Download the Ethics Reference Guide for a list of all cases.

2000–2010

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

The following constitute all published opinions of the NSPE Board of Ethical Review. Opinions issued by the NSPE Board of Ethical review prior to 1980 are provided solely for historic purposes and may no longer be valid because of changes to the NSPE Code of Ethics as well as legal and regulatory requirements. Many of these cases can be purchased in bound copies through the online catalog >>

Note: BER cases are in PDF and require free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

NSPE BER Cases from 2010

Case 10-1: Obligation to Communicate in an Appropriate Manner
Case 10-2: Employment—Duty to Inform Employer of Outside Practice
Case 10-3: Employment—Cash Door Prize
Case 10-4: Expert Witness—Agreement Limiting Engineer from Working for Competitors
Case 10-5: Public Health and Safety—Observing Off-Site Safety Issues
Case 10-6: Advertising—Inclusion of Material on Web Site from Former Employment
Case 10-7: Compliance with ADA Guidelines
Case 10-8: Selection of Firm—FOIA Request
Case 10-9: Advertising—Internet-Based Marketing Service
Case 10-10: Engineer's Out-of-State Office Providing Review of Steel Fabricator' s Work
Case 10-11: Expert Witness—Interested Party
Case 10-12: Conflict of Interest—Promotion and Tenure Process for Engineering Faculty

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NSPE BER Cases from 2009

Case 09-1: Duty to Report Observations to Higher Management
Case 09-2: Duty to Report Improper Conduct by Management
Case 09-3: Engineer's Approval of Testing Design
Case 09-4: Engineer's Duty to Report Government Contract Violations
Case 09-5: Providing Appropriate Credit to Authors in Publication
Case 09-6: Making Changes to the Work of Another Engineer
Case 09-7: Conflict of Interest – Father's Ownership of Property Adjacent to Client
Case 09-8: Professional Competence – Design of Professional Facility Plumbing System
Case 09-9: Duty to Report Impaired Colleague
Case 09-10: Withholding Information Useful to Client/Public Agency
Case 09-11: Discovering Embedded Comments in Electronic Documents Damaging to Adversary
Case 09-12: Professional Competence – Environmental Issues

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NSPE BER Cases from 2008

Case 08-1: Public Welfare—Software Security
Case 08-2: Quality of Products—Defective Chips
Case 08-3: Recommendations Regarding Data Misrepresentations
Case 08-4: Recommendation Regarding Mitigation of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure
Case 08-5: Disclosure of Observations During Earlier Employment
Case 08-6: Employment—Obligations of Engineer Concerning Employment Information
Case 08-7: Statements—Client Misrepresentation of Scope of Engineering Services
Case 08-8: Selection of Firm—Promise of Future Engineering Work on a Public Project
Case 08-9: Credit for Engineering Work—Preparation of Grant Application
Case 08-10: Public Welfare—Design of Medical Equipment
Case 08-11: Copyright—Using Unlicensed Proprietary Software to Create a New Software Product
Case 08-12: Public Health, Safety and Welfare—Compliance with Fire Code

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NSPE BER Cases from 2007

Case 07-1: Conflict of Interest State Engineer—Village Road
Case 07-2: Public Statements—Engineering Society President
Case 07-3: Public Health and Safety—Warranty Inspections
Case 07-4: Credit for Engineering Work—Implying Responsibility
Case 07-5: Employment Agreement—Obligation of Subconsultant
Case 07-6: Sustainable Development—Threatened Species
Case 07-7: Employment Agreement—Arrangements Between Firms
Case 07-8: Public Health and Safety—Sealing of Bridge Investigation
Case 07-9: Public Office—Ownership of Engineering Firm
Case 07-10: Public Health and Safety—Knowledge of Potentially Dangerous Condition
Case 07-11: Confidential Information—Client's Failure to Obtain Building Permits
Case 07-12: Expert Witness—Disclosure of Interests Represented

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NSPE BER Cases from 2006

Case 06-1: Conflict of Interest: Participation in Seminar and Reward Program for Specifying Systems
Case 06-2: Expert Witness Testimony—Confidential Information
Case 06-3: Expert Witness Testimony—Employee of Contractor Association
Case 06-4: Misrepresentation—Unlicensed in State in Which Services are Performed
Case 06-5: Confidential Information—Foundation Design Services
Case 06-6: Expert Witness Testimony—Refusal to Serve as an Expert Witness
Case 06-7: Conflict of Interest—Accepting Real Estate as Payment for Services
Case 06-8: Ethical Obligations as a Member of the U.S. Military
Case 06-9: Employment—Employee/Employer Files
Case 06-10: Conflict of Interest—Spouse as Employee of Vendor
Case 06-11: Conflict of Interest—Expert Witness Testimony
Case 06-12: Political Contributions—Fundraising Barbeque

