Enhanced Temporal Review

This page shows the pre-commit working store (the raw extraction under review). This case was committed to OntServe on 2026-07-13 09:10; the committed record differs by design (deduplication, typing, and agent binding are applied at commit). View the committed record

Overview

Provenance Draft

28 entities 7 actions 4 events 8 causal chains 8 temporal relations

Timeline Overview

Action Event 11 sequenced markers

Work Offer Declination Around the time of the city's suggestion, before establishing his own firm

Report Scope Expansion During preparation of the report while employed at ABC

Business Opportunity Suggestion Shortly after the report was delivered and paid for

Firm Establishment Six months after the city's suggestion

Client Solicitation Restraint From firm establishment until approximately one year later

Client Solicitation After a year had passed since establishing his firm

Departure Nondisclosure Between the city's suggestion and his departure from ABC

Client Favorable Impression After delivery of the water treatment plant expansion report

Report Payment After the report was developed and submitted to the city

Six Month Interval Elapse Six months after the city officials' suggestion

Waiting Period Expiration One year after firm establishment

OWL-Time Temporal Structure 8 relations time: = w3.org/2006/time

Engineer A's employment at ABC time:intervalOverlaps preparation of the water treatment plant report

report preparation and payment by Clover City time:intervalBefore Clover City officials' suggestion to start a firm

Clover City officials' suggestion time:intervalBefore Engineer A establishing his own firm

Engineer A establishing his own firm time:intervalBefore Engineer A soliciting ABC's clients

voluntary non-solicitation period time:intervalMeets solicitation of ABC's clients

voluntary non-solicitation period time:intervalStarts operation of Engineer A's own firm

elevated storage tank report component time:intervalDuring preparation of the funded report

Engineer A declining Clover City's apparent offer of work time:intervalBefore Engineer A competing with ABC

Extracted Actions (7)

Volitional professional decisions with intentions and ethical context

Description: While employed at ABC, Engineer A voluntarily included funding aspects for an elevated storage tank in the water treatment plant report, even though that work was outside the scope originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City.

Temporal Marker: During preparation of the report while employed at ABC interval

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Clover City Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A

Mental State: deliberate, showing professional initiative

Intended Outcome: Enable Clover City to obtain funding for the water treatment plant expansion including the elevated storage tank

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

Building goodwill with Clover City tied personally to Engineer A rather than to ABC

Required Capabilities:

Water treatment plant engineering Funding report preparation

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

requiresCapability: Water treatment plant engineering; Funding report preparation
initiates: Clover City Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: While employed at ABC, Engineer A voluntarily included funding aspects for an elevated storage tank in the water treatment plant report, even though that work was outside the scope originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: During preparation of the report while employed at ABC
eventRoleContext content: employee of ABC Engineering Company
hasMentalState content: deliberate, showing professional initiative
intendedOutcome content: Enable Clover City to obtain funding for the water treatment plant expansion including the elevated storage tank
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Building goodwill with Clover City tied personally to Engineer A rather than to ABC
textReferences content: Those aspects of the report that dealt with the elevated storage tank were not part of the scope of work originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City and no contract exists between the city and ABC for the design of the elevated storage tank.; Clover City is impressed by Engineer A’s initiative on this project.
temporalExtent content: interval
temporalSequence content: 1
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Report_Scope_Expansion",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841629+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "While employed at ABC, Engineer A voluntarily included funding aspects for an elevated storage tank in the water treatment plant report, even though that work was outside the scope originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "employee of ABC Engineering Company",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Building goodwill with Clover City tied personally to Engineer A rather than to ABC"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate, showing professional initiative",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Clover City Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Enable Clover City to obtain funding for the water treatment plant expansion including the elevated storage tank",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Water treatment plant engineering",
    "Funding report preparation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "During preparation of the report while employed at ABC",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 1,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Those aspects of the report that dealt with the elevated storage tank were not part of the scope of work originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City and no contract exists between the city and ABC for the design of the elevated storage tank.",
    "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A\u2019s initiative on this project."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Report Scope Expansion"
}

Description: Clover City officials suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in the city and indicated they would consider a retainer contract and a contract for the elevated storage tank design.

