Court Opinion

ID: 4355711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-03 14:39:00.223206+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:22.326984
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

David C. Coughlin,                              :
                              Petitioner        :
                                                :
                       v.                       :
                                                :
Bureau of Professional and                      :
Occupational Affairs, State                     :
Board of Accountancy,                           :   No. 280 C.D. 2018
                         Respondent             :   Submitted: December 11, 2018

BEFORE:        HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
               HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
               HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
JUDGE COVEY                                         FILED: January 3, 2019

               David C. Coughlin (Coughlin) petitions this Court for review of the
Commonwealth          of    Pennsylvania        (Commonwealth),   Department   of   State
(Department), Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), State Board
of Accountancy’s (Board) February 5, 2018 Final Adjudication and Order (Order)
revoking his certified public accountant (CPA) certificate and license, and imposing a
civil penalty of $40,000.00. The sole issue before this Court is whether the Board
abused its discretion by imposing the maximum civil penalty. Upon review, we
affirm.
               Coughlin held a CPA certificate and license to practice public
accounting in the Commonwealth from August 25, 2000 until his license expired on
April 30, 2002.1 In 2014, Coughlin owned and operated Car Connections USA (Car
Connections) in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Car Connections was in the business of

      1
          Coughlin did not renew his license.
used car sales and car consignment. The consignment contracts required Coughlin to
accept payment (which included taxes and Department of Transportation (DOT) title
fees), pay off any outstanding liens, subtract his fee and issue the remaining proceeds
to the consignors. In July, August and September 2014, Coughlin sold four vehicles
for private sellers for which he received $145,000.00.              Coughlin accepted the
payments but did not pay the consignors or lienholders. Coughlin also sold three
vehicles for a company for which he received $57,375.00, but failed to distribute the
monies as contracted. In addition, Coughlin accepted DOT title transfer fees on the
sales of 37 vehicles, failed to pay DOT and left the new owners without legal title
thereto.
              On June 23, 2015, Coughlin pled guilty before the Chester County
Common Pleas Court to one count of violating Section 3927(a) of the Crimes Code,
18 Pa.C.S. § 3927(a) (theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received,
a third-degree felony). Coughlin was ordered to serve 3 to 12 months’ imprisonment
and pay $220,888.10 in restitution, plus costs and fees. Certified Record (C.R.) Item
1 (Order to Show Cause) Ex. B (Guilty Plea Colloquy). Coughlin also pled guilty on
June 23, 2015 under Chester County Common Pleas Court Docket No. CP-15-CR-
407-2015 to three additional counts of violating Section 3927(a) of the Crimes Code,
for which he was sentenced to an aggregate term of 3 years of probation, plus costs
and fees. See C.R. Item 1 Ex. B.
              On November 23, 2015, the Commonwealth issued a five-count Order to
Show Cause directing Coughlin to show cause why his CPA certificate and license
should not be suspended, revoked or otherwise restricted under Section 9.1(a) of the
CPA Law,2 and/or a civil penalty imposed pursuant to Section 16(c) of the CPA

