Resignation and Final Record Manipulation
After exhausting all appeals including the U.S. Supreme Court, James J. Decoulos permanently resigned from LSP practice. The Board then falsified the effective date of his resignation.
Introduction:
On October 7, 2025, the United States Supreme Court denied James J. Decoulos's petition for writ of certiorari (Case No. 24-1312), ending all judicial review of the Massachusetts LSP Board's disciplinary action after 13 years of litigation. Decoulos then chose to permanently resign from LSP practice rather than serve a one-year suspension.
What happened next demonstrates the same pattern of administrative misconduct that characterized the entire case: when presented with clear, unambiguous statements, the Board simply ignored them and created the record they wanted.
Timeline:
October 7, 2025 - U.S. Supreme Court Denies Certiorari
The United States Supreme Court denies Decoulos's petition for writ of certiorari in Case No. 24-1312, Decoulos v. Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals.
With all avenues of judicial review exhausted, the Board's February 8, 2019 Final Order imposing a one-year suspension becomes enforceable.
November 17, 2025 - Resignation Letter
Decoulos submits a formal letter of resignation stating:
"I hereby resign from LSP practice and permanently relinquish LSP License No. 9360, effective February 21, 2025."
The letter makes clear this is not an acceptance of wrongdoing, but a choice to resign rather than serve the suspension that would begin February 21, 2025. The letter provides a comprehensive statement for the record, responding to the Board's press release and documenting procedural concerns including the 13-year duration, denied witness access, and sealed evidence.
View full resignation letter →
November 19, 2025 - Board's Question
LSP Board Program Coordinator Notoshia Dix emails asking for clarification about whether Decoulos intends to:
- Resign effective February 21, 2026 (when the suspension would end), or
- Retire or go on inactive status
November 20, 2025 - Decoulos Clarifies
Decoulos responds with explicit clarity:
"My November 17, 2025 letter of resignation permanently relinquishes LSP License No. 9360, retroactive to February 21, 2025. In the alternative, my resignation is effective immediately upon the Board's receipt of my resignation letter.
My resignation is permanent and immediate, not effective February 21, 2026."
November 20, 2025 - Board Ignores Clear Statement
LSP Board Executive Director Terry Wood responds the same day:
"Your resignation will be recorded in the Board's records as effective February 21, 2026, the day your disciplinary suspension ends. Considering you are permanently resigning, the Board will reflect you as having retired effective February 21, 2026."
What This Demonstrates:
- Decoulos explicitly stated: Resignation effective February 21, 2025 (or alternatively, immediately)
- Decoulos explicitly rejected: February 21, 2026 as the effective date
- The Board unilaterally declared: Resignation effective February 21, 2026
- The Board characterized it as: "Retirement" (a term never used by Decoulos)
Why This Matters:
The distinction is not semantic. The Board wanted their records to show:
- "Decoulos served the full one-year suspension, then retired in 2026"
The actual facts:
- "Decoulos resigned in 2025 rather than serve the suspension"
This final administrative action exemplifies the procedural misconduct that characterized the entire 13-year case:
- Ignoring clear, unambiguous statements
- Creating a record that serves the Board's preferred narrative
- Predetermined outcomes regardless of facts presented
- Denial of basic procedural fairness
After 13 years of documented violations of due process—including denial of witness subpoenas, sealed evidence, evolving technical standards, and extraordinary delays—the LSP Board's final act was to falsify the effective date of Decoulos's resignation.