Temporal Marker: Shortly after the report was delivered and paid for instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Prospective Business Relationship Between Engineer A and Clover City

Mental State: deliberate, favorably disposed toward Engineer A

Intended Outcome: Secure continued access to Engineer A's services independent of ABC

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

Potential harm to ABC's business relationship with the city

Guided By Principles:

Client's Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice

Required Capabilities:

Municipal procurement authority

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

guidedByPrinciple: Client's Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice
requiresCapability: Municipal procurement authority
initiates: Prospective Business Relationship Between Engineer A and Clover City

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Clover City officials suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in the city and indicated they would consider a retainer contract and a contract for the elevated storage tank design.
hasAgent content: Clover City officials
temporalMarker content: Shortly after the report was delivered and paid for
eventRoleContext content: client representatives
hasMentalState content: deliberate, favorably disposed toward Engineer A
intendedOutcome content: Secure continued access to Engineer A's services independent of ABC
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Potential harm to ABC's business relationship with the city
textReferences content: Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City. The city indicates that it would consider a city retainer contract and also a contract for the design of the elevated storage tank.
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 4
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

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  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Business_Opportunity_Suggestion",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841776+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Clover City officials suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in the city and indicated they would consider a retainer contract and a contract for the elevated storage tank design.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "client representatives",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Potential harm to ABC\u0027s business relationship with the city"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Client\u0027s Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Clover City officials",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate, favorably disposed toward Engineer A",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Prospective Business Relationship Between Engineer A and Clover City"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Secure continued access to Engineer A\u0027s services independent of ABC",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Municipal procurement authority"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Shortly after the report was delivered and paid for",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 4,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City. The city indicates that it would consider a city retainer contract and also a contract for the design of the elevated storage tank."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Business Opportunity Suggestion"
}

Description: Engineer A declined the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City and declined to participate on an active project while still associated with ABC, rather than capitalizing on the city's overture.

Temporal Marker: Around the time of the city's suggestion, before establishing his own firm instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Deferred Business Opportunity with Clover City

Mental State: deliberate restraint

Intended Outcome: Avoid competing directly with his employer ABC while the relationship remained active

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

Risk that Clover City would be less interested in his services later

Obligation Engagement:

Fulfills (1)

Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active

Guided By Principles:

Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties

Required Capabilities:

Professional judgment

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

fulfillsObligation: Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active
guidedByPrinciple: Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties
requiresCapability: Professional judgment
initiates: Deferred Business Opportunity with Clover City

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Engineer A declined the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City and declined to participate on an active project while still associated with ABC, rather than capitalizing on the city's overture.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: Around the time of the city's suggestion, before establishing his own firm
eventRoleContext content: employee of ABC Engineering Company
hasMentalState content: deliberate restraint
intendedOutcome content: Avoid competing directly with his employer ABC while the relationship remained active
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Risk that Clover City would be less interested in his services later
textReferences content: Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly with his former employer, ABC, and waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC.; The fact that Engineer A declined to participate on an active project at the time that Clover City sought his assistance might have made Clover City far less likely to be interested in Engineer A’s services.
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 5
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

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  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Work_Offer_Declination",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841831+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer A declined the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City and declined to participate on an active project while still associated with ABC, rather than capitalizing on the city\u0027s overture.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "employee of ABC Engineering Company",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Risk that Clover City would be less interested in his services later"
  ],
  "proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
    "Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate restraint",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Deferred Business Opportunity with Clover City"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Avoid competing directly with his employer ABC while the relationship remained active",
  "proeth:raisesObligation": [],
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional judgment"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Around the time of the city\u0027s suggestion, before establishing his own firm",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 5,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly with his former employer, ABC, and waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC.",
    "The fact that Engineer A declined to participate on an active project at the time that Clover City sought his assistance might have made Clover City far less likely to be interested in Engineer A\u2019s services."
  ],
  "proeth:violatesObligation": [],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Work Offer Declination"
}

Description: Engineer A did not disclose Clover City's expressed interest in his services to ABC before departing, an omission the Board contrasts with the disclosure made by the engineers in Case 86-5 but does not consider particularly significant.