       2
         Act of May 26, 1947, P.L. 318, as amended, 63 P.S. §§ 9.1-9.16b. Section 9.1(a) of the
CPA Law (relating to grounds for discipline) was added by Section 7 of the Act of September 2,
1961, P.L. 1165, as amended, 63 P.S. § 9.9a(a).
                                              2
Law,3 and/or Section 5(b)(4) of the Act of July 2, 1993, P.L. 48, as amended, 63 P.S
§§ 2202-2207 (Act 48),4 “because [he] violated Section 9.1(a)[] of the [CPA Law], . .
. in that [he] . . . pled guilty . . . to [a] felony, [a] crime an element of which is
dishonesty or fraud, and/or [a] [f]ederal or state revenue law . . . .” C.R. Item 1 at 6.
The Order to Show Cause further provided that “the Board is authorized to suspend
or revoke [Coughlin’s] certificate and license to practice as a [CPA] under [Section
9124(c)(1)] of the [Criminal History Record Information Act (]CHRIA[)5,] 18
Pa.C.S. § 9124(c)(1) . . . because [Coughlin] has been convicted of [a] felony.” Id.
The Order to Show Cause directed Coughlin to file an answer thereto within 30 days.
See id. at 1, 7. The Order to Show Cause was delivered on November 27, 2015 to the
Chester County Prison, where Coughlin was incarcerated. See C.R. Item 2 (Proof of
Service).
               Because Coughlin did not respond to the Order to Show Cause, on
August 22, 2016, the Commonwealth’s counsel filed with the Department, a Motion
to Deem Facts Admitted and Issue Adjudication (Motion). See C.R. Item 3. On
September 19, 2016, Coughlin filed his Answer to the Motion, his Answer to the
Order to Show Cause and a request for a hearing.6 See C.R. Items 4 (Hearing
Request), 6 (Answer to Order to Show Cause), 7 (Answer to Motion). In his Answer
to the Order to Show Cause, Coughlin admitted the allegations against him, but
requested the Board to suspend rather than revoke his CPA certificate and license.
See C.R. Item 6 (Answer to Order to Show Cause) at 1-3. He further represented that

       3
          63 P.S. § 9.16(c) (relating to additional civil penalties that may be levied after a hearing).
Section 16(c) of the CPA Law was repealed by Section 1 of the Act of July 17, 2009, P.L. 95
(effective September 15, 2009), to the extent that it was inconsistent with the amendment of Section
5 of the Act of July 2, 1993, P.L. 48, as amended, 63 P.S §§ 2202-2207.
        4
          63 P.S. § 2205(b)(4) (relating to civil penalty schedules).
        5
          18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183.
        6
          Counsel also filed an entry of appearance on Coughlin’s behalf. See C.R. Item 5 (Entry of
Appearance). Counsel withdrew his appearance on November 17, 2016 and Coughlin entered his
appearance pro se. See C.R. Item 10 (Withdrawal/Entry of Appearance).
                                                   3
his address was no longer the Chester County Prison, but 122 Hartman Road,
Pottstown, Pennsylvania 17465. See id. at 1-2. In Coughlin’s Answer to the Motion,
he claimed that although the Chester County Prison received the certified mailing of
the Order to Show Cause, it was never delivered to or served upon him. See C.R.
Item 7. On September 27, 2016, the Board chairman denied the Motion. See C.R.
Item 8.
              By October 26, 2016 notice, the Board scheduled a hearing for
December 6, 2016 which was rescheduled for and conducted before a Hearing
Examiner on February 7, 2017.7 See C.R. Items 9, 13-14. Coughlin did not attend
the hearing. See C.R. Item 15 (Notes of Testimony, February 7, 2017 (N.T.) at 5-6).
At the hearing, the Order to Show Cause, Coughlin’s admissions and his certified
criminal records were admitted into evidence, and the Hearing Examiner took official
notice of Coughlin’s licensure status. See N.T. at 8-11. In light of Coughlin’s failure
to properly distribute the significant amount of monies entrusted to him and
Coughlin’s failure to offer any mitigation, the Commonwealth’s counsel requested
that the Board revoke Coughlin’s CPA license and certificate and impose fines at the
Hearing Examiner’s discretion. See N.T. at 11-12. On April 24, 2017, the Hearing
Examiner issued a Proposed Adjudication and Order, wherein he recommended:

              Accordingly, this Hearing Examiner believes that revoking
              [Coughlin’s] CPA certificate and license is necessary to
              have a meaningful deterrent effect on other CPA’s [sic]
              who may be tempted to engage in conduct similar to that
              demonstrated by [Coughlin]. Additionally, permitting
              [Coughlin] to retain his CPA certificate and license would

       7
         Because Coughlin’s counsel withdrew his appearance on November 17, 2016, the Board
rescheduled the hearing for February 7, 2017, to afford Coughlin time to retain counsel. See C.R.
Items 10-12. Although the December 6, 2016 Notice of Rescheduled Hearing was sent to
Coughlin’s Chester County Prison address, on December 20, 2016, the Board issued an Amended
Notice of Rescheduled Hearing that was sent to the updated address Coughlin listed in his Answer
to Order to Show Cause. See C.R. Items 13, 14, 15 (Notes of Testimony, February 7, 2017 at 6, 8).

