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Overview
Facts Discussion
Provenance Draft

PASS 1: Contextual Framework Facts Section

Case 111: Misrepresentation - Changes Made to Engineer’s Report

R Roles
0
Classes
6
Individuals
S States
7
Classes
7
Individuals
Rs Resources
1
Classes
1
Individuals

Extracted Ontology Entities

22 RDF entities extracted organized by concept type

R Roles

Roles Classes
0
No new roles classes were identified in this section.
Roles Individuals
6
No new roles classes were discovered - the 6 individual(s) below reference existing classes from the ontology.
Linked
Employer Role
C111
Text References:
"Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering."
Confidence: 0.92
Actor: XYZ Engineering
Role Class: Employer Role
Role Kind: participant
Case Involvement: Engineering firm that employs Engineer A and whose principal, Supervisor B, requested changes to Engineer A's reports and sent the reports to the client.
Organization type: Engineering firm
[facts] "Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: XYZ Engineering
  • attributes: {'organization_type': 'Engineering firm'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering.
  • roleClass content: Employer Role
  • roleKind content: participant
  • caseInvolvement content: Engineering firm that employs Engineer A and whose principal, Supervisor B, requested changes to Engineer A's reports and sent the reports to the client.
  • confidence assessment: 0.92
Engineer A Inspector Engineer
Inspector Engineer Role
Linked
Inspector Engineer Role
C111
Text References:
"Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering."
"Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering."
"He then signs and seals the reports."
"Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes."
Confidence: 0.95
Actor: Engineer A
Role Class: Inspector Engineer Role
Role Category: employer_relationship
Role Kind: professional
License: Licensed professional engineer
Specialty: Structural assessment and inspection of hurricane-damaged residential properties
Employer: XYZ Engineering
Technical Background: Structural inspection and assessment
Case Involvement: Inspected hurricane-damaged residential properties, prepared, signed and sealed reports finding most damage hurricane-related, and refused Supervisor B's request to change the reports for lack of any factual or technical basis. Later learned from property owners that claims were denied based on apparently altered versions of his signed and sealed reports.
Signs and seals: Signs and seals his inspection reports
Employedby: XYZ Engineering
"Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering."
Workreviewedby: Supervisor B
"Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports"
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Engineer A
  • attributes: {'signs_and_seals': 'Signs and seals his inspection reports'}
  • relationships: {'type': 'employedBy', 'target': 'XYZ Engineering', 'quote': 'Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering.'}; {'type': 'workReviewedBy', 'target': 'Supervisor B', 'quote': 'Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, is employed by engineering firm XYZ Engineering.; Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering.; He then signs and seals the reports.; Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes.
  • roleClass content: Inspector Engineer Role
  • roleCategory content: employer_relationship
  • roleKind content: professional
  • license content: Licensed professional engineer
  • specialty content: Structural assessment and inspection of hurricane-damaged residential properties
  • employer content: XYZ Engineering
  • technicalBackground content: Structural inspection and assessment
  • caseInvolvement content: Inspected hurricane-damaged residential properties, prepared, signed and sealed reports finding most damage hurricane-related, and refused Supervisor B's request to change the reports for lack of any factual or technical basis. Later learned from property owners that claims were denied based on apparently altered versions of his signed and sealed reports.
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
Linked
Supervisor Role
C111
Text References:
"Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports"
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Confidence: 0.9
Actor: Supervisor B
Role Class: Supervisor Role
Role Kind: participant
Employer: XYZ Engineering
Additional Relationships: {'type': 'sends reports to', 'target': 'Property Insurance Company', 'quote': 'Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.'}
Case Involvement: Principal of XYZ Engineering who is not a professional engineer. Reviewed Engineer A's reports, asked Engineer A to change some to indicate pre-existing structural damage, and after Engineer A refused, took the reports and sent them to the property insurance company client.
Position: One of the principals of XYZ Engineering
Professional status: Not a professional engineer
Reviewsworkof: Engineer A
"Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports"
[facts] "Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential ..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Supervisor B
  • attributes: {'position': 'One of the principals of XYZ Engineering', 'professional_status': 'Not a professional engineer'}