Temporal Marker: Between the city's suggestion and his departure from ABC interval

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

ABC Unaware of Clover City Interest in Engineer A

Mental State: implicit, motivated by factors independent of the Clover City relationship

Intended Outcome: Depart from ABC and establish his own firm without seeking employer consent or concurrence

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

ABC remaining unaware of the client's interest in Engineer A's independent services

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

initiates: ABC Unaware of Clover City Interest in Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Engineer A did not disclose Clover City's expressed interest in his services to ABC before departing, an omission the Board contrasts with the disclosure made by the engineers in Case 86-5 but does not consider particularly significant.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: Between the city's suggestion and his departure from ABC
eventRoleContext content: employee of ABC Engineering Company
hasMentalState content: implicit, motivated by factors independent of the Clover City relationship
intendedOutcome content: Depart from ABC and establish his own firm without seeking employer consent or concurrence
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: ABC remaining unaware of the client's interest in Engineer A's independent services
textReferences content: in the present case, there is no disclosure between Engineer A and ABC; Engineer A’s decision to depart from ABC and establish his own firm clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City
temporalExtent content: interval
temporalSequence content: 6
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Departure_Nondisclosure",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841939+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer A did not disclose Clover City\u0027s expressed interest in his services to ABC before departing, an omission the Board contrasts with the disclosure made by the engineers in Case 86-5 but does not consider particularly significant.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "employee of ABC Engineering Company",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "ABC remaining unaware of the client\u0027s interest in Engineer A\u0027s independent services"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "implicit, motivated by factors independent of the Clover City relationship",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "ABC Unaware of Clover City Interest in Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Depart from ABC and establish his own firm without seeking employer consent or concurrence",
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Between the city\u0027s suggestion and his departure from ABC",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 6,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "in the present case, there is no disclosure between Engineer A and ABC",
    "Engineer A\u2019s decision to depart from ABC and establish his own firm clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City"
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Departure Nondisclosure"
}

Description: Six months after the city's suggestion, Engineer A decided to establish his own engineering firm in Clover City.

Temporal Marker: Six months after the city's suggestion instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Engineer A Independent Firm in Operation

Terminates (1)

Engineer A Employment at ABC

Mental State: deliberate entrepreneurial decision

Intended Outcome: Go into business for himself as an independent engineering firm

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

Eventual competition with ABC for clients

Guided By Principles:

Free Enterprise Principle

Required Capabilities:

Engineering practice management Business establishment

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

guidedByPrinciple: Free Enterprise Principle
requiresCapability: Engineering practice management; Business establishment
initiates: Engineer A Independent Firm in Operation
terminates: Engineer A Employment at ABC

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Six months after the city's suggestion, Engineer A decided to establish his own engineering firm in Clover City.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: Six months after the city's suggestion
eventRoleContext content: former employee of ABC, now firm principal
hasMentalState content: deliberate entrepreneurial decision
intendedOutcome content: Go into business for himself as an independent engineering firm
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Eventual competition with ABC for clients
textReferences content: Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 8
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Firm_Establishment",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841864+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Six months after the city\u0027s suggestion, Engineer A decided to establish his own engineering firm in Clover City.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "former employee of ABC, now firm principal",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Eventual competition with ABC for clients"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Free Enterprise Principle"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate entrepreneurial decision",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Engineer A Independent Firm in Operation"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Go into business for himself as an independent engineering firm",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Engineering practice management",
    "Business establishment"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Six months after the city\u0027s suggestion",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 8,
  "proeth:terminates": [
    "Engineer A Employment at ABC"
  ],
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City for a period of time."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Firm Establishment"
}

Description: At the founding of his firm, Engineer A voluntarily refrained from soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, for a period of time, even though no non-compete agreement bound him.

Temporal Marker: From firm establishment until approximately one year later interval

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Solicitation Restraint Period

Mental State: deliberate self-imposed restraint

Intended Outcome: Avoid unfairly trading on relationships built while at ABC

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

No guarantee Clover City would remain receptive after the waiting period

Obligation Engagement:

Fulfills (1)

Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active

Guided By Principles:

Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties

Required Capabilities:

Professional judgment

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

fulfillsObligation: Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active
guidedByPrinciple: Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties
requiresCapability: Professional judgment
initiates: Solicitation Restraint Period

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: At the founding of his firm, Engineer A voluntarily refrained from soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, for a period of time, even though no non-compete agreement bound him.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: From firm establishment until approximately one year later
eventRoleContext content: principal of his own firm
hasMentalState content: deliberate self-imposed restraint
intendedOutcome content: Avoid unfairly trading on relationships built while at ABC
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: No guarantee Clover City would remain receptive after the waiting period
textReferences content: Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.; There was no “no-compete agreement” between Engineer A and ABC Engineering Company.
temporalExtent content: interval
temporalSequence content: 9
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Client_Solicitation_Restraint",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841889+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "At the founding of his firm, Engineer A voluntarily refrained from soliciting work from ABC\u0027s clients, including Clover City, for a period of time, even though no non-compete agreement bound him.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "principal of his own firm",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "No guarantee Clover City would remain receptive after the waiting period"
  ],
  "proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
    "Duty Not to Compete Directly with Former Employer While Relationship Is Active"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Fairness and Equity to All Concerned Parties"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate self-imposed restraint",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Solicitation Restraint Period"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Avoid unfairly trading on relationships built while at ABC",
  "proeth:raisesObligation": [],
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional judgment"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "From firm establishment until approximately one year later",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 9,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.",
    "There was no \u201cno-compete agreement\u201d between Engineer A and ABC Engineering Company."
  ],
  "proeth:violatesObligation": [],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Client Solicitation Restraint"
}

