In the event that you or your business receives a letter of investigation
from the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), which governs professional licensure, you should immediately seek counsel from lawyer with significant experience handling such issues. Gutglass, Erickson, Bonville and Larson Law Firm knows that you have invested an enormous amount of time and money creating a reputation and building your business. Attempting to respond without the benefit of counsel often can lead to unexpected consequences. Your response, while it may have been well-intentioned, may cost you dearly, seriously harming all of what you worked so hard to create. Because of this, it is important that you understand what these letters of investigation mean and how our experienced lawyers can protect you.
What Do Letters of Investigation Mean?
There can be numerous reasons why you may receive a letter of investigation or even a subpoena. An individual may file a complaint about you or your business. A governmental agency may report an incident for DSPS investigation. Businesses big and small are all subject to investigations. For instance, a clinic, nursing home, or even a barbershop may be inspected for cleanliness and the sanitation practices. That would be part of an investigation of a complaint by a patient or customer, but the investigation could include much more. The DSPS is also able to use a subpoena to compel a licensee to turn over records or to give sworn statements.
The Importance of Contacting An Experienced Lawyer
Although these investigations can sometimes amount to nothing, they have the potential to result in serious professional consequences. Upon receiving notice of an investigation, it is important that you stay calm and contact us immediately. Do not destroy records. Destruction of evidence may lead to major penalties. More importantly our lawyers can help protect you from problems you may not know exists and which you could stumble into by responding without our assistance. That is why a licensee should contact a lawyer experienced in defending licensing matters at this point, to make sure that any potential problems are not magnified into career-threatening conduct or competence charges.
For more information about how our lawyers can protect you or your business during a DSPS investigation, call (414) 273-1144 and speak with our legal experts.
