Enforcement Actions - G

Tustin—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Craig A. Gambill, architect license number C-27164, for alleged violations of BPC 5600.05(a)(1) and (b) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Gambill certified false or misleading information on his 2013 License Renewal Application and failed to make records of completion of the required coursework available to the Board for auditing upon request. Gambill paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on August 27, 2015.

Santee—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Michael John Gannon, architect license number C-14279, for an alleged violation of Business and Professions Code section 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Conditions; Certifications; Audit; False or Misleading Information; Disciplinary Action; Coursework Regarding Disability Access, and Zero Net Carbon Design Requirements; Submission of Letter to Legislature). The action alleged that Gannon certified false or misleading information on his 2023 License Renewal Application. Gannon paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on May 14, 2024.

Laguna Beach—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to John R. Garakian, architect license number C-9826, for an alleged violation of Business and Professions Code section 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Garakian certified false or misleading information on his 2019 License Renewal Application. Garakian paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on February 24, 2020.

Palmdale—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $2,000 administrative fine to Rodolfo Garces, dba Affordable Blueprints Inc., ADS Architecture Group, and Affordable Drafting Services, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect). The action alleged that Garces’ Buzzfile and LinkedIn profiles described him as providing “architecture” and “architectural” services. Further, his company’s Manta, ProMatcher, and Yelp profiles used the terms “architects,” “architecture,” and “architectural” in ADS Architecture Group and Affordable Drafting Services’ description of services, without an architect who is in management control of the services that are offered and provided by the business entity and either the owner, a part-owner, an officer, or an employee of the business entity. The citation became final on March 1, 2020.

Palmdale—The Board issued a two-count citation that included a $4,000 administrative fine to Rodolfo Garces, aka Rudy Garces and dba AAA Architectural Designs, ADS Architecture Group, and Affordable Drafting Services, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of BPC 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect) and California Code of Regulations section (CCR) 134(a) (Use of the Term Architect). The action alleged that on or about December 9, 2014, Garces provided a client with an "Architectural Proposal" offering to "Create and complete architectural plans for a residential 2nd floor room addition" to an existing single-family residence located in Fullerton, California. The proposal was on "ADS Architecture Group" letterhead, included "all architectural designs/plans and structural engineering (drawings and calculations) necessary for city submittal," and referenced his business’ "architectural" and "architectural design" departments. In addition, on or about March 3, 2015, Garces provided a client with an "Architectural Proposal" offering to "Create/complete architectural tentant (sic) improvement plans for an existing 1500 sq. ft. commercial building" located in Lancaster, California. The proposal was on ADS Architecture Group" letterhead, identified Garces as an "Architect," included "architectural plans" in the services he would provide, and referenced his "Architectural Hourly Fees" and his business’ "architectural" and "architectural design" departments. Garces subsequently invoiced the client through his PayPal account under the business name "ADS Architecture Group" for an "Architectural Services Retainer," an "Architectural Services 50% Set," and "Completed Architectural Plans." Furthermore, on or about August 25, 2016, Garces: identified himself as a "project architect"; described his business as an "Affordable Architect," "architecture firm," and "architecture practice"; used the email address "affordablearchitect1@gmail.com" and the username "@LA.Architecture"; described his services as "Architectural," "Architects," and "Architecture"; used the terms "licensed" and "California Architect License" and the fictitious license number "CA856467"; and listed his businesses under the headings "Architect," "Architectural Designers," "Architectural Services," "Architects," "Architects & Builders Services," and "Architecture," in his Facebook profile and advertisements on the Internet at ads-architecturegroup.com, angieslist.com, buzzfile.com, groupon.com, houzz.com, losangeles.craigslist.org, manta.com, merchantcircle.com, promatcher.com, yellowpages.com, and yelp.com. Garces also used the business names "AAA Architectural Designs" and "ADS Architecture Group" without a California licensed architect who is in management control of the professional services that are offered and provided by the business entities and either the owner, a part-owner, an officer, or an employee of the business entities. The citation became final on December 7, 2016.

Canoga Park—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $1,000 administrative fine to Roi Gavriely, dba Loyalty Construction, Inc., an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect). The action alleged that Gavriely’s company print advertisement, company website, and Angie’s List profile described him as providing “architectural” services and offering “architects” without an architect who is in management control of the services that are offered and provided by the business entity and either the owner, a part-owner, an officer, or an employee of the business entity. The citation became final on February 13, 2020.

Eureka—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Mark Allen Gaxiola, architect license number C-23899, for an alleged violation of Business and Professions Code section 5536.22(a) (Written Contract).