Description: After a year had passed, Engineer A began soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, entering into direct competition with his former employer.

Temporal Marker: After a year had passed since establishing his firm instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Competition with Former Employer

Terminates (1)

Solicitation Restraint Period

Mental State: deliberate business decision after waiting period

Intended Outcome: Obtain engineering work from clients including Clover City for his own firm

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

Competition with ABC for its major client

Guided By Principles:

Free Enterprise Principle
Client's Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice

Required Capabilities:

Business development Client solicitation

Within Competence: Yes

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

guidedByPrinciple: Free Enterprise Principle; Client's Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice
requiresCapability: Business development; Client solicitation
initiates: Competition with Former Employer
terminates: Solicitation Restraint Period

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: After a year had passed, Engineer A began soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, entering into direct competition with his former employer.
hasAgent content: Engineer A
temporalMarker content: After a year had passed since establishing his firm
eventRoleContext content: principal of his own firm
hasMentalState content: deliberate business decision after waiting period
intendedOutcome content: Obtain engineering work from clients including Clover City for his own firm
foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Competition with ABC for its major client
textReferences content: However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City.
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 11
withinCompetence assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Client_Solicitation",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.841915+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "After a year had passed, Engineer A began soliciting work from ABC\u0027s clients, including Clover City, entering into direct competition with his former employer.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "principal of his own firm",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Competition with ABC for its major client"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Free Enterprise Principle",
    "Client\u0027s Right to Retain the Firm of Its Choice"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate business decision after waiting period",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Competition with Former Employer"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Obtain engineering work from clients including Clover City for his own firm",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Business development",
    "Client solicitation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "After a year had passed since establishing his firm",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 11,
  "proeth:terminates": [
    "Solicitation Restraint Period"
  ],
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Client Solicitation"
}

Extracted Events (4)

Occurrences that trigger ethical considerations and state changes

Description: Clover City completes payment to ABC Engineering Company for the report Engineer A developed, including the elevated storage tank component that was outside the negotiated scope.

Temporal Marker: After the report was developed and submitted to the city instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Report Compensated

Caused By Action: Action_Report_Scope_Expansion

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Report_Scope_Expansion
initiates: Report Compensated

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Clover City completes payment to ABC Engineering Company for the report Engineer A developed, including the elevated storage tank component that was outside the negotiated scope.
temporalMarker content: After the report was developed and submitted to the city
textReferences content: The city has paid ABC for this report.
eventType content: outcome
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 2
confidence assessment: 0.78

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Event_Report_Payment",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842071+00:00",
  "proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Report_Scope_Expansion",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.78",
  "proeth:description": "Clover City completes payment to ABC Engineering Company for the report Engineer A developed, including the elevated storage tank component that was outside the negotiated scope.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "outcome",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Report Compensated"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "After the report was developed and submitted to the city",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 2,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "The city has paid ABC for this report."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Report Payment"
}

Description: Clover City forms a favorable impression of Engineer A as a result of his initiative in expanding the report to include the elevated storage tank funding component.

Temporal Marker: After delivery of the water treatment plant expansion report instant

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Client Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A

Caused By Action: Action_Report_Scope_Expansion

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Report_Scope_Expansion
initiates: Client Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Clover City forms a favorable impression of Engineer A as a result of his initiative in expanding the report to include the elevated storage tank funding component.
temporalMarker content: After delivery of the water treatment plant expansion report
textReferences content: Clover City is impressed by Engineer A’s initiative on this project.; It is clear that the client, Clover City, is favorably disposed towards establishing a contractual relationship with Engineer A.
eventType content: outcome
temporalExtent content: instant
temporalSequence content: 3
confidence assessment: 0.9

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Event_Client_Favorable_Impression",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842033+00:00",
  "proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Action_Report_Scope_Expansion",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.9",
  "proeth:description": "Clover City forms a favorable impression of Engineer A as a result of his initiative in expanding the report to include the elevated storage tank funding component.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "outcome",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Client Favorable Disposition Toward Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "After delivery of the water treatment plant expansion report",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 3,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A\u2019s initiative on this project.",
    "It is clear that the client, Clover City, is favorably disposed towards establishing a contractual relationship with Engineer A."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Client Favorable Impression"
}

Description: Six months pass between the Clover City officials suggesting that Engineer A open his own company and Engineer A deciding to establish his own firm.

