Enforcement Actions - J

Irvine—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Jay Jamshasb, architect license number C-28844, for an alleged violation of BPC § 5600.05(b) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Jamshasb failed to maintain records of completion of the required coursework for two years from the date of license renewal and failed to make those records available to the Board for auditing upon request. Jamshasb paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on November 27, 2017.

Walnut Creek—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $2,500 administrative fine to Mojtaba Janatpour, dba Next Level Architecture, LLC, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of BPC section 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect) and California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 134(a) (Use of the Term Architect). The action alleged that Janatpour used the business name Next Level Architecture, LLC, and advertised on his website nextlevelarch.com, that he had a “team of skilled architects,” without a licensed architect in management control of the professional services offered, and either an owner, part-owner, an officer or an employee of the business entity. The citation became final on January 18, 2020.

Colbert, Washington—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Anthony Wayne Janson, architect license number C-29455, 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 Janson certified false or misleading information on his 2017 License Renewal Application. Janson paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on March 9, 2018.

Solana Beach—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to John P. Jensen, architect license number C-19680, 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 Jensen certified false or misleading information on his 2019 License Renewal Application. The citation became final on January 17, 2020.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Scott Jay Johnson, architect license number C-17563, for an alleged violation of BPC § 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Johnson certified false or misleading information on his 2017 License Renewal Application. Johnson paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on October 20, 2017.

Aptos—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Diane Noelle Jones, architect license number C-32319, for an alleged violation of BPC 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Audit; False or Misleading Information on Coursework on Disability Access Requirements). The action alleged that Jones certified false or misleading information on her 2015 License Renewal Application. Jones paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on May 24, 2016.

Mariposa—The Board issued a two-count modified citation that included a $2,000 administrative fine to Marc Farias Jones, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of BPC 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect) and 5536.1(c) (Unauthorized Practice). The action alleged that Jones and his company, Western Drafting & Design Co., contracted to provide Preliminary Construction Documentation-Bid Set Plans for a new hardware store project located in Mariposa, California. Jones subsequently prepared drawings for the project. The project does not satisfy the criteria for an exempt project type as defined in BPC 5537(a) and required a licensed design professional for preparation of plans, drawings, or specifications. The citation became final on April 7, 2015.

San Francisco—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Ronald A. Jones, architect license number C-25629, 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 Jones certified false or misleading information on his 2018 License Renewal Application. Jones paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on August 31, 2018.

REDWOOD CITY—The Board issued a two-count citation, including a $3,000 administrative fine, to Zeden Jones, former architect license number C-34705, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code (BPC) 5584 and California Code of Regulations, title 16, sections 150 and 160(c)(1) (Willful Misconduct and Failure to Respond respectively).

The complaint alleged that Jones was hired on February 22, 2022, to perform architectural services under a contract worth $6,000, with a retainer of $2,000 paid upfront. After his license was revoked on April 17, 2022, he ceased communication with his clients, despite their attempts to establish contact with him. Jones’s failure to comply with the terms of his architectural service contract and his failure to keep his client informed is a violation of BPC 5584 and 16 CCR 150 (Willful Misconduct).

The Board made multiple attempts to contact Jones, asking for a written response to the allegations and supporting documents. Jones did not respond to these requests, which constitutes a violation of 16 CCR 160(c)(1) (Failure to Respond). The citation became final on June 4, 2023.

Oakland—The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $750 administrative fine to Thomas W. Jull, architect license number C-25981, 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 Jull certified false or misleading information on his 2019 License Renewal Application and failed to complete the coursework on disability access requirements. Jull paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on March 19, 2020.

Anaheim —The Board issued a one-count citation with a $1,500 administrative fine to Jose Luis Justiniano, an unlicensed person, dba J&R Design Planning & Engineering and West Coast Construction & Restoration Co., for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a).

On or about October 16, 2021 Justiniano was hired by S.S (client) to provide full design, engineering, and construction services for a residential remodel located in Torrance, California for a design fee of $16,000 plus an additional $184,000 for construction.

An invoice for the project dated April 12, 2022, included a line item that stated, “Prepare supplemental architectural plans…” for a fee of $2,500.

In a second project Justiniano entered into a contract with G.R. (client) on July 20, 2021 to provide design services for a project located in Norwalk, California. Allegedly, Justiniano had been hired to obtain plan approval from the city within a year, but by the end of 2023 no work has been done. Justiniano had been paid $13,425.

Justiniano’s Proposal for Design, Planning & Engineering dated July 20, 2021 for the Norwalk project stated he would “provide and coordinate architectural plans.” An invoice dated July 21, 2021 included line items for “Architect” and “architectural plans” for a fee of $7,500.

Justiniano’s company Kukun profile was categorized under “Architects” and stated, “J&R Design Planning & Engineering is a Architects contractor company based on Anaheim, California.” His personal LinkedIn profile stated, “Experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the architecture, planning & engineering industry” and offers “Architectural” services under Skills. His company Yelp profile was categorized under “Architects.”

Justiniano’s contract, billing invoices, and online profiles wherein he used the title of “Architect” and described his services as “Architecture” and “Architectural,” are devices that might indicate to the public that he is an architect or qualified to engage in the practice of architecture in California. Such conduct constitutes a violation of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a). The citation became final on March 9, 2024.

Yreka—Effective May 18, 1999, Darrell James Jackson’s architect license number C-11555 was revoked. The revocation came after a stipulated settlement was negotiated and adopted in what the Board considers it an extreme case of negligence associated with life-safety issues.

Mr. Jackson admitted in a Board-adopted settlement that, as the architect in general responsible charge at the Dorris Elementary School construction project, he had been negligent by failing to perform the duties required of an architect in general responsible charge, and that the manner in which the school was constructed required that it be condemned and demolished.

Mr. Jackson was hired by the Butte Valley Unified School District in Siskiyou County to serve as the architect in charge of building a new elementary school in Dorris. The Board had alleged that due to Mr. Jackson ’s negligence, the performance of the inspector, various consultants, and contractors was allowed to fall below acceptable standards in a number of areas. Specifically, the Board alleged 180 individual and separate instances of errors, omissions, and violations of law had been committed in the school’s construction.

As a result of the numerous building code violations, the school failed to meet the Division of State Architect ’s structural, seismic, fire and life safety code requirements. Dorris Elementary School was condemned, demolished, and rebuilt at a cost of $4 million. Approximately 250 students who attended the school from December 1991 to August 1993 were displaced.

Admissions by Mr. Jackson that his conduct constituted negligence within the meaning of Business and Professions Code section 5584 and agreement to reimburse the Board $15,000 for costs related to investigation, expert evaluation, and prosecution of the case were also terms of the stipulated settlement.

Redwood City—Effective April 17, 2022, Zeden M. Jones’ architect license number C-34705 was revoked. The action came after a Default Decision was issued by the Board in connection with two complaints the Board received.

An Accusation filed against Jones on April 22, 2021, alleged four causes for discipline for violations of: (1) Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 5583 (Fraud in Practice of Architecture), (2) BPC section 5584 and California Code of Regulations title 16 section 150 (Willful Misconduct), (3) BPC section 5582.1 (Signing and Stamping Other’s Plans), (4) BPC section 5584 and California Code of Regulations title 16 section 160(b)(2) (Failure to Respond to the Board).

The Accusation alleged that on or about February 24, 2018, Jones executed a contract with homeowner D.P. for architectural services related to a kitchen relocation and home addition for a residential property in San Jose, California.

As part of the project, Jones entered into a written contract with Vector Engineers for structural calculations and drawings. Vector Engineers prepared the initial structural calculations and drawings, but Jones never paid them.

Following the payment dispute, Jones needed additional engineering calculations performed. Rather than ask Vector Engineering to do the calculations, Jones plagiarized their calculations from a nearby unrelated project. Jones submitted structural calculations to the building department dated April 5, 2019, of which two pages were copied after removing Vector Engineers’ logo and copyright notice. Jones replaced the Vector Engineer’s logo with his own, then stamped and signed the sheets as his own. The building department did not approve Jones’ structural calculations.

On or about July 5, 2019, the Board received a second complaint against Jones alleging professional misconduct associated with his design of tenant improvements for a restaurant in San Jose. Jones failed to comply with the Board’s multiple requests for a response and information related to the project.

Jones failed to appear at the hearing. The Board’s Default Decision and Order was issued on March 18, 2022, and became effective on April 17, 2022.

Vacaville—Effective December 28, 2005, Fred Juco’s architect license number C-12006 was revoked; however, revocation was stayed and Juco was placed on probation for five years with specific terms and conditions, including reimbursing the Board $3,172.50 for its investigative and prosecution costs. The action came after a stipulated settlement was negotiated and adopted by the Board.

An Accusation was filed against Juco for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code (BPC) sections 5536.1 (Signature and Stamp on Plans and Documents; Unauthorized Practice), 5536.22 (Written Contract), and 5584 (Negligence or Willful Misconduct). The Accusation alleged that Juco failed to sign or affix a seal to plans he prepared for a project, he failed to include statutorily required language in a written contract when providing professional services to a client, and he was negligent in the management of the construction on a project.