(A) Any person who wishes to make a complaint against any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation licensed pursuant to this chapter shall submit such complaint in writing to the state speech and hearing professionals board within one year from the date of the action or event upon which the complaint is based. The board shall determine whether the charges in the complaint warrant disciplinary action. If the board determines that disciplinary action is warranted, then it shall proceed in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 4747.13

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

(B) The board shall investigate any alleged irregularities in the sale or practice of dealing in or fitting hearing aids by persons licensed or permitted under this chapter and any violations of this chapter or rules adopted by the board. The board shall not investigate any person exempted from licensure by section 4747.15 of the Revised Code, provided the person is acting within the scope of the person’s license. In conducting investigations under this division, the board may administer oaths, order the taking of depositions, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony. In any case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any person or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness may lawfully be interrogated, the court of common pleas of any county where that disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs or any judge thereof, on application by the board, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court, or a refusal to testify therein.

(C) The board shall petition the court of common pleas of the county in which a person, firm, partnership, or corporation engages in the sale, practice of dealing in or fitting of hearing aids, advertises or assumes such practice, or engages in training to become a licensed hearing aid dealer or fitter without first being licensed, for an order enjoining any such acts or practices. The court may grant such injunctive relief upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is engaging in such acts or practices without being licensed under this chapter.