You take your job seriously. It isn't just that you're committed to helping others improve and feel good about themselves, though that's certainly true. You put in an enormous amount of hard work to become a licensed nail technician. You had to complete hundreds of hours of training. You likely had to pass a licensing exam as well. It can be an uneasy feeling, then, when you're facing a complaint or—worse—a full investigation from your state licensing agency.
You should know, though: you don't have to face complaints and investigations all on your own. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team are here when you need them, ready to fight for your rights and make sure you get the fair treatment you deserve. They know the law; they're also familiar with your state board and how it operates. They know all the rules and procedures. They know who to talk to when there's a problem and what to say. And they're ready to put all that knowledge to work for you any time your license is in jeopardy.
Your License is Important
Nothing is more important to you than your livelihood, your ability to support yourself and your family, and that livelihood largely rests on your nail technician's license. In a literal sense, that license grants you official permission to practice your craft. It's more than that, though. It's a stamp of official approval from the state that lets your clients and customers know you're an expert at what you do and that they can trust you to provide the very best service available.
Any time your license is threatened, there is far more at stake than just whether or not a state board will let you continue to work as a nail technician. Your professional reputation and your personal ethics are on the line. You cannot afford to let complaints go unchallenged, and in protecting yourself, you need to make sure you have the very best professional help you can find. You need Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team.
What Can Go Wrong?
It's an unfortunate fact of life that any time you provide a personal service, you're vulnerable to complaints, and any one of those complaints can potentially result in a state board investigation. What exactly can go wrong? You can be accused of
- Practicing under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Using unsanitary practices, such as failing to clean linens or disinfect equipment between clients
- Engaging in inappropriate conduct with clients or in some other way crossing professional boundaries
- Allowing unlicensed employees to perform tasks restricted to licensed professionals
- Acting in some other way outside the scope of your professional license
We all make mistakes, and a mistake or two shouldn't cost you your license. The fact is, though, that you don't necessarily have to have done anything wrong to find yourself in trouble. Anyone can lodge a complaint against you—a disgruntled customer, a competitor, or an employee. Even if you are ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, your reputation can still take a substantial hit.
That's one reason it's so important that you don't try to handle the situation yourself: in our media age, even a minor complaint can get out of hand very quickly. Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team don't just handle investigative meetings and hearings. They can also help manage your image. For instance, they can ask your licensing board to keep its investigation quiet so your public exposure is limited. They can work with complainants to find solutions that won't affect your good name and reputation. They can deal with the media if you're being harassed. The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is on your side and ready to do what it takes to make the entire process smoother and easier.
What Can You Expect?
You know the potential problems now, but what actually happens when a problem arises? Each state's licensing board is different. Yours will have its own particular processes and procedures for handling complaints. In general, though, you can expect a four-part process:
- Most cases begin when someone lodges a complaint. Again, anyone can lodge such a complaint, including a co-worker, a colleague, a customer, or any insurer. Your licensing board could also lodge a complaint itself. Most boards, for instance, conduct regular inspections.
- If the licensing agency believes the complaint is credible, it then initiates an investigation. As part of that investigation, the board will meet with you to ask questions. In addition, it will interview anyone who might be connected to the case, including, for example, your supervisors and co-workers.
- Investigators turn over their findings to the full board. If the board should find you responsible for a violation, or if you should admit to a violation, the board then issues what's known as a “Consent Order.” This document essentially summarizes the charges against you, explains the board's findings, and identifies the sanction to be imposed. Consent orders can sometimes be private, but more often, they are issued publicly in order to let the general public know that the licensing system is doing its job.
- However, you have the right to challenge the board's finding before it issues a consent order. You can defend yourself at a board hearing, where you have the chance to offer evidence and call witnesses.
- You have the option, though, to challenge any decision against you through a formal hearing. At the hearing, you can present evidence and call witnesses. You can also cross-examine any witnesses against you. Most importantly, you have the right to an attorney, someone to represent you, to speak on your behalf, and to make sure your rights are protected.
Joseph D. Lento and his team will stand by you from start to finish, from the moment a complaint is made through any investigation and hearing, until you've exhausted your last appeal. What can they do for you?
- Review the complaint for any holes it may have and make sure you understand the charges
- Help you develop a case strategy, track down witnesses, collect evidence, and generally prepare your defense
- Represent you at all investigative meetings
- Keep up-to-date on case developments and keep you informed about evidence as it arises
- Draft an official response to the accusation and try to work out an equitable solution
- Pressure the board to drop the charges
- Represent you at any hearings
- File any necessary appeals
Of course, while Joseph D. Lento and his team can help you with any aspect of your defense, you're always better off acting sooner rather than later. You have a far better chance of successfully defending yourself and saving your good name at the complaint stage than you will at the appeal stage. Once an investigator or decision-maker has made up their mind about you, it can be hard to convince them of your innocence. If you wait until after the board hearing, it could already be too late to save your license.
Fighting for Your Future
What do you do if you're facing a complaint or some other issue from your state licensing board? You take it seriously, but you don't panic. You're good at what you do, and resolving the situation is primarily about proving that. That can sometimes be easier said than done, but you're not alone. You have Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team beside you.
Joseph D. Lento and his team have helped hundreds of licensed professionals defend their reputations and protect their licenses. They know the law. They know the massage therapy industry. They know your state board's requirements. More importantly, they believe in you and what you do, and they're ready to fight for your rights and your reputation.
To find out more about exactly what Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today, at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
