Common Mistakes to Avoid During a California License Investigation
Licensing investigations can be intimidating, overwhelming, and fraught with adverse consequences. Fortunately, a California occupational license investigation does not have to mark the downfall of your career. In fact, in some instances, complaints are dropped, and defendants maintain their licenses via probation. The outcome of the investigation hinges primarily on how the complaint is initially handled and what steps you take to protect your professional license. In many cases, your best option is to partner with an experienced California professional license defense lawyer as soon as you learn you are under investigation.
You have worked hard to obtain your license and build a lucrative career; don’t let it come crashing down because of a single miscommunication or mistake. Call Gould, Hahn, & Reinhardt, PLC, and schedule your case review today. In the meantime, keep reading to learn about mistakes commonly made during California license investigations.
Failing to Take the Complaint Seriously
Ignoring a complaint or failing to take it seriously is one of the most frequently made mistakes during a California occupational license investigation. You might feel the complaint is clearly a misunderstanding or simply a backlash from a dissatisfied client or patient who has no actual bearing on your career. If, however, your licensing board has decided to investigate a complaint against you, it means they have already considered it credible enough to warrant their time and attention.
Shrugging it off, disregarding appeals for information, or worse, assuming the problem will somehow resolve itself, can all be ruinous for your career. There’s a lot on the line. For instance, a nurse who is stripped of her professional license may find that their future opportunities working in the healthcare industry are severely limited.
Mishandling Communications With Board Investigators
You should be meticulous and cautious in your communications with investigators. As unadvisable as it is to be confrontational or abrasive, it is equally so to be friendly and overly forthcoming. Keep in mind that anything you say to them can be used in their investigation, even if it is taken out of context. This is just one reason you should hire a qualified California professional license defense attorney right away. They can advise you on what statements to make and which to avoid in front of the licensing board.
“Losing” or Destroying Evidence
If you panic and begin making choices based on fear rather than logic, you may look guilty and end up making your situation worse. Getting rid of evidence, including deleting social media posts or other digital communications, is always a bad idea.
If your goal is to maintain your professional license, trying to hide your past mistakes is the wrong way to go about it. If your licensing board requests information, you have to give it to them, no matter how damning it may be. Again, this is another advantage of working with a California professional license defense lawyer who knows how to present the evidence in your favor.
Making the Complaint Public
You might, understandably, be resentful about the investigation or feel like the licensing board is targeting you. It is not uncommon for people to be extremely vocal about their investigation, complaining and gossiping to friends, family, colleagues, and even clients or patients. As the licensing board carries out its investigation, many have found out to their cost how damaging this can be.
While conversations with your lawyer are protected, no such privilege protects your conversations with other people. Anyone may be called to testify at any time about statements you have made to them or about the investigation.
Waiting to Hire a Lawyer
Waiting to hire a California professional license defense attorney or choosing to represent yourself in a California occupational license investigation is, without question, another common mistake. Most people assume they can handle an investigation on their own. They only realize they have bitten off more than they can chew once the potential outcomes are explained to them or they get the sense that things are no longer going their way.
While a skilled attorney from Gould, Hahn, & Reinhardt, PLC can still help at this stage, the sooner you contact us, the more we can do for you and your career.
Contact the Law Offices of Gould, Hahn, & Reinhardt, PLC
Your license is essential to your profession, so losing it may mean jeopardizing your ability to earn a living. Your professional future is already at stake; don’t take another risk. Let our California professional license defense lawyers guide you through your California occupational license investigation.
Call us at (800) 428-2207 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a legal consultation with an experienced member of our team.