Connecticut hearing grants department motion to deem allegations admitted in nursing-license case

A hearing convened by the Connecticut Department of Public Health on Feb. 5, 2026, proceeded without the respondent, and the department’s motion to deem the allegations admitted was granted by the hearing officer.

Hearing officer Aidan Baum opened the proceeding at 10:03 a.m. and asked parties to identify themselves. Brett Karpuska, administrative assistant and board liaison to the Board of Examiners for Nursing, testified she scheduled the hearing for 10:00 a.m. on 02/05/2026 and that notices were sent to the address of record by email, certified mail and regular mail. "I coordinate with the parties and, schedule the hearings sending out notice, which is sent to the address of record," Karpuska said.

Attorney Anthony Nanny, representing the Department of Public Health, asked the hearing officer to "deem all the allegations and the statement of charges admitted due to the lack of an answer and respondent's nonappearance." The hearing officer said, "Pursuant to Section 19 A-nine-twenty of the regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and in light of the respondent's failure to file an answer, I grant the department's motion to deem the allegations admitted." The record shows board exhibits 1–4 and department exhibits 1–8 were entered, with department exhibit 6 placed under seal as an educational record from Ideal Professional Institute.

In an opening statement, Nanny said the matter—identified in the record as New Skinson Gladstone Judy, petition number 2025-622—was referred to the department as part of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Nanny described "Operation Nightingale" as an investigation "into nursing schools that were distributing nursing diplomas and transcripts to students who did not complete the required classroom hours or clinical training necessary for the degree." He said the department’s investigator found no records showing the respondent completed required prelicensure coursework or clinical training and that some school files were seized by federal investigators. Based on those findings, the department told the hearing officer the license to practice as a registered nurse should be revoked.

Attorney Nanny said the department had no witnesses to call and rested its case. The hearing officer moved off the record and adjourned for the day; he said he will prepare a proposed memorandum of decision for the Board of Examiners for Nursing, which will issue the final decision.

The record indicates the respondent did not appear and did not file an answer. The Department of Public Health entered exhibits supporting the allegations; exhibit 6 (an educational transcript) was placed under seal. No formal defense or rebuttal was presented on the record.