  • relationships: {'type': 'reviewsWorkOf', 'target': 'Engineer A', 'quote': 'Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.
  • roleClass content: Supervisor Role
  • roleKind content: participant
  • employer content: XYZ Engineering
  • additionalRelationships content: {'type': 'sends reports to', 'target': 'Property Insurance Company', 'quote': 'Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.'}
  • caseInvolvement content: Principal of XYZ Engineering who is not a professional engineer. Reviewed Engineer A's reports, asked Engineer A to change some to indicate pre-existing structural damage, and after Engineer A refused, took the reports and sent them to the property insurance company client.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Linked
Provider Role
C111
Text References:
"The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane"
Confidence: 0.9
Actor: XYZ Engineering
Role Class: Provider Role
Role Category: provider_client
Role Kind: professional
Specialty: Structural assessment of hurricane-damaged residential properties
Case Involvement: Hired by the property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of hurricane-damaged residential properties and determine whether damage was hurricane-related or due to a pre-existing structural condition.
Hasclient: Property Insurance Company
"The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane"
[facts] "The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane and to determine whether the damage was hurrica..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: XYZ Engineering
  • relationships: {'type': 'hasClient', 'target': 'Property Insurance Company', 'quote': 'The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane
  • roleClass content: Provider Role
  • roleCategory content: provider_client
  • roleKind content: professional
  • specialty content: Structural assessment of hurricane-damaged residential properties
  • caseInvolvement content: Hired by the property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of hurricane-damaged residential properties and determine whether damage was hurricane-related or due to a pre-existing structural condition.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Linked
Client Role
C111
Text References:
"The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane"
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Confidence: 0.95
Actor: Property Insurance Company
Role Class: Client Role
Role Kind: participant
Additional Relationships: {'type': 'denies insurance claims of', 'target': 'Residential Property Owners', 'quote': 'their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition'}
Case Involvement: Hired XYZ Engineering to determine whether residential property damage was hurricane-related or pre-existing, received the reports sent by Supervisor B, and denied owners' claims based on reports indicating pre-existing structural conditions.
Business: Property insurance
[facts] "Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Property Insurance Company
  • attributes: {'business': 'Property insurance'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: The firm was hired by a property insurance company to inspect and conduct structural assessments of residential properties damaged by a recent hurricane; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.
  • roleClass content: Client Role
  • roleKind content: participant
  • additionalRelationships content: {'type': 'denies insurance claims of', 'target': 'Residential Property Owners', 'quote': 'their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition'}
  • caseInvolvement content: Hired XYZ Engineering to determine whether residential property damage was hurricane-related or pre-existing, received the reports sent by Supervisor B, and denied owners' claims based on reports indicating pre-existing structural conditions.
  • confidence assessment: 0.95
Linked
Owner Role
C111
Text References:
"Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected"
"Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property d..."
Confidence: 0.9
Actor: Residential Property Owners
Role Class: Owner Role
Role Kind: participant
Additional Relationships: {'type': 'advises of claim denial', 'target': 'Engineer A', 'quote': 'Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied'}
Case Involvement: Owners of hurricane-damaged homes inspected by Engineer A whose insurance claims were denied based on apparently altered reports, and who advised Engineer A of the denials.
Property condition: Homes damaged by a recent hurricane
[facts] "Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property d..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • actor: Residential Property Owners
  • attributes: {'property_condition': 'Homes damaged by a recent hurricane'}
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected; Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition.
  • roleClass content: Owner Role
  • roleKind content: participant
  • additionalRelationships content: {'type': 'advises of claim denial', 'target': 'Engineer A', 'quote': 'Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied'}
  • caseInvolvement content: Owners of hurricane-damaged homes inspected by Engineer A whose insurance claims were denied based on apparently altered reports, and who advised Engineer A of the denials.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9