                                               4
             undermine the public’s confidence that only individuals
             with integrity be permitted to practice in the public
             accounting profession. For these reasons, public interest
             requires that [Coughlin’s] CPA certificate and license be
             revoked. Upon consideration of [Coughlin’s] obligation to
             pay more than $220,000.00 in restitution in the Chester
             County [c]riminal [m]atters in conjunction with the
             revocation of his certificate and license, this Hearing
             Examiner does not believe the imposition of additional
             monetary penalties in this case will further advance the
             Board’s goals.

C.R. Item 16 (Proposed Adjudication and Order) at 10. In his Proposed Order, the
Hearing Examiner reported that “[t]he [Board] has announced its intention to review
the Proposed Report[.]” Id. at 11.
             On February 5, 2018, the Board issued its Order, adopting the Hearing
Examiner’s findings of fact, conclusions of law and discussion, “with the addition of
penalties pursuant to Section 16(c) of the CPA Law[.]” C.R. Item 18 (Order) at 2.
The Board specifically added, relative to penalties:

             [T]he Board may levy a civil penalty of up to ten thousand
             dollars ($10,000.00) on any person who violates the CPA
             Law. Section 16(c) of the CPA Law . . . . The Board may
             levy a civil penalty of up to $10,000[.00] per violation on
             any licensee who violates the licensing law or regulation.
             Section 5(b)(4) of [Act 48], . . . .
             In the Hearing Examiner’s discussion regarding penalties,
             [he] reasoned assessing a civil penalty against [Coughlin] in
             addition to the criminal restitution in excess of [the]
             $220,000.00 ordered in [Coughlin’s] criminal case would
             not advance the goals of the Board. The Board believes the
             imposition of civil penalties as authorized by the [CPA Law
             and Act 48] does in fact further its goals of deterring similar
             behavior from licensees and affirming the public’s trust in
             licensees. [Coughlin] was convicted of four felony counts
             of theft by failing to make required disposition of funds.
             The guilty plea colloquy entered by [Coughlin] in the
             criminal matter details [Coughlin’s] deceitful course of
             conduct in his business of used car sales and car
             consignment. Individuals and companies placed their trust

                                           5
               in [Coughlin] to abide by agreements to pay off vehicle
               liens, properly transfer title and/or remit sale proceeds to the
               consignor. The colloquy also summarizes the manner in
               which [Coughlin] victimized bonafide purchasers and
               [DOT] relative to the sale of 37 vehicles.
               The Board finds [Coughlin] repeatedly acted in gross
               disregard to the [CPA Law] in committing these financial
               crimes and it is appropriate for [Coughlin] to be sanctioned
               financially for commission of those acts.            Having
               considered [Coughlin’s] course of illegal conduct and the
               severity of [his] criminal convictions, the Board finds it
               appropriate to revoke [Coughlin’s] CPA certificate and
               license and impose the maximum penalty for each of
               [Coughlin’s] four felony convictions for an aggregate
               penalty of $40,000.00.

