Pestmaster Services, Inc. v. Structural Pest Control Board
Opinion
Opinion
Thaxter, J.
May a licensed pest control operator, relying solely on the inspection report of another licensed operator and without conducting its own inspection, perform repair work recommended in the report? Appellant Structural Pest Control Board (Board) answered this question no. The trial court disagreed and issued a peremptory writ of mandate directed to the Board. We agree with the Board and will reverse the trial court’s judgment.
Background
Pestmaster Services, Inc., is a pest control company owned by respondent Jeffrey Van Diepen. Both Van Diepen and Pestmaster procured and retain licenses issued by the Board pursuant to the authority granted under the Structural Pest Control Act (Act).
A licensed employee of Pestmaster, Darrell Voortman, performed corrective work on two residences in the course of his employment. The work performed was recommended by licensed pest control companies other than Pestmaster in standard structural pest control reports prepared after each conducted pest control inspections of the residences. Voortman issued a completion notice (in accordance with § 8518) and a certification of termite clearance (in accordance with § 8519) without first…