S States

States Classes
7
changed
Material Fact Knowledge State
rdfs:subClassOf States
Review
Material Fact Knowledge State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
An epistemic condition of what an agent knows with respect to facts material to a decision, here Engineer A's knowledge from his own inspections and structural assessments that the damage was hurricane-related and that no factual or technical basis exists for the requested change.
Inherited from MaterialFactKnowledgeState · note
An epistemic condition of what an agent knows with respect to facts material to a decision, here Engineer A's direct observation that traffic is flowing on the reopened bridge, that the movement of the bridge is frightening, and that heavy vehicles cross it regularly.
Properties
Text References:
"Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes."
Confidence: 0.9
State Category: epistemic
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: The professional personally inspects and assesses the properties and forms technical conclusions
Termination Conditions: New technical information supersedes the professional's findings
Principle Transformation: The engineer's direct knowledge that the damage was hurricane-related makes any change to the contrary a change without factual or technical basis.
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering. The majority indicate that the damage was in fac..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes.
  • stateCategory content: epistemic
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The engineer's direct knowledge that the damage was hurricane-related makes any change to the contrary a change without factual or technical basis.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: The professional personally inspects and assesses the properties and forms technical conclusions
  • terminationConditions: New technical information supersedes the professional's findings
changed
SupervisoryDirectionState
rdfs:subClassOf States
Linked
Directive State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A condition in which a superior has specifically instructed the professional in how to perform assigned services, here Supervisor B, a non-engineer principal, asking Engineer A to change some reports to indicate the residential property damage was not hurricane-related but due to a pre-existing structural condition.
Inherited from DirectiveState · note
A condition in which a superior or client has specifically instructed the professional in how to perform contracted or assigned services, here Engineer A being ordered by a superior to draw up a construction permit expeditiously and to avoid any hang-ups with respect to technical issues.
Properties
Text References:
"asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential property damage was not hurricane-related but due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.92
State Category: regulatory
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: A superior issues a specific instruction on how contracted or assigned work is to be performed
Termination Conditions: The instruction is withdrawn, complied with, or definitively refused
Principle Transformation: The directive to change conclusions without basis places the engineer's duty of objective and truthful reporting in direct tension with the superior's instruction.
[facts] "Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential ..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential property damage was not hurricane-related but due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • stateCategory content: regulatory
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The directive to change conclusions without basis places the engineer's duty of objective and truthful reporting in direct tension with the superior's instruction.
  • confidence assessment: 0.92
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: A superior issues a specific instruction on how contracted or assigned work is to be performed
  • terminationConditions: The instruction is withdrawn, complied with, or definitively refused
changed
SealAuthorityState
rdfs:subClassOf States
Review
Seal Authority State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A regulatory condition concerning the application of a professional engineer's seal to a work product, here Engineer A's series of inspection reports signed and sealed after his inspection and structural assessment, so the reports carry his professional responsibility for their conclusions.
Inherited from SealAuthorityState · note
A regulatory condition concerning the application of a professional engineer's seal to a work product, here a draft report submitted to the client with language clearly identifying it as a draft and with the seal applied consistent with state law.
Properties
Text References:
"He then signs and seals the reports."
Confidence: 0.9
State Category: regulatory
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: The engineer signs and seals the completed reports
Termination Conditions: The sealed reports are formally withdrawn or superseded
Principle Transformation: The seal on the reports ties Engineer A's professional responsibility to the conclusions the reports state, so an alteration under his seal misattributes conclusions to him.
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering. The majority indicate that the damage was in fac..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: He then signs and seals the reports.
  • stateCategory content: regulatory
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The seal on the reports ties Engineer A's professional responsibility to the conclusions the reports state, so an alteration under his seal misattributes conclusions to him.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: The engineer signs and seals the completed reports
  • terminationConditions: The sealed reports are formally withdrawn or superseded
changed
DualCapacityState
rdfs:subClassOf States
Review
Professional Authority Circumvention State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A regulatory condition in which the engineering authority of a licensed professional is circumvented by a non-engineer, here Supervisor B, a principal who is not a professional engineer, taking Engineer A's signed and sealed reports after Engineer A refused to change them and sending them to the client with the conclusions apparently altered.
Inherited from ProfessionalAuthorityCircumventionState · note
