ALJDEC - Licensing

2025A-05968-CHC-ROC · Registrar of Contractors · 2026-04-15

IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

Michael and Nanette Rivera,

COMPLAINANT,

v.

Salten Pools Construction and Design LLC,

License No. ROC 337189,

RESPONDENT.

No. 2025A-05968-CHC-ROC

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE DECISION

HEARING: March 25, 2026 at 9:00AM

APPEARANCES: Attorney Mark Hanson appeared on behalf of Complainants Michael and Nanette Rivera. Attorney Evan Thompkins appeared on behalf of Respondent Salten Pools Construction and Design, LLC, with Respondent observers.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: Nicole Robinson

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE TAKEN: Arizona Registrar of Contractors Notice of Hearing Packet (“Packet”).

FINDINGS OF FACT

Salten Pools Construction and Design, LLC (“Respondent”) is the holder of License No. ROC 337189 issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (“Registrar”).

On or about June 6, 2024, Michael and Nanette Rivera (“Complainants”) entered into a contract with Respondent for, among other things, a pool and backyard project. The contract was in the total amount of $155,586.25 and Complainants paid $85,296.56.

On or about June 16, 2025, the Registrar received a Complaint against Respondent from Complainant alleging poor work with respect to the project.

The Registrar assigned the complaint to Investigator Charles Riddlehoover.

On August 12, 2025, Investigator Riddlehoover conducted a jobsite inspection.

On October 2, 2025, Investigator Riddlehoover issued a Written Directive to Respondent with a deadline date of October 18, 2025. The Written Directive found a number of workmanship violations that ultimately were not corrected to Registrar standards.

On December 2, 2025, the Registrar issued a Citation against Respondent, charging possible violations of Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1154(A)(3), namely Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-108(A) and Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1154(A)(22).

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

This matter lies within the Registrar’s jurisdiction.

Complainant bears the burden of proof to establish Respondent’s statutory violations by a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance of the evidence means “[p]roof which leads the trier of fact to find that the existence of the contested fact is more probable than its nonexistence.”

At the time of hearing, the parties stipulated to the facts and conclusion. Respondent accepted responsibility for the workmanship violations and agreed with the Citation. Violations of Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1154(A)(3), namely Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-108(A) and Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1154(A)(22) have been established.

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Based on the foregoing,

It is recommended that on the effective date of the Order, the Registrar shall suspend Respondent’s License No. ROC 337189 for a period of one day.

Pursuant to Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 41-1092.08(I), the licensee may accept the Administrative Law Judge Decision by advising the Office of Administrative Hearings in writing not more than ten (10) days after receiving the decision. If the licensee accepts the Administrative Law Judge Decision, the decision shall be certified as the final decision by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

In the event of certification of the Administrative Law Judge Decision by the Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, the effective date of the Order will be forty (40) days from the date of that certification.

Done this day, April 15, 2026.

/s/ Nicole Robinson

Administrative Law Judge

Transmitted by either mail, e-mail, or facsimile to:

Tom Cole, Director

Registrar of Contractors

c/o Legal Department

1700 W. Washington Street, Suite 105

Phoenix, AZ 85007

[email redacted]

Mark A. Hanson, Esq.

Guidant Law Firm

4320 E Presidio St, Ste. 101

Mesa, AZ 85215

[email redacted]

Richard C. Gramlich, Esq.

TIFFANY & BOSCO, P.A.

Evan C. Tompkins, Esq.

Central Arts Plaza

1850 N Central Avenue, Floor 24

Phoenix, AZ 85004

[email redacted]

[email redacted]

Charles Riddlehoover

[email redacted]

By: OAH Staff