Sternberg

Representing himself, Andrew M. Sternberg appeals the trial court’s denial of a petition for a writ of administrative mandate. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5.) He seeks to reverse a decision by the California State Board of Pharmacy (Board) subjecting his pharmacist’s license to discipline following the discovery of an employee’s widespread theft of a dangerous drug from the pharmacy Sternberg supervised as the pharmacist-in-charge. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Sternberg obtained his pharmacy license in 1978. Between 2001 and 2012, he worked as the pharmacist-in-charge at a Target store in West Hills, California. During a two-year period while he supervised the Target pharmacy — September 1, 2006, to August 31, 2008 — Imelda Hurtado, a pharmacy technician, stole at least 216,630 tablets of Norco from the pharmacy, with an estimated retail value of up to $1.50 per tablet, or $324,945, and street value of up to $5 per tablet, or $1,083,150. Sternberg was subject to licensing discipline for the theft. Prior to this incident, Sternberg had no history of discipline.

Hurtado accomplished this theft as follows; She would place orders for up to 3,000 tablets (six bottles with 500 tablets…