A regulatory condition in which the legally established engineering authority of a professional is circumvented and overruled by a non-engineer under circumstances involving the public safety, compromising the professional's integrity, here Engineer A as city engineer and director of public works allowing her authority to be overruled by City Administrator C.
Properties
Text References:
"Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports"
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Confidence: 0.85
State Category: regulatory
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: A non-engineer overrides or circumvents the licensed engineer's professional conclusions after the engineer's refusal
Termination Conditions: The engineer's authority over the sealed work is restored or the circumvention is corrected
Principle Transformation: The circumvention of the sealing engineer's authority by a non-engineer converts the general integrity of professional practice into a live question of what the engineer must now do about his altered sealed reports.
[facts] "Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports ... Finding no factual or technic..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.
  • stateCategory content: regulatory
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The circumvention of the sealing engineer's authority by a non-engineer converts the general integrity of professional practice into a live question of what the engineer must now do about his altered sealed reports.
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: A non-engineer overrides or circumvents the licensed engineer's professional conclusions after the engineer's refusal
  • terminationConditions: The engineer's authority over the sealed work is restored or the circumvention is corrected
changed
PublicSafetyRiskState
rdfs:subClassOf States
Review
Material Harm Risk State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A risk condition in which interested parties are exposed to material harm as a consequence of misleading professional representations, here residential property owners whose insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report attributed the damage to a pre-existing structural condition rather than the hurricane.
Inherited from MaterialHarmRiskState · note
A risk condition in which a party with an interest in a business negotiation is exposed to potential material harm as a consequence of misleading statements made during the negotiation. Here the Board finds that the facts of the case suggest potential material harm to an interested party during the negotiations over the sale of the engineering subsidiary.
Properties
Text References:
"their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.88
State Category: risk
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: Insurance claims are denied on the basis of the altered signed and sealed reports
Termination Conditions: The claim denials are reversed after the alteration is corrected or disclosed
Principle Transformation: The concrete harm to the homeowners from the altered report gives specific content to the paramount duty owed to the public whose welfare the reports affect.
[facts] "Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property d..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • stateCategory content: risk
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The concrete harm to the homeowners from the altered report gives specific content to the paramount duty owed to the public whose welfare the reports affect.
  • confidence assessment: 0.88
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: Insurance claims are denied on the basis of the altered signed and sealed reports
  • terminationConditions: The claim denials are reversed after the alteration is corrected or disclosed
changed
PostEngagementDiscoveryState
rdfs:subClassOf States
Review
Post Engagement Discovery State
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
An epistemic condition in which a professional, after the work is complete and delivered, learns of a material problem with the delivered work, here Engineer A hearing from residential property owners that his signed and sealed reports, which he had noted as showing hurricane damage, were relied on as stating the damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition.
Inherited from PostEngagementDiscoveryState · note
An epistemic condition in which a professional, after the design work is complete and an event has occurred, comes to believe that a prior design decision may have been in error, here Engineer T's post-accident realization that alternative design concepts explored early on would have allowed connections to be made while standing on the floor with injury far less likely.
Properties
Text References:
"Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes."
Confidence: 0.85
State Category: epistemic
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: Property owners advise the engineer that claims were denied based on his report stating the opposite of his findings
Termination Conditions: The engineer acts on the discovery and the matter is resolved
Principle Transformation: Once Engineer A knows his sealed reports were apparently altered and are causing claim denials, his knowledge of the alteration becomes the condition on which any further duty to act rests.
[facts] "Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes. Those residential property owners advise Eng..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes.
  • stateCategory content: epistemic
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: Once Engineer A knows his sealed reports were apparently altered and are causing claim denials, his knowledge of the alteration becomes the condition on which any further duty to act rests.
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: Property owners advise the engineer that claims were denied based on his report stating the opposite of his findings
  • terminationConditions: The engineer acts on the discovery and the matter is resolved
changed
SelectiveReportingState
rdfs:subClassOf States
New C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
A disclosure condition in which a professional's signed and sealed report has apparently been altered, without the professional's consent and without any supplemental technical or other information indicating a basis for the change, and the altered version delivered to the client as the professional's work, so the information disclosed to the client and relied on by affected parties misrepresents the professional's actual findings.