Temporal Marker: Six months after the city officials' suggestion interval

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Six months pass between the Clover City officials suggesting that Engineer A open his own company and Engineer A deciding to establish his own firm.
temporalMarker content: Six months after the city officials' suggestion
textReferences content: Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients
eventType content: exogenous
temporalExtent content: interval
temporalSequence content: 7
confidence assessment: 0.8

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Event_Six_Month_Interval_Elapse",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842110+00:00",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.8",
  "proeth:description": "Six months pass between the Clover City officials suggesting that Engineer A open his own company and Engineer A deciding to establish his own firm.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "exogenous",
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Six months after the city officials\u0027 suggestion",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 7,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients"
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Six Month Interval Elapse"
}

Description: Approximately one year passes after Engineer A establishes his own firm during which he refrains from soliciting ABC's clients, after which he begins soliciting work. The Board treats this elapsed period as significant to the reasonableness of his conduct.

Temporal Marker: One year after firm establishment interval

Fluent Transitions:

Initiates (1)

Waiting Period Elapsed

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

initiates: Waiting Period Elapsed

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

description content: Approximately one year passes after Engineer A establishes his own firm during which he refrains from soliciting ABC's clients, after which he begins soliciting work. The Board treats this elapsed period as significant to the reasonableness of his conduct.
temporalMarker content: One year after firm establishment
textReferences content: However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City.; waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC
eventType content: exogenous
temporalExtent content: interval
temporalSequence content: 10
confidence assessment: 0.88

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
    "time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#Event_Waiting_Period_Expiration",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842132+00:00",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.88",
  "proeth:description": "Approximately one year passes after Engineer A establishes his own firm during which he refrains from soliciting ABC\u0027s clients, after which he begins soliciting work. The Board treats this elapsed period as significant to the reasonableness of his conduct.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "exogenous",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Waiting Period Elapsed"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "One year after firm establishment",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 10,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City.",
    "waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC"
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Waiting Period Expiration"
}

Causal Chains (8)

NESS test analysis: Necessary Element of Sufficient Set

Causal Language: Clover City is impressed by Engineer A’s initiative on this project.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Engineer A's voluntary inclusion of elevated storage tank funding aspects beyond the contracted scope
Clover City's exposure to and review of the expanded report
The tank content being perceived as valuable initiative rather than overreach

Sufficient Factors:

Combination of unsolicited value-added work + a client already having a good working relationship with Engineer A

Counterfactual Test: Had Engineer A delivered only the originally negotiated scope, Clover City would likely have had no special basis to be impressed by his initiative specifically

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Report Scope Expansion
Engineer A includes elevated storage tank funding aspects not covered by any contract between ABC and Clover City
Report Delivery and Review
The report by which the city will get funding is delivered to Clover City and reviewed by city officials
Client Favorable Impression
Clover City is impressed by Engineer A's initiative on the project