C.R. Item 18 (Final Adjudication and Order) at 2-3. The Board entered its Order
revoking Coughlin’s CPA certificate and license effective March 7, 2015 and levied a
$40,000.00 civil penalty. See C.R. Item 18 at 5. Coughlin appealed to this Court.8
               Initially, Section 9.1(a) of the CPA Law states, in pertinent part:

               In accordance with the procedure provided in [S]ection 9 of
               [the CPA Law, 63 P.S. § 9.9 (relating to disciplinary
               procedure; appeals)], the [B]oard may revoke, suspend,
               limit or otherwise restrict the certificate of a [CPA] or . . .
               may revoke, suspend, limit or otherwise restrict any license
               issued under [the CPA Law] . . . for any one or any
               combination of the following causes:
               ....
               (5) Pleading guilty to . . . a felony under any [f]ederal or
               [s]tate law . . . .

       8
         “Unless the [Board] is accused of bad faith or fraud, the scope of appellate review of the
[B]oard’s disciplinary sanction is ‘limited to the determination of whether there has been a manifest
and flagrant abuse of discretion or a purely arbitrary execution of the [Board’s] duties or
functions.’” Ake v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Accountancy, 974 A.2d
514, 519 n.6 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009) (quoting Goldberger v. State Bd. of Accountancy, 833 A.2d 815,
817 n.1 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003)).
                                                 6
            (6) Pleading guilty to . . . any crime, an element of which is
            dishonesty or fraud under any [f]ederal or [s]tate law . . . .
            (6.1) Pleading guilty to . . . violating any [f]ederal or [s]tate
            revenue law . . . .
            ....
            (14) Conduct that brings the profession of public accounting
            into disrepute or that lowers public esteem for the
            profession.
63 P.S. § 9.9a(a). Section 16(c) of the CPA Law provides, in relevant part:
            In addition to any other civil remedy, criminal penalty
            or discipline provided for in [the CPA Law], the [B]oard
            may levy a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars
            ($10,000[.00]) on any person for a violation of any
            provision of [the CPA Law]. The [B]oard shall levy a
            civil penalty only after affording the accused party the
            opportunity for a hearing, as provided in Title 2 of the
            Pennsylvania       Consolidated   Statutes   (relating   to
            administrative law and procedure). The maximum civil
            penalty that may be levied by the [B]oard shall not be more
            than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000[.00]) for any
            related series of violations.

63 P.S. § 9.16(c) (emphasis added). Section 5(b) of Act 48 further specifies:

            In addition to the disciplinary powers and duties of the
            boards and commissions within the [BPOA] under their
            respective practice acts, boards and commissions shall have
            the power, respectively:
            ....
            (5) To assess against the respondent determined to be in
            violation of the disciplinary provisions administered by a
            licensing board or commission in a disciplinary proceeding
            pending before the board or commission for final
            determination, as part of the sanction, the costs of
            investigation underlying that disciplinary action. The cost
            of investigation shall not include those costs incurred by the
            board or commission after the filing of formal actions or
            disciplinary charges against the respondent.

                                           7
63 P.S. § 2205(b). Section 9124(c) of CHRIA authorizes the Board to “suspend or
revoke any license, . . . [w]here the applicant has been convicted of a felony.” 18
Pa.C.S. § 9124(c).
             Coughlin argues that the Board erred by arbitrarily imposing the
maximum civil penalty. He specifically claims that the $40,000.00 penalty was not
justified where his license had been permanently revoked, and he had already been
ordered to pay over $220,000.00 in restitution. He asserts that the public’s interest is
adequately protected by revocation alone because his CPA license was expired, he
had not practiced as a CPA for 13 years before committing his crimes and the crimes
did not relate to CPA practice.
             “This Court’s standard for reviewing the discipline imposed by a
professional board is extremely deferential.     Blumenschein v. Hous[.] Auth[.] of
Pittsburgh, . . . 109 A.2d 331, 334-35 ([Pa.] 1954).” Kirkpatrick v. Bureau of Prof’l
& Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Barber Exam’rs, 117 A.3d 1286, 1290 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2015).