Properties
Text References:
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
"Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property d..."
"There is no supplemental technical or other information to indicate any basis for the apparent alteration of Engineer A’s report."
Confidence: 0.9
State Category: disclosure
Persistence Type: inertial
Activation Conditions: A signed and sealed report is altered and the altered version is sent to the client
Termination Conditions: The alteration is disclosed and the report is corrected or retracted
Principle Transformation: The truthfulness owed in professional reports is defeated so long as the altered report circulates under the engineer's seal, since the disclosed conclusions are contrary to his actual findings.
[facts] "Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.; Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition.; There is no supplemental technical or other information to indicate any basis for the apparent alteration of Engineer A’s report.
  • stateCategory content: disclosure
  • persistenceType content: inertial
  • principleTransformation content: The truthfulness owed in professional reports is defeated so long as the altered report circulates under the engineer's seal, since the disclosed conclusions are contrary to his actual findings.
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
Derived (reconstructable from the graph)
  • activationConditions: A signed and sealed report is altered and the altered version is sent to the client
  • terminationConditions: The alteration is disclosed and the report is corrected or retracted
States Individuals
7
changed
Non-Engineer Authority Circumvention
Professional Authority Circumvention State
Review
Professional Authority Circumvention State
C111
Text References:
"Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports"
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Confidence: 0.85
State Class: Professional Authority Circumvention State
Subject: Engineer A's professional authority over his signed and sealed reports, circumvented by Supervisor B, a non-engineer principal
Active Period: From Supervisor B taking and sending the reports after Engineer A's refusal onward
Triggering Event: After Engineer A refuses the changes, Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the client
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • Supervisor B
  • Property insurance company
  • Residential property owners
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports ... Engineer A refuses to make th..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.
  • stateClass content: Professional Authority Circumvention State
  • subject content: Engineer A's professional authority over his signed and sealed reports, circumvented by Supervisor B, a non-engineer principal
  • activePeriod content: From Supervisor B taking and sending the reports after Engineer A's refusal onward
  • triggeringEvent content: After Engineer A refuses the changes, Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the client
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; Supervisor B; Property insurance company; Residential property owners
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high
changed
Linked
Directive State
C111
Text References:
"asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential property damage was not hurricane-related but due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.92
State Class: Directive State
Subject: Engineer A, instructed by Supervisor B to change report conclusions
Active Period: From Supervisor B's request until Engineer A's refusal and Supervisor B's sending of the reports
Triggering Event: Supervisor B reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to change some of them to state the damage was not hurricane-related
Terminated By: Engineer A refuses to make the changes and Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the client
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • Supervisor B
  • Property insurance company
  • Residential property owners
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Supervisor B, one of the principals of XYZ Engineering and not a professional engineer, reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential ..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: asks Engineer A to make changes to some of the reports to indicate that the residential property damage was not hurricane-related but due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • stateClass content: Directive State
  • subject content: Engineer A, instructed by Supervisor B to change report conclusions
  • activePeriod content: From Supervisor B's request until Engineer A's refusal and Supervisor B's sending of the reports
  • triggeringEvent content: Supervisor B reviews the reports and asks Engineer A to change some of them to state the damage was not hurricane-related
  • terminatedBy content: Engineer A refuses to make the changes and Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the client
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; Supervisor B; Property insurance company; Residential property owners
  • confidence assessment: 0.92
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high
changed
No Basis For Change Knowledge
Material Fact Knowledge State
Review
Material Fact Knowledge State
C111
Text References:
"Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes."
Confidence: 0.9
State Class: Material Fact Knowledge State
Subject: Engineer A, who knows from his own inspections that the damage was hurricane-related and that no factual or technical basis supports the requested change
Active Period: From completion of his inspections and structural assessments onward
Triggering Event: Engineer A visits the residential properties and completes his inspection and structural assessment
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • Residential property owners
  • Property insurance company
Urgency Level: medium
[facts] "The majority indicate that the damage was in fact hurricane-related. ... Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Finding no factual or technical basis for the requested change, Engineer A refuses to make the changes.
  • stateClass content: Material Fact Knowledge State
  • subject content: Engineer A, who knows from his own inspections that the damage was hurricane-related and that no factual or technical basis supports the requested change
  • activePeriod content: From completion of his inspections and structural assessments onward
