State Disciplines 104 Licensed Professionals, Organizations

The Pennsylvania Department of State took disciplinary actions against 104 licensed or commissioned professionals and organizations during December, Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele announced Jan. 6.

Included in that list were sanctions against four licensees from Bucks County.

The bureau’s 29 boards and commissions license and oversee more than 900,000 active professionals and businesses, including a range of occupations in health and business-related fields.

Violations of the law or state regulations may result in disciplinary actions of civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of a license.

Anyone who suspects unlicensed activity by an individual or facility, or who has been a victim of unethical treatment, can file a complaint either online or through the bureau’s hotline at 1-800-822-2113.

Disciplined local professionals included:

• Michael S. James, notary public of Bensalem, had his commission revoked based on his lack of good character, integrity and ability; material misstatements and omission of fact made in his application; and his conviction of crimes which are incompatible with the duties of a notary public during the five-year period preceding the date of application.
• Theresa M. Barndt, notary ID no. 1006877, of Ottsville, was suspended for a period of 15 months and ordered to attend and successfully complete a six-hour notary practice and procedure course approved by the Secretary because she failed to know through personal knowledge or have satisfactory evidence that the person appearing before the notary was the person described in and who was executing the instrument, and she was not of a good character, integrity or ability.
• CJ Nails II, Board of Cosmetology license no. CY193034, of Bristol, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $200 and cost of monitoring of $40.56 because it failed to display the salon license in a conspicuous place with the business premises of the salon and practiced nail technology in a grossly incompetent and unethical manner by failing to label a bulk container of an unidentified chemical.
• Christopher Julio Vassalluzzo, Board of Medicine license no. OS007242L of New Hope, was immediately suspended, pending a hearing, on the grounds that his continued practice in the Commonwealth may be an immediate and clear danger to public health and safety.