U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

IN THE MATTER OF 

Air Medical Resource Group, Inc. 

Respondent 

FAA Docket NO. 2014NM070012 

(Civil Penalty Proceeding) 

RECEIVED 

SEP - 2 2014 

HEARING DOCKET 

DMS NO. FAA- NOT YET ASSIGNED ~ D \1-j - () SS J 

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE 

NOT YET ASSIGNED 

Hearing Date: NOT YET ASSIGNED 

Hearing Location: NOT YET ASSIGNED 

RESPONDENT'S ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 

COMES NOW, Respondent, Air Medical Resources Group, Inc. (hereinafter "AMRG"), 

by aruj thtough undersigned counsel, pursuant to Rule 209 of the Rules of Practice (14 C.P.R.§ 

13.209) and hereby files the folloWing'Ariswer. arid :Affitiniltlve beferis~s<tdthe Administnitor's 

Complaint, served on August 26, 2014. 

ANSWER 

I. 

Section I ofthe Complaint does not contain any allegations requiring a response. 

II. 

.1. AMRG admits .the a!legat1ons contained iri secticii:iii., ipai-agfajJh nlimbei''t orthe 

Compjalint : ,:,, -- i ~ ' 
2. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 2 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

3. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 3 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

4. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 4 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

5. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 5 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

6. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 6 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proofthereof. 

7. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 7 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

8. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 8 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

2 
9. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 9 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

10. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 10 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

11. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number II of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

12. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 12 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

13. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 13 ofthe Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

14. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 14 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

15. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 15 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

3 
16. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 16 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

17. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 17 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

18. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 18 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

19. AMRG lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or 

falsity of the allegations contained in section II, paragraph number 19 of the Complaint and 

therefore, denies same and demands strict proof thereof. 

III. 

l(a). AMRG denies that it violated 14 C.P.R.§ 135.2l(a). 

l(b). AMRG denies that it violated 14 C.P.R.§ 135.63(a)(4)(vii). 

2. AMRG denies that pmsuant to 49 U.S.C. § 46301(a) and (d), it is subject to a civil 

penalty not to exceed $11,000 for each of the violations alleged. 

3. AMRG denies that under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of 

$12,000 is appropriate. 

Any other allegations not specifically numbered by paragraph are hereby denied. 

AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 

1. In determining the civil penalty amount, the Complainant has failed to consider (1) the 

natme and circumstances of the violation; (2) the extent and gravity of the violation; (3) the 

4 
respondent's degree of culpability; ( 4) the respondent's history of prior violations, if any; ( 5) the 

respondent's ability to pay the civil penalty; (6) the effect on the entity's ability to stay in 

business; and (7) other matters as justice may require. See 49 U.S.C. §4630l(e)(2); See also 

Folsom's Air Service, Inc., FAA Order No. 2008-11 (November 6, 2008), p. 11. 

2. AMRG relies upon the affirmative defense of reasonable reliance. Respondent further 

asserts that given the facts of this case and the entire circumstances, the alleged violations must 

be dismissed. 

3. In determining the civil penalty amount, the Complainant has failed to determine 

whether the violation was inadvertent or deliberate. 

4. In determining the civil penalty amount, the Complainant has failed to consider the 

Respondent's size, particularly in determining the alleged offender's ability to absorb the 

sanction. 

5. The proposed civil penalty fails to reflect the totality of the circumstances surrounding 

the violations. See Folsom's Air Service, Inc., FAA Order No. 2008-11 (November 6, 2008), p. 

12; Eastern Air Center, Inc., FAA Order No. 2008-3 (January 28, 2008). 

6. Finding multiple violations for the same offense would constitute '"piling on' [that] 

should be avoided except under the most egregious circumstances." In the Matter of Carr, FAA 

Order No. 1998-2 at 11-12 (March 12, 1998). 

7. AMRG does not have the financial ability to pay the proposed civil penalty. 

8. The proposed civil penalty would have a detrimental effect on the ability of AMRG to 

continue doing business. 

9. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) interpretation of its Federal Aviation 

Regulations in this case is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in 

5 
accordance with law. See 5 U.S. C. § 706(2) (A); Watkins v. NTSB, 178 F.3d 959, 961 (8th Cir. 

1999). 

10. The FAA's interpretation of its aviation regulations is unconstitutionally vague. See 

Thomas v. Hinson, 74 F.3d 888, 889 (8th Cir. 1996); see also Trans States Airlines, Inc. v. FAA, 

439 F.3d 863, 864-865 (8th Cir. 2006); Heath v. SEC, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 24128 at 53-55. 

11. The FAA's application of its Federal Aviation Regulations in this case is contrary to 

the regulation's plain language. See Advanta USA, Inc. v. Chao, 350 F .3d 726, 728 (8th Cir. 

2003), quoting Gardebring v. Jenkins, 485 U.S. 415,430, 108 S. Ct. 1306, 99 L. Ed. 2d 515 

(1988). See also Trans States Airlines, Inc. v. FAA, 439 F.3d 863, 864-865 (8th Cir. 2006). 

12. AMRG asserts that the Complainant has failed to state a claim. upon which the relief 

requested may be granted. 

13. AMRG asserts that the Complainant lacks substantial basis in law and fact to 

continue prosecution of this matter against it. 

Dated: August 27, 2014 

Respectfully submitted, /·:z . ·' ·" / 

~ ., ·: I i ' .. > ~) (J.!J. (bLiFV /~. /gory S. Winton, Esq. 

( Jared M. Allen, Esq. 

' The Aviation Law Firm 

6 

1997 Almapolis Exchange Parkway 

Suite 300 

Annapolis, MD 21401 

Tel: (301) 294-8550 

Fax: (301) 294-2525 

Counsel for Respondent 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that I have this date sent via U.S. Mail, postage pre-paid, an original and one 

copy of the foregoing Respondent's Answer and Affirmative Defenses addressed to: 

ORIGINAL AND ONE COPY 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW. 

Washington, DC 20591 

Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building, Suite 2W1 000 

And, further, that I have this date sent by electronic mail and by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, a 

copy of the foregoing addressed to: 

ONE COPY 

Jeffrey M. Harper, Esq. 

Office of the Regional Counsel 

FAA Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425) 227-2161 

Fax: (425) 227-1007 

Jeffrey.harper@faa.gov 

ONE COPY VIA U.S. MAIL 

Office of Hearings, M-20 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dated: August 27,2014 

~/7 \~::::, VV1 /~d ~ /, ' / Jared M. Allen, Esq. 

f The Aviation Law Firm 

• 

7 

1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway 

Suite 300 

Annapolis, MD 21401 

Tel: (301) 294-8550 

Fax: (301) 294-2525