  • triggeringEvent content: Engineer A visits the residential properties and completes his inspection and structural assessment
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; Residential property owners; Property insurance company
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
  • urgencyLevel assessment: medium
changed
Signed Sealed Hurricane Reports
Seal Authority State
Review
Seal Authority State
C111
Text References:
"He then signs and seals the reports."
Confidence: 0.9
State Class: Seal Authority State
Subject: Engineer A's series of inspection reports, the majority indicating the damage was hurricane-related, signed and sealed by Engineer A
Active Period: From the signing and sealing of the reports onward
Triggering Event: Engineer A signs and seals the reports after preparing them
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • XYZ Engineering
  • Property insurance company
  • Residential property owners
Urgency Level: medium
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering. The majority indicate that the damage was in fac..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: He then signs and seals the reports.
  • stateClass content: Seal Authority State
  • subject content: Engineer A's series of inspection reports, the majority indicating the damage was hurricane-related, signed and sealed by Engineer A
  • activePeriod content: From the signing and sealing of the reports onward
  • triggeringEvent content: Engineer A signs and seals the reports after preparing them
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; XYZ Engineering; Property insurance company; Residential property owners
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
  • urgencyLevel assessment: medium
changed
Altered Reports Sent To Client
SelectiveReportingState
New C111
Text References:
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
"their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.9
State Class: Altered Sealed Report State
Subject: Engineer A's signed and sealed reports as delivered to the property insurance company, apparently altered to attribute the damage to a pre-existing structural condition
Active Period: From Supervisor B sending the reports to the client onward, the altered reports remaining in the client's hands
Triggering Event: Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the property insurance company after Engineer A's refusal
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties:
  • Residential property owners
  • Property insurance company
  • Engineer A
Urgency Level: critical
[facts] "Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.; their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • stateClass content: Altered Sealed Report State
  • subject content: Engineer A's signed and sealed reports as delivered to the property insurance company, apparently altered to attribute the damage to a pre-existing structural condition
  • activePeriod content: From Supervisor B sending the reports to the client onward, the altered reports remaining in the client's hands
  • triggeringEvent content: Supervisor B takes the reports and sends them to the property insurance company after Engineer A's refusal
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Residential property owners; Property insurance company; Engineer A
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
  • urgencyLevel assessment: critical
changed
Homeowner Claim Denial Harm
Material Harm Risk State
Review
Material Harm Risk State
C111
Text References:
"their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.88
State Class: Material Harm Risk State
Subject: Residential property owners whose hurricane damage claims were denied on the basis of the altered signed and sealed reports
Active Period: From the denial of the insurance claims onward
Triggering Event: The property insurance company denies the owners' damage claims based on the altered reports
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties: Residential property owners
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Those residential property owners advise Engineer A that their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property d..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • stateClass content: Material Harm Risk State
  • subject content: Residential property owners whose hurricane damage claims were denied on the basis of the altered signed and sealed reports
  • activePeriod content: From the denial of the insurance claims onward
  • triggeringEvent content: The property insurance company denies the owners' damage claims based on the altered reports
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Residential property owners
  • confidence assessment: 0.88
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high
changed
Alteration Discovery By Engineer A
Post Engagement Discovery State
Review
Post Engagement Discovery State
C111
Text References:
"Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes."
Confidence: 0.85
State Class: Post Engagement Discovery State
Subject: Engineer A, who learns after delivery that his signed and sealed reports were apparently altered and caused claim denials
Active Period: From the property owners advising Engineer A of the denials onward
Triggering Event: Residential property owners advise Engineer A that their claims were denied because his report stated the damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
Terminated By: Not terminated within the case facts
Affected Parties:
  • Engineer A
  • Residential property owners
Urgency Level: high
[facts] "Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes. Those residential property owners advise Eng..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Later Engineer A hears from residential property owners whose homes he had inspected and noted in his signed and sealed report to be damaged by hurricanes.
  • stateClass content: Post Engagement Discovery State
  • subject content: Engineer A, who learns after delivery that his signed and sealed reports were apparently altered and caused claim denials
  • activePeriod content: From the property owners advising Engineer A of the denials onward
  • triggeringEvent content: Residential property owners advise Engineer A that their claims were denied because his report stated the damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • terminatedBy content: Not terminated within the case facts
  • affectedParties content: Engineer A; Residential property owners
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
  • urgencyLevel assessment: high