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Report Scope Expansion
effect: Client Favorable Impression
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: Clover City is impressed by Engineer A’s initiative on this project.
necessaryFactors content: Engineer A's voluntary inclusion of elevated storage tank funding aspects beyond the contracted scope; Clover City's exposure to and review of the expanded report; The tank content being perceived as valuable initiative rather than overreach
sufficientFactors content: Combination of unsolicited value-added work + a client already having a good working relationship with Engineer A
counterfactual content: Had Engineer A delivered only the originally negotiated scope, Clover City would likely have had no special basis to be impressed by his initiative specifically
agentKnowledge content: Knew the elevated storage tank aspects were not part of the scope of work originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City
interveningFactors content: Pre-existing good working relationship between Engineer A and Clover City; Clover City's need for water treatment plant expansion funding
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Report Scope Expansion', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A includes elevated storage tank funding aspects not covered by any contract between ABC and Clover City'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Report Delivery and Review', 'proeth:description': 'The report by which the city will get funding is delivered to Clover City and reviewed by city officials'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Client Favorable Impression', 'proeth:description': "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A's initiative on the project"}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_1",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842190+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew the elevated storage tank aspects were not part of the scope of work originally negotiated between ABC and Clover City",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A\u2019s initiative on this project.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A includes elevated storage tank funding aspects not covered by any contract between ABC and Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Report Scope Expansion",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The report by which the city will get funding is delivered to Clover City and reviewed by city officials",
      "proeth:element": "Report Delivery and Review",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A\u0027s initiative on the project",
      "proeth:element": "Client Favorable Impression",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Report Scope Expansion",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Had Engineer A delivered only the originally negotiated scope, Clover City would likely have had no special basis to be impressed by his initiative specifically",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Client Favorable Impression",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Pre-existing good working relationship between Engineer A and Clover City",
    "Clover City\u0027s need for water treatment plant expansion funding"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Engineer A\u0027s voluntary inclusion of elevated storage tank funding aspects beyond the contracted scope",
    "Clover City\u0027s exposure to and review of the expanded report",
    "The tank content being perceived as valuable initiative rather than overreach"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Combination of unsolicited value-added work + a client already having a good working relationship with Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: The city has paid ABC for this report.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Completion of the report on the water treatment plant expansion
Existing contract between ABC and Clover City for the report
Clover City's acceptance of the delivered report including the tank funding section

Sufficient Factors:

Contractual obligation to pay for the completed report + delivery of a report satisfying (and exceeding) the negotiated scope

Counterfactual Test: Payment for the report would likely have occurred even without the tank expansion, since ABC was under contract for the report; however, the payment covered the report as actually delivered, including the tank section

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A (as employee of ABC) and Clover City (as payer)
Type: shared
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Report Scope Expansion
Engineer A develops the funding report, including the out-of-scope elevated storage tank section
Report Delivery
ABC delivers the completed report to Clover City under its contract
Report Payment
Clover City completes payment to ABC for the report Engineer A developed

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Report Scope Expansion
effect: Report Payment
responsibleAgent: Engineer A (as employee of ABC) and Clover City (as payer)

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: The city has paid ABC for this report.
necessaryFactors content: Completion of the report on the water treatment plant expansion; Existing contract between ABC and Clover City for the report; Clover City's acceptance of the delivered report including the tank funding section
sufficientFactors content: Contractual obligation to pay for the completed report + delivery of a report satisfying (and exceeding) the negotiated scope
counterfactual content: Payment for the report would likely have occurred even without the tank expansion, since ABC was under contract for the report; however, the payment covered the report as actually delivered, including the tank section
agentKnowledge content: Engineer A knew he was preparing the report under ABC's contract with the city
interveningFactors content: ABC's existing contract with Clover City for preparation of the report
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Report Scope Expansion', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A develops the funding report, including the out-of-scope elevated storage tank section'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Report Delivery', 'proeth:description': 'ABC delivers the completed report to Clover City under its contract'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Report Payment', 'proeth:description': 'Clover City completes payment to ABC for the report Engineer A developed'}
responsibilityType assessment: shared
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_2",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842225+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer A knew he was preparing the report under ABC\u0027s contract with the city",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "The city has paid ABC for this report.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A develops the funding report, including the out-of-scope elevated storage tank section",
      "proeth:element": "Report Scope Expansion",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "ABC delivers the completed report to Clover City under its contract",
      "proeth:element": "Report Delivery",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Clover City completes payment to ABC for the report Engineer A developed",
      "proeth:element": "Report Payment",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Report Scope Expansion",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Payment for the report would likely have occurred even without the tank expansion, since ABC was under contract for the report; however, the payment covered the report as actually delivered, including the tank section",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Report Payment",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "ABC\u0027s existing contract with Clover City for preparation of the report"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Completion of the report on the water treatment plant expansion",
    "Existing contract between ABC and Clover City for the report",
    "Clover City\u0027s acceptance of the delivered report including the tank funding section"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A (as employee of ABC) and Clover City (as payer)",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Contractual obligation to pay for the completed report + delivery of a report satisfying (and exceeding) the negotiated scope"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City. The city indicates that it would consider a city retainer contract and also a contract for the design of the elevated storage tank.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Clover City's favorable impression of Engineer A's initiative
Clover City's identification of Engineer A personally (rather than ABC generally) as the source of value
The city's outstanding need for elevated storage tank design services not under contract with ABC

Sufficient Factors:

Favorable impression + absence of any ABC contract for the tank design + the city's freedom to retain the engineering firm of its choice

