Hanna

Sohair Hanna (appellant) appeals from a judgment of the superior court denying her petition for writ of mandate. Through the writ of mandate, appellant sought to overturn a decision of the Dental Board of California (the Board) revoking appellant’s dental license. While acknowledging that she pled no contest to a felony count of Medi-Cal fraud, appellant argues that the penalty of license revocation was a manifest abuse of discretion. We find that the penalty imposed was authorized and fell within the Board’s discretion, therefore we affirm the decision of the trial court.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Appellant obtained her dental license in 1989. She began providing dental services to Denti-Cal beneficiaries in 1997. No patient ever complained to the Board about her services. From 1989 through 2005, appellant practiced dentistry with her husband, George Hanna. They were joint owners of the practice, and were the only two dentists working there.

In April 2001, George Hanna was convicted of felony Medi-Cal fraud, a violation of Welfare and Institutions Code section 14107, subdivision (b)(1). As a result, his dental license was temporarily suspended. Appellant continued to…