The Silver State is known for its vast desert scenery, large casinos, and vibrant nightlife. It's also home to thousands of licensed healthcare workers, real estate agents, educators, accounting professionals, and skilled workers. As a licensed professional in Nevada, you know the commitment it takes to stay up-to-date in your field to qualify for and maintain your license.
Professional licenses build trust with your clients and customers. They show that the Nevada agency overseeing your profession has vetted you and that you have met all the requirements in your field. It shows you have the specific knowledge or skill to do your job and that you take your work seriously enough to go through the rigorous training and education required to ensure you are current in your chosen line of work.
You risk losing that license when someone files a complaint against you. If those allegations are serious, the career you dedicated your time, education, and energy to could be in jeopardy.
Never take a threat to your livelihood lightly. Be proactive in defending your good name and professional license. Contact Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his experienced Professional License Defense Team today.
The Professional License Defense Attorney You Need in Nevada: The Lento Law Firm
Receiving a formal inquiry or complaint letter from a regulatory licensing board is one of the most stressful things that can happen in a professional's career. It can feel like an attack or a personal affront, whether the complaint was waged by a colleague, a client, or an insurer.
Because professional licenses require hard work and dedication, they are a badge of honor. You should fight to protect this badge of honor when a complaint threatens it.
Several professional code violations can threaten licensure, the nature of which can be similar across professions, such as sexual misconduct, negligence, fraud, or a criminal conviction, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Whether you are a physician in one of Nevada's 76 hospitals or a teacher in one of the state's 654 public or private elementary schools, if you are the target of allegations of professional misconduct, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced attorney with extensive experience in professional license defense as soon as possible.
A member of the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is standing by to discuss the details of your case and guide you through the process of defending your license in Nevada or anywhere else in the United States. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 and begin defending your license and your good name.
The Disciplinary Process for Licensed Professionals in Nevada
Independent boards or state agencies govern the dozens of licensed occupations in the state of Nevada.
Professions overseen by independent boards in Nevada include:
- Accountants
- Nursing home and assisted living facility administrators
- Athletic trainers
- Chiropractors
- Dental hygienists
- Massage therapists
- Environmental health specialists
- Homeopathic medicine providers
- Occupational therapists
- Pharmacists and pharmacies
- Private investigators
- Professional engineers
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Veterinarians
Professions overseen by a Nevada state agency include:
- Real estate appraisers
- Collection agencies
- Escrow agencies and agents
- Medical laboratories
- Mortgage bankers, brokers, and agents
- Music therapists
- Real estate
These governing bodies oversee these professionals and can take action when a licensee faces an allegation of professional misconduct. For example, a licensing board has the authority to suspend or revoke a professional license. And if the complaint is of a criminal nature, it can trigger criminal prosecution.
Each board may follow different procedures and guidelines when they receive a complaint, but they generally follow a similar process outlined below.
Complaint
When someone files a complaint, it begins a process that can last several months or longer. Depending on your profession's governing body, you may receive a formal notice informing you of the complaint against you.
Anyone can file complaints, and some boards accept anonymous complaints. Those who file complaints are usually:
- Other practitioners in your field
- Colleagues
- Patients or clients
- Insurance companies (such as in the case of suspected fraud)
- Court clerks (such as in the case of a recent criminal conviction)
Individuals file complaints against professionals with their licensing board. For example, the office of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners in Reno accepts complaints against licensed medical providers.
Investigation
Once the board receives a complaint, its members will review it to determine if a possible violation of professional code occurred and that the board does, in fact, have jurisdiction over you. If the board determines to act on the complaint, it launches an investigation. The individual or committee overseeing the investigation will inform you that someone has filed a complaint against you. Depending on the board, you may not be able to see a copy of the complaint at this point.
Those investigating your complaint may review your professional records and interview you or others at your workplace. Afterward, the investigator compiles a report along with their findings and recommendations. The board will review the report and determine whether to close the complaint or pursue disciplinary action.
You should seek legal counsel immediately after you receive a formal notification from a professional board informing you of a complaint against you. Your Lento Law Firm License Defense Lawyers can advise you on how to work with investigators and help you build a strong defense should the board choose to pursue disciplinary action.
Consent Order and Other Possible Actions
If the board decides to move forward with disciplinary action against you, that action can vary significantly based on the board that governs you and the severity of the accusations. For example, if you are a medical provider, the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners may choose to take private action by sending you a Private Letter of Concern, which is not as aggressive as taking disciplinary action.
Most likely, however, the board will take public action and send you a Public Letter of Concern or a Consent Order, which is a negotiated agreement between you and the board. Either document may include disciplinary actions such as:
- Suspension of your professional license
- Revocation of your professional license
- Annulment of your professional license
You have the right not to accept the public action and have a hearing before the board. For the best outcome when negotiating a Consent Order with your licensing board, rely on Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his experienced Professional License Defense Team.
Hearing
If you and the licensing board cannot reach an agreement on a Consent Order, the licensing board will hold a hearing. The hearing process is similar to that of a legal trial. The board will present the evidence it has on the complaint against you, and you will have the opportunity to respond to the accusations. The board will weigh all information to determine the best discipline in your case, which may include a Consent Order.
Why You Need the Lento Law Firm to Help Your License
Your professional license assures your client base and fellow colleagues that you have met the rigorous requirements in your field and you have the specific knowledge or skill to do your job. It represents your legal right to work as a professional in your chosen field of practice. A complaint waged against you is a legal threat to that right that you should defend fiercely. Don't fight this battle on your own when your professional livelihood is at stake.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team have the experience you need to obtain the best possible outcome in your case. Our team of experienced attorneys can assist you in the following ways:
- Review your complaint and recommend a strong defense strategy, including gathering evidence and securing witnesses to support your case.