The action alleged that on or about January 17, 2019, Gaxiola provided a contract to a client to develop preliminary design documents to upgrade an existing lodge for the project located in Dinsmore, California for a fixed fee of $10,000. The client signed the contract and provided Gaxiola with an initial payment of $2,500. The contract did not include Gaxiola’s license number, a description of the procedure for accommodating additional services, or a termination clause for the above-referenced project. In an invoice to the client dated April 22, 2019, Gaxiola billed $1,410 but did not provide a description of services or tasks provided, and this led to a dispute over the fees.

Gaxiola’s failure to include in the written contract his license number, a description of the procedure that he and the client would use to accommodate additional services, and a description of the procedure to be used by either party to terminate the contract constituted a violation of Business and Professions Code section 5536.22(a). Mr. Gaxiola paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on October 22, 2020.

Albany—The Board issued a two-count citation that included a $1,500 administrative fine to Markus Hans Geisler, architect license number C-16933, for alleged violations of BPC 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements) and CCR 160(b)(2) (Rules of Professional Conduct). The action alleged that Geisler failed to provide documentation to the Board from the course provider upon an audit of his 2013 License Renewal Application and failed to respond to the Board’s requests for information within 30 days in regards to an investigation. The citation became final on November 25, 2015.

Costa Mesa—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Julio C. Gener, architect license number C-20599, for a violation of Business and Professions Code section 5536.22(a) (Written Contract).

On or about August 18, 2017, Gener entered into a contract with a client to obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for an auto display and gun range located in the city of Huntington Beach. This contract's scope was to create as-built plans to get the project approved for a CUP and provide production plans, which excluded any additional design or engineering. The CUP was obtained from the City of Huntington Beach on or about February 1, 2018. On or about March 2, 2018, Gener submitted construction documents for the project remodel to the city of Huntington Beach for plan check approval and feedback. These documents were dated February 7, 2018, and included a new restroom, kitchen, and parking layout.

On or about March 6, 2018, after submitting the preliminary drawings to the city, Gener emailed the client a written contract "memorializing" their oral amendment to the initial contract, but the client never signed it.

A dispute arose regarding the timeline and Gener was terminated from the project on or about March 23, 2018. Gener had worked on the project without an executed contract until his termination, a violation of Business and Professions Code section 5536.22(a). Gener paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on July 24, 2020.

Phelan—The Board issued a two-count citation that included a $750 administrative fine to Michael Edward Genshock, architect license number C-17282, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section (BPC) 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements) and California Code of Regulations section (CCR) 160(b)(2) (Rules of Professional Conduct). The action alleged that Genshock certified false or misleading information on his 2013 License Renewal Application and failed to respond to the Board’s requests for information within 30 days in regards to an investigation. The citation became final on November 3, 2016.

Sherman Oaks—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $1,500 administrative fine to Eran Gispan, dba NE Designs, Inc., an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of BPC section 5536.1(c) (Signature and Stamp on Plans and Documents; Unauthorized Practice; Misdemeanor). The action alleged that Gispan prepared plans for a four-story residence, not a two-story as agreed upon, and the plans were not stamped by a licensed professional. The plans prepared by Gispan indicated four distinct living levels in the house, which is not a building exempt from the requirements of the Architects Practice Act pursuant to BPC sections 5537(a) and 5538, constituting the practice of architecture as defined in BPC section 5500.1. Gispan paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on May 10, 2019.

Brooklyn, New York—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Scott J. Glass, architect license number C-31542, for an alleged violation of BPC section 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Glass certified false or misleading information on his 2018 License Renewal Application. Glass paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on September 14, 2018.

Corona del Mar—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $1,000 administrative fine to Andrew Paul Goetz, architect license number C-18499, for an alleged violation of BPC 5579 (Fraud in Obtaining a License). The action alleged that Goetz submitted a false statement under penalty of perjury on his 2015 License Renewal Application when he answered "no" to the question, "In the preceding renewal period, have you been disciplined by a public agency or have you been convicted of a crime in any state, the USA and its territories, federal jurisdiction, military court, or other country, which involved a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere?" On or about February 5, 2014, a Decision of an Administrative Law Judge became effective, denying his application for a California Real Estate Salesperson License, but gave him the right to a restricted license. This was based on the Statement of Issues filed against Goetz by the Bureau of Real Estate on August 21, 2013, centering on Goetz’s conviction on or about February 29, 1984 for theft by use of credit card and his conviction on or about January 21, 2005 for violating 13 counts of falsifying records. Goetz paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on October 6, 2016.