Rs Resources

Resources Classes
1
changed
Reference Material
rdfs:subClassOf Resources
Linked
Reference Material
C111
Definition
Extracted from facts primary
Handbooks, manuals, guides, reports, and other documentation supporting professional practice with technical and procedural knowledge. In this case, the signed and sealed structural assessment reports prepared by Engineer A serve as the documented professional knowledge source that the insurance client relied on to adjudicate hurricane damage claims.
Inherited from ReferenceMaterial · note
Handbooks, manuals, guides, and other documentation supporting professional practice with technical and procedural knowledge.
Properties
Text References:
"Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering."
"He then signs and seals the reports."
Confidence: 0.85
Resource Category: reference_material
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering. The majority indicate that the damage was in fac..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering.; He then signs and seals the reports.
  • resourceCategory content: reference_material
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
Resources Individuals
1
Linked
Reference Material
C111
Text References:
"Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering."
"Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company."
"their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition"
Confidence: 0.85
Resource Class: Reference Material
Topic: whether residential property damage was hurricane-related or due to a pre-existing structural condition
Used By: property insurance company
[facts] "Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering. The majority indicate that the damage was in fac..."
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • usedBy: property insurance company
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • textReferences content: Engineer A visits the residential properties and, following his inspection and structural assessment, prepares a series of reports for XYZ Engineering.; Supervisor B takes the reports and thereafter sends them to the client, the property insurance company.; their property insurance damage claims were denied because the signed and sealed report by Engineer A indicated that the residential property damage was due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • resourceClass content: Reference Material
  • topic content: whether residential property damage was hurricane-related or due to a pre-existing structural condition
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
Pass 1: Contextual Framework - Facts
Review extracted entities, then continue to the next step
Continue to Discussion Review
Case texts: National Society of Professional Engineers, Board of Ethical Review.

NOTE: The NSPE Board of Ethical Review considers ethical cases involving either real or hypothetical matters submitted to it from NSPE members, other engineers, public officials, and members of the public. The BER reviews each case in the context of the NSPE Code of Ethics and earlier BER opinions. The facts contained in each case do not necessarily represent all of the pertinent facts submitted to or reviewed by the BER and shall not be considered a direct evaluation of any real matter that may have been submitted.

Each opinion is intended as guidance to individual practicing engineers, students, and the public. In regard to the question of application of the NSPE Code of Ethics to engineering organizations (e.g., corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, government agencies, and university engineering departments), the specific business form or type should not negate nor detract from the conformance of individuals to the Code. The NSPE Code deals with professional services, which must be performed by real persons. Real persons in turn establish and implement policies within business structures.

This opinion is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It may be reprinted without further permission, provided that this statement is included before or after the text of the case and appropriate attribution is provided to the National Society of Professional Engineers' Board of Ethical Review.

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