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NSPE BER Cases from 2005

Case 05-1: Whistleblowing—Industrial Design
Case 05-2: Disclosure of Information to Peer/Employee of Competitor
Case 05-3: Failure to Respond to Client
Case 05-4: Failure to Disclose Full Impact of Development
Case 05-5: Statements Made During Negotiations
Case 05-6: Gifts—State Department of Transportation Employees
Case 05-7: Advertising—Role of Public Officials
Case 05-8: PE—Reference to Expired License
Case 05-9: Solicitation, Networking, and Referral Organization
Case 05-10: Conflict of Interest—Design Build
Case 05-11: Use of Existing Work for Another Client
Case 05-12: Academics—Student Use of Previous Examinations

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NSPE BER Cases from 2004

Case 04-1: Disclosure: Engineer's Obligation to Disclose Work Performed Offshore
Case 04-2: Conflict of Interest—Prior Employment with Vendor
Case 04-3: Conflict of Interest—Retiring Director of Public Works, Member of City Council
Case 04-4: Advertising: Representations Made on Web site
Case 04-5: Protection of the Public Health and Safety—Obligations of Engineer Relating to Environmental Concerns
Case 04-6: Public Criticism—Comments Made at Engineering College
Case 04-7: Gift—Charity Fundraiser Raffling Off Vendor Invitation to Seminar at Resort Location
Case 04-8: Public Welfare—Client Action Following Engineer's Services
Case 04-9: Conflict of Interest—Engineer Inspecting Own Work
Case 04-10: Conflict of Interest—Establishing an Environmental Services Company that Provides Services to Employer
Case 04-11: Advertising — Use of Business Cards—P.E. Designation
Case 04-12: Conflict of Interest—Professional Opinions of Engineering Expert Witness

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NSPE BER Cases from 2003

Case 03-1: Expert Witness—Material Inadvertently Sent By Opposing Counsel
Case 03-2: Disclosure Of Work For Former Employer--Request For Information After Change Of Employment
Case 03-3: Public Welfare—Structural Deficiency
Case 03-4: Selection Of Firm—Grant Money
Case 03-5: Selection Of Firm—Promotion Of Software Firm's Product
Case 03-6: Employment—Duty To Disclose Revocation Of Contractor License
Case 03-7: Conflict Of Interest—Appraisal Of Manufacturing Facility
Case 03-8: Expert Witness—Testimony Regarding Former Employer
Case 03-9: Employment—Unionization Of Field Technicians And Testing Personnel
Case 03-10: Promotional Effort—Publication Of A Book
Case 03-11: Advertising—Truthful And Non-Deceptive Statements
Case 03-12:  Expert Witness—Special Consultant Jointly Paid By Parties
Case 03-13: Contingent Fee—Practice Of Forensic Engineering

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NSPE BER Cases from 2002

Case 02-1: Expert Witness—Criminal Prosecution
Case 02-2: Signing And Sealing Of Work—Making Changes
Case 02-3: Conflict Of Interest—Allegations Of Bias
Case 02-4: Conflict Of Interest—Loan From Contractor
Case 02-5: Professional Competence In Current Structural Design
Case 02-6: Conflict Of Interest—Inspection Of Work In Joint Venture
Case 02-7: Revision To Subconsultant's Work
Case 02-8: Conflict Of Interest—Public Employee Serving As Part-Time Consultant
Case 02-9: Conflict Of Interest—Holding Company
Case 02-10: Conflict Of Interest—Holding Company
Case 02-11: Duty To Report Violation—Anonymous Complaint
Case 02-12:  Conflict Of Interest—Serving Two Clients

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NSPE BER Cases from 2001

Case 01-1: Employment—Questioning Ability Of Former Employer
Case 01-2: Conflict-Of-Interest: Third Party Developer
Case 01-3: Use Of P.E. Designation—Not Licensed In State In Which Complaint Is Filed
Case 01-4: Patents—Dispute Over Right To Specify
Case 01-5: Conflict Of Interest—Utility Audits For City
Case 01-6: Confidentiality—Records Relating To Services To Former Client
Case 01-7: Conflict Of Interest—Privatization Of Plan Reviews
Case 01-8: Associating With A Firm Not Authorized To Practice
Case 01-9: Reference—Quid Pro Quo
Case 01-10: Employment—Expense Paid Trip By Prospective Employer
Case 01-11: Conflict Of Interest—Consultant Serving As City Engineer
Case 01-12: Employment—Information Gained From Abet Visitation

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NSPE BER Cases from 2000

Case 00-1: Misrepresentation/Misappropriation Of Another Engineer's Work
Case 00-2: Reconciling Design Drawings And Record Drawings
Case 00-3: Services—Same Services For Different Clients
Case 00-4: Confronting Former Employee For Improper Conduct
Case 00-5: Public Welfare—Bridge Structure
Case 00-6: Expert Witness Formerly For Utility Now Testifying For Consumer
Case 00-7: Expert Witness: Agreement To Refuse To Testify
Case 00-8: Modification Of Code Report Relating To Nuclear Facility Chiller Design
Case 00-9: Employment—Offer Of Employment By Vendor
Case 00-10: Contingency Fees—Engineer/Attorney Hiring Engineering Expert
Case 00-11: Duty Of Engineer Regarding Inspection Of Client's Work Involved In Inspection And Reanalysis
Case 00-12: Review By Engineer Of Work Of Design Engineer For Client

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