             [I]t has been established as an elementary principle of law
             that courts will not review the actions of governmental
             bodies or administrative tribunals involving acts of
             discretion, in the absence of bad faith, fraud, capricious
             action or abuse of power; they will not inquire into the
             wisdom of such actions or into the details of the manner
             adopted to carry them into execution. It is true that the
             mere possession of discretionary power by an
             administrative body does not make it wholly immune from
             judicial review, but the scope of that review is limited to
             the determination of whether there has been a manifest
             and flagrant abuse of discretion or a purely arbitrary
             execution of the agency’s duties or functions. That the
             court might have a different opinion or judgment in regard
             to the action of the agency is not a sufficient ground for
             interference; judicial discretion may not be substituted
             for administrative discretion.

                                           8
Id. at 1290 n.10 (emphasis added) (quoting Blumenschein, 109 A.2d at 334-35
(emphasis omitted)).
            Clearly, this Court may only “correct abuses of discretion in manner or
degree of penalties imposed.” Ake v. Bureau of Prof’l & Occupational Affairs, State
Bd. of Accountancy, 974 A.2d 514, 519 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009) (quoting Foose v. State
Bd. of Vehicle Mfrs., Dealers & Salespersons, 578 A.2d 1355, 1359 (Pa. Cmwlth.
1990)). “Thus, ‘[i]n the absence of bad faith, fraud, capricious action or abuse of
power, reviewing courts will not inquire into the wisdom of the agency’s action or
into the details or manner of executing agency action.’” Kirkpatrick, 117 A.3d at
1290 n.10 (quoting Slawek v. State Bd. of Med. Educ. & Licensure, 586 A.2d 362,
365 (Pa. 1991)). The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a reviewing court’s role
is not to determine whether the agency’s action was reasonable, “but whether it was
made in accordance with the law.” Slawek, 586 A.2d at 365 (quotation marks
omitted).
            Here, “[s]ince there is no allegation of fraud or bad faith[,] . . . this case
resolves itself [on] whether the [Board’s] action was capricious or a flagrant abuse of
discretion.” Id. at 365. Because the CPA Law expressly authorized the Board to
revoke Coughlin’s certificate and license and also to levy the $40,000.00 penalty
against him, the Board’s action “was made in accordance with the law.”                 Id.
(quotation marks omitted).
            Notwithstanding, Coughlin cites to Shapiro v. State Board of
Accountancy, 856 A.2d 864 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004), Goldberger v. State Board of
Accountancy, 833 A.2d 815 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003), Nicoletti v. State Board of Vehicle
Manufacturers, Dealers & Salespersons, 706 A.2d 891 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1998), and
Sweeny v. State Board of Funeral Directors, 666 A.2d 1137 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1995), to
support his position that, even in cases of fraud and theft, the public’s interest is
adequately protected when the wrongdoer’s license is revoked.
                                           9
             The fact that the licensing boards in those cases did not impose monetary
penalties in addition to the licensure revocations, does not prohibit the Board from
doing so in this case. Revocation is only one facet of the Board’s disciplinary
authority. Section 16(c) of the CPA Law also expressly authorized the Board to
impose monetary penalties. The Board’s “exercise of that authority is not an abuse of
discretion.” Nicoletti, 706 A.2d at 896. Moreover, Coughlin produced no mitigation
evidence. Under the circumstances, this Court cannot conclude that the Board’s
interpretation of its penalty statutes was clearly erroneous or constituted a capricious
or flagrant abuse of its discretion.
             Based on the foregoing, the Board’s Order is affirmed.

                                       ___________________________
                                       ANNE E. COVEY, Judge

                                          10
            IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

David C. Coughlin,                      :
                         Petitioner     :
                                        :
                  v.                    :
                                        :
Bureau of Professional and              :
Occupational Affairs, State             :
Board of Accountancy,                   :   No. 280 C.D. 2018
                         Respondent     :

                                      ORDER

            AND NOW, this 3rd day of January, 2019, the Bureau of Professional
and Occupational Affairs, State Board of Accountancy’s February 5, 2018 Final
Adjudication and Order is affirmed.

                                      ___________________________
                                      ANNE E. COVEY, Judge