- Represent you in all interactions with the licensing board and its investigators.
- Draft a compelling written response to the complaint to improve the chances of the board closing your complaint.
- Negotiate with the licensing board to dismiss the complaint or imposer lesser penalties.
- Negotiate the most favorable outcome in a consent agreement.
- Represent you before the licensing board in a formal hearing.
Areas We Serve in Nevada
The Professional License Defense team at the Lento Law Firm represents attorneys, medical providers, teachers, dentists, contractors, and other licensed professionals throughout the state. Here are some of the major Nevada cities our clients live and work:
Las Vegas
Tourists know Las Vegas as a gambling mecca, and rightly so. Some of the state's top employers are gaming companies with headquarters in Las Vegas, including MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment. Las Vegas is home to the main office of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which requires all casino employees who interact with the games to be licensed. But the more than 600,000 who call Vegas home work in a variety of other professions, including the city's largest school district in Clark County. The Clark County School District Board of Trustees oversees the licensing of the school district's more than 18,000 licensed teachers.
Henderson
Located just minutes southeast of Las Vegas in Clark County, Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada, with just half the population of Las Vegas. Touted as one of the safest cities in the country, Henderson shares residence in Clark County with Las Vegas. Nearly three-quarters (4,890) of the 6,801 licensed physicians in Nevada live in Clark County.
Reno
Known as the Biggest Little City in the world, Reno, has a thriving gaming tourism industry. But one of its largest employers (and a top employer in Northern Nevada) is headquartered in Reno. Renown Health is a healthcare provider with more than 6,500 employees across its network and 1,226 total providers with hospital privileges at its hospitals. Reno is in southern Washoe County, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
North Las Vegas
Located in the Mojave Desert just northeast of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas is the state's fourth-largest city, with 259,638 people calling North Las Vegas home. Also located in Clark County, there are 52 public schools in North Las Vegas serving 45,463 students. North
Enterprise
This unincorporated town in the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County is the fifth largest city in the state, with 219,566 residents — up from just under 15,000 in 2000. Most residents in this booming community work at the Clark County School District, Caesars Entertainment, and MGM Resorts International.
Offenses or Allegations that Might Jeopardize Your Professional License
Public trust is critical for licensed professionals, especially those who work with vulnerable populations. Thus, their governing boards hold them to high ethical and professional standards. Some accusations can be of such a serious nature that they can put the careers of these professionals at risk. Some of the more serious accusations that could trigger disciplinary action include the following:
Fraudulent Practices
Fraudulent practice is any action, omission, or misrepresentation that knowingly or recklessly misleads—or attempts to mislead—another person or entity for financial benefit or to avoid an obligation. Fraudulent practices occur in workplaces every day and include:
- Overbilling patients, clients, or insurance companies
- Billing for services not provided
- Accepting kickbacks for referrals
- Falsifying patient records to collect higher reimbursement from insurance companies
Abuse, Gross Negligence
Abuse and gross negligence include improper treatment or reckless disregard for the safety and lives of others. Some examples include:
- Physical abuse, including sexual assault
- Emotional abuse, including threatening or berating someone in your care
- Violating patient confidentiality
- Medical errors, prescription errors, patient abandonment, and other forms of potential medical malpractice
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Misuse of alcohol or drugs—prescription or illicit— may result in the suspension of your license, depending on your profession, especially if you are under the influence while working. Licensing boards believe that drugs or alcohol can alter a person's judgment while on the job.
Sexual Misconduct/Inappropriate Relationships
A strong doctor-patient relationship is an important part of a patient's treatment. But when a medical professional enters into a sexual or romantic relationship with someone in their care, it is considered a serious ethical violation. Medical professionals may also face accusations of sexual misconduct from patients or co-workers, including accusations of unwanted sexual advances, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
Inappropriate Handling of Medications
The nation's opioid epidemic cast a spotlight on the tragedy that can result when healthcare workers handle prescriptions inappropriately. You could face severe penalties if the board finds you guilty of prescribing or dispensing medications irresponsibly or outside the scope of your professional license, incorrectly tracking medications, or stealing prescriptions for your personal use.
Criminal Convictions
The licensing board may take disciplinary action against you if a court has convicted you of a crime, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime related to your profession. In some cases, a criminal court judge may prohibit you from practicing while your case is pending.
The Lento Law Firm: Professional License Defense for Licensed Professionals in Nevada
You put a lot of time, money, resources, and energy into getting and maintaining your professional license. It assures your clients you have been vetted and have met the requirements in your field as required by the Nevada board that oversees your profession. But when you receive a formal inquiry or complaint letter from the regulatory licensing board that threatens your professional license and your reputation and career, it can feel like a punch to the gut. You don't have to—and shouldn't—enter into this battle on your own.
If you are facing possible disciplinary action by your licensing board in Nevada or elsewhere in the U.S., you need an attorney experienced in professional license defense to advise you and guide you through the process. The Lento Law Firm's team of Professional License Defense attorneys have the experience to help you build a strong defense so you can obtain the best outcome possible.
Don't let allegations of professional misconduct threaten your professional license and your livelihood. Call Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team today to get the exceptional representation you deserve. Call 888-535-3686 or visit the Lento Law Firm: Professional License Defense Team online to schedule a review of your case and start the process of building your defense so you can protect your professional license and restore your good name.