Counterfactual Test: Without the favorable impression of Engineer A specifically, city officials would have had little reason to suggest he open his own company and to dangle a retainer and tank design contract

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Clover City officials
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Client Favorable Impression
Clover City is impressed by Engineer A's initiative on the funding report
Personal Attribution of Value
The city's interest attaches to Engineer A personally rather than to ABC as a firm
Business Opportunity Suggestion
City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate they would consider a retainer contract and a tank design contract

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Client Favorable Impression
effect: Business Opportunity Suggestion
responsibleAgent: Clover City officials

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City. The city indicates that it would consider a city retainer contract and also a contract for the design of the elevated storage tank.
necessaryFactors content: Clover City's favorable impression of Engineer A's initiative; Clover City's identification of Engineer A personally (rather than ABC generally) as the source of value; The city's outstanding need for elevated storage tank design services not under contract with ABC
sufficientFactors content: Favorable impression + absence of any ABC contract for the tank design + the city's freedom to retain the engineering firm of its choice
counterfactual content: Without the favorable impression of Engineer A specifically, city officials would have had little reason to suggest he open his own company and to dangle a retainer and tank design contract
agentKnowledge content: Knew Engineer A had personally developed the report and shown initiative; knew no contract existed between the city and ABC for the tank design
interveningFactors content: ABC's business with Clover City was related strictly to the presence of Engineer A in the firm; No indication that Clover City's interest in ABC's services goes beyond the services provided by Engineer A
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Client Favorable Impression', 'proeth:description': "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A's initiative on the funding report"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Personal Attribution of Value', 'proeth:description': "The city's interest attaches to Engineer A personally rather than to ABC as a firm"}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Business Opportunity Suggestion', 'proeth:description': 'City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate they would consider a retainer contract and a tank design contract'}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_3",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842247+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew Engineer A had personally developed the report and shown initiative; knew no contract existed between the city and ABC for the tank design",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City. The city indicates that it would consider a city retainer contract and also a contract for the design of the elevated storage tank.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Clover City is impressed by Engineer A\u0027s initiative on the funding report",
      "proeth:element": "Client Favorable Impression",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The city\u0027s interest attaches to Engineer A personally rather than to ABC as a firm",
      "proeth:element": "Personal Attribution of Value",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate they would consider a retainer contract and a tank design contract",
      "proeth:element": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Client Favorable Impression",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without the favorable impression of Engineer A specifically, city officials would have had little reason to suggest he open his own company and to dangle a retainer and tank design contract",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "ABC\u0027s business with Clover City was related strictly to the presence of Engineer A in the firm",
    "No indication that Clover City\u0027s interest in ABC\u0027s services goes beyond the services provided by Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Clover City\u0027s favorable impression of Engineer A\u0027s initiative",
    "Clover City\u0027s identification of Engineer A personally (rather than ABC generally) as the source of value",
    "The city\u0027s outstanding need for elevated storage tank design services not under contract with ABC"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Clover City officials",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Favorable impression + absence of any ABC contract for the tank design + the city\u0027s freedom to retain the engineering firm of its choice"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: In fact, Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly with his former employer, ABC, and waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

The existence of an apparent offer of work from Clover City (there had to be an offer to decline)
Engineer A's ethical restraint regarding his current employer's client relationship

Sufficient Factors:

The city's suggestion/offer + Engineer A's decision to avoid competing directly with ABC while the client relationship was active

Counterfactual Test: Without the city's suggestion and apparent offer, there would have been nothing for Engineer A to decline; without his restraint, he could have accepted immediately

