March 2010
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle •
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834 •
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
http://cos.ohio.gov
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Bridget McCafferty sentenced Richard Annable, 47, of Medina to four and a half years in prison for practicing medicine without a certificate and theft. On Jan. 22, a jury found Annable, the owner of Bella Derm Spa in Westlake, guilty on 12 counts of practicing medicine and surgery without a certificate. The former cosmetologist was also charged with one count of theft for accepting payment for procedures which he was not licensed to perform. Upon release from prison, he has five years to make restitution to the victims, which will be supervised by probation.
Prosecutors say he diagnosed and treated women with a procedure called Mesotherapy — a technique that used a small rolling pin with needles that punctured the skin. A gel was then applied to the same area that was supposed to dissolve fat cells.
But in opening statements, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutors James Guttierrez told the jury that women were duped. “They thought this individual was a doctor, because he gave the impression that he was a doctor,” Guttierrez said. Both the Medical Board of Ohio and the Ohio Board of Cosmetology began investigating Annable in 2006 after a former employee at Bella Derm wrote a letter raising questions about procedures being performed. Ann Marie Zarella-Lydic, Investigator for the Board of Cosmetology testified for the prosecution and detailed her findings that resulted in the Board voting unanimously to revoke Annable’s license in 2008.
“Hopefully this will reinforce our message that if you are breaking the law, we will pursue criminal charges,” said Kevin L. Miller, Executive Director of the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. “We are actively involved in many other cases that don’t receive this type of publicity. This outcome reminds all of our staff that our mission is to protect the public, whether that is in the form of testing, inspections or investigating wrongdoing,” he added.
If you are on Facebook, join our fan page to receive the latest information from the Board. In addition, Shelly Billingsley, from our Business Licensing Department, answers any and all questions posted. Here is a sample of the most frequent questions asked:
How do I apply for a manager’s license?
You must have at least one year’s worth of work experience in a salon, or at least 2,000 documented work hours if you did not take the managers course work in school, to apply for the manager’s examination. The application for the manager’s exam can be found on our website at www.cos.ohio.gov located under “Forms and Applications”. The “Manager’s Examination Application Based On Work Experience” needs to be completed and submitted to our office along with the exam fee, check or money order in the amount of $31.50. Once your application has been processed, we will send you a notification sheet informing you of your exam date. The exam is only administered at our board office in Grove City. The exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions. The study guide is included with your exam application.
How do I transfer my license to Ohio?
You will need to obtain the Out-of-State License Transfer Application from our website at www.cos.ohio.gov located under “Forms and Applications”. This application does not require a fee and needs to be submitted to our office with the listed items. You will also need to contact the State Board in which you are currently licensed and request a Board Certification to be sent directly to our office. Once we receive both your Out-of-State License Transfer Application and the Board Certification we will determine which exam you will be required to take. Please note, Manicurist licenses are not transferable to Ohio. Nail training must be completed in an Ohio School.
I lost my license. How do I get another one?
You must appear at the board office in order to receive a duplicate license. We will ask for the following items:
1. Your driver’s license or state ID
2. Proof of residence (utility bill, cell phone bill, etc.)
3. A new picture that has not been stamped or sealed by the Board
4. A Check, money order, or credit card in the amount of $20.
Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8 AM – 5 PM. You will be able to receive your license the same day. Please note, only one duplicate license is issued per renewal period.
National Consumer Protection Week, which is recognized this month, is an opportunity for my staff and me to let Ohioans know how they can protect themselves from financial exploitation.
If my office’s records are any indication, this service is in high demand. Last year a record number of Ohioans contacted my office to file a consumer complaint against unscrupulous businesses. At least 30,259 Ohioans—20 percent more than the year before—said they experienced some form of scam or rip-off.
I believe those numbers show Ohioans are sick and tired of being nickel-and-dimed by those who try to deceive them or who fail to follow through on their promises. I hope that through our ongoing outreach and education more Ohioans will come to the Attorney General’s office for recourse when they have been cheated.
The top complaint in 2009 concerned automobiles—not just sales, but repairs and other services. Also high on the list were financial services (including collections), property improvements and Internet and phone service.
Complaints from citizens give my office the ammunition it needs to take legal action to shut down unscrupulous operators. Last year we filed 38 cases against companies that were taking advantage of Ohioans. About $7 million was recovered for consumer restitution, civil penalties, costs and other relief.
Here’s one example: We filed a lawsuit charging that a company called BlueHippo violated Ohioans’ consumer rights with its sale of home computers through layaway and credit sales agreements.
More than 80 consumers filed complaints against this company last year because the computer ordered through the layaway program never arrived, or they did not get their refunds.
Without consumers acting on their frustration at feeling mistreated by seeking recourse by contacting the Ohio Attorney General’s office, we could not have been able to file this and other lawsuits.
To make it even easier for Ohioans who have had enough, we now have a one-step process to file a complaint: Call our hotline at (800) 282-0515 or www.SpeakOutOhio.gov.
And please join us for a National Consumer Protection Week event in your community. To see a list of events, please visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/NCPW.
For updates on news affecting Ohioans, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/SignUp. For information about Cut It Out, a collaboration between the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology that helps salon professionals recognize the signs of domestic violence, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/CutItOut.
Looking for past Board News? Visit the archives page.
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
Fax: (614) 644-6880
E-mail: ohcosbd@cos.state.oh.us
http://cos.ohio.gov
Board Members:
Steve Thompson, Chairman, Independent Contractor
Daisy Rickman, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
NeCole Cumberlander, School Owner
Kimberly Thomas, Salon Owner
Dr. Marilyn Huheey, Medical Doctor
Bernadine Neal, Cosmetology Instructor
Delores Gillis, Cosmetologist
Charles Penzone, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
Dr. Milroy Samuel, General Public
