Brewer v. State, 413 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982), review denied, 426 So.2d 25 (Fla.1983).

We therefore vacate our original opinion herein and affirm the judgment below.

AFFIRMED.

SHARP, C.J., concurs.

COWART, J., dissents without opinion. 
      
      . See Brewer v. State, 413 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982), rev. denied, 426 So.2d 25 (Fla.1983).