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion
Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate potential retainer and tank design contracts
Ethical Deliberation
Engineer A weighs the offer against his obligations while still employed by ABC
Work Offer Declination
Engineer A declines the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Business Opportunity Suggestion
effect: Work Offer Declination
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: In fact, Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly with his former employer, ABC, and waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC.
necessaryFactors content: The existence of an apparent offer of work from Clover City (there had to be an offer to decline); Engineer A's ethical restraint regarding his current employer's client relationship
sufficientFactors content: The city's suggestion/offer + Engineer A's decision to avoid competing directly with ABC while the client relationship was active
counterfactual content: Without the city's suggestion and apparent offer, there would have been nothing for Engineer A to decline; without his restraint, he could have accepted immediately
agentKnowledge content: Knew Clover City was a major client of his current employer ABC and that accepting immediately would compete with ABC's client relationship
interveningFactors content: Absence of any no-compete agreement (declination was voluntary, not contractually required)
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Business Opportunity Suggestion', 'proeth:description': 'Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate potential retainer and tank design contracts'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Ethical Deliberation', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A weighs the offer against his obligations while still employed by ABC'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Work Offer Declination', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A declines the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City'}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_4",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842268+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew Clover City was a major client of his current employer ABC and that accepting immediately would compete with ABC\u0027s client relationship",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "In fact, Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly with his former employer, ABC, and waited for a period of over a year before deciding to go into competition with his former employer, ABC.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm and indicate potential retainer and tank design contracts",
      "proeth:element": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A weighs the offer against his obligations while still employed by ABC",
      "proeth:element": "Ethical Deliberation",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A declines the apparent immediate offer of work from Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Work Offer Declination",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without the city\u0027s suggestion and apparent offer, there would have been nothing for Engineer A to decline; without his restraint, he could have accepted immediately",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Work Offer Declination",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Absence of any no-compete agreement (declination was voluntary, not contractually required)"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "The existence of an apparent offer of work from Clover City (there had to be an offer to decline)",
    "Engineer A\u0027s ethical restraint regarding his current employer\u0027s client relationship"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The city\u0027s suggestion/offer + Engineer A\u0027s decision to avoid competing directly with ABC while the client relationship was active"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

A viable business environment in Clover City for a new firm
Engineer A's professional standing and demonstrated capability
Absence of a no-compete agreement between Engineer A and ABC

Sufficient Factors:

The city's encouragement + Engineer A's independent motivations + no contractual barrier to departure

Counterfactual Test: The Board found Engineer A's decision 'clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City,' so the firm might have been established even without the suggestion; the suggestion was a contributing rather than strictly necessary factor, though it plausibly shaped the location and timing

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion
City officials suggest Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City
Six Month Interval Elapse
Six months pass during which Engineer A deliberates independently
Firm Establishment
Engineer A establishes his own firm in Clover City

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Business Opportunity Suggestion
effect: Firm Establishment
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.
necessaryFactors content: A viable business environment in Clover City for a new firm; Engineer A's professional standing and demonstrated capability; Absence of a no-compete agreement between Engineer A and ABC
sufficientFactors content: The city's encouragement + Engineer A's independent motivations + no contractual barrier to departure
counterfactual content: The Board found Engineer A's decision 'clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City,' so the firm might have been established even without the suggestion; the suggestion was a contributing rather than strictly necessary factor, though it plausibly shaped the location and timing
agentKnowledge content: Knew Clover City had expressed interest in his services and that no no-compete agreement bound him
interveningFactors content: Six-month interval allowing independent deliberation; Independent motivating factors identified by the Board; Free enterprise norms: engineers breaking off to go into business 'generally should not be discouraged'
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Business Opportunity Suggestion', 'proeth:description': 'City officials suggest Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Six Month Interval Elapse', 'proeth:description': 'Six months pass during which Engineer A deliberates independently'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Firm Establishment', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A establishes his own firm in Clover City'}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_5",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842289+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew Clover City had expressed interest in his services and that no no-compete agreement bound him",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "City officials suggest Engineer A open his own engineering company in Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Six months pass during which Engineer A deliberates independently",
      "proeth:element": "Six Month Interval Elapse",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A establishes his own firm in Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Firm Establishment",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "The Board found Engineer A\u0027s decision \u0027clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City,\u0027 so the firm might have been established even without the suggestion; the suggestion was a contributing rather than strictly necessary factor, though it plausibly shaped the location and timing",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Firm Establishment",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Six-month interval allowing independent deliberation",
    "Independent motivating factors identified by the Board",
    "Free enterprise norms: engineers breaking off to go into business \u0027generally should not be discouraged\u0027"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "A viable business environment in Clover City for a new firm",
    "Engineer A\u0027s professional standing and demonstrated capability",
    "Absence of a no-compete agreement between Engineer A and ABC"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The city\u0027s encouragement + Engineer A\u0027s independent motivations + no contractual barrier to departure"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Engineer A operating as an independent firm (creating the possibility and temptation to solicit ABC's clients)
Engineer A's voluntary ethical judgment to protect ABC's goodwill with its clients

Sufficient Factors:

Firm establishment + Engineer A's self-imposed restraint despite no no-compete agreement

Counterfactual Test: Without establishing his own firm, there would be no independent solicitation to refrain from; without his voluntary restraint, solicitation could have begun immediately, since no contractual restriction existed

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Firm Establishment
Engineer A opