Few things cause more anxiety than hearing that a Florida state agency wants to audit or investigate your business. Even if you believe you’ve done everything right, the process feels intimidating. What could they possibly be looking for?
Whether you’re in the financial, healthcare, education, or veterinary sectors and/or have professional licenses to defend, regulators are going to approach all of these reviews with the goal of uncovering errors, and that means every word and document you provide will be scrutinized. The smartest move you can make is to bring in a lawyer early. Waiting until problems develop almost always makes the situation harder to fix.
The Sooner You Contact a Lawyer, The Better
Timing plays a huge role in the outcome of an audit. When you reach out right away, your lawyer can step in before the agency builds its entire case. That early involvement allows for clearer communication and ensures only the right details are shared. For example, if a complaint lists ten separate counts, a lawyer may be able to reduce that number simply by clarifying the facts at the outset.
By contrast, if you wait, the agency sets the tone and defines the issues without your input. Once that happens, you’re already playing defense. Regulators aren’t focused on helping you explain yourself. They’re gathering evidence that may be used against you. The longer you put off legal guidance, the fewer options you have to steer the direction of the case.
Your Initial Response is Critical. Don’t Do It Alone.
The first set of documents or answers you provide carries enormous weight. Ideally, you should never send anything without consulting an experienced Florida lawyer. If you have no choice but to respond, limit yourself strictly to what was requested. Ask the agency to clarify if you don’t understand their request. In many cases, regulators will explain what they are seeking, which gives you a chance to respond more precisely. If they don’t, we, as lawyers, can finesse that information dump that the agency may be looking for. This also has the added bonus of protecting yourself from accidentally exposing other issues your internal team is working to fix.
Problems arise when business owners try to manage this step themselves. Some deliver boxes of unrelated material, offering far more than the agency asked for. Others provide too little, which makes it appear as though they’re withholding information. Neither approach helps. As we often tell clients, “I want you to be the dumbest person in the room.” That means you don’t try to guess what the agency needs or volunteer extra records. Your lawyer can filter the response, organize the presentation, and prevent unnecessary exposure.
The Risk of Not Contacting an Attorney During an Agency Investigation
As mentioned above, waiting too long can have serious consequences. Investigators will follow whatever trail you hand them. If you overload them with files, they’ll dig into areas you never expected to be questioned. If you give them a messy “shoebox full of papers,” you risk looking careless and unprofessional, setting the tone for a not-so-friendly audit and ultimately putting your business and professional licenses at risk. Miss a deadline, and you may find yourself in front of a judge explaining why you failed to comply.
You don’t need to have committed fraud or malpractice to run into trouble. Miscommunication, incomplete paperwork, or poor organization can all turn an inquiry into a formal case. Once that happens, you may face additional counts or allegations that never should have been raised in the first place. Handling an investigation on your own can take a small issue and turn it into a major problem.
If You’ve Been Contacted About an Audit or Investigation, Contact Us TODAY
If a state agency in Florida has reached out to you, the time to contact Grossman, Roopnarine & Bayó, LLC is NOW. The sooner we are involved, the more we can do to control the process and protect your business. Our approachable, down-to-earth team knows how agencies work and how to speak their language. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today and get the legal solutions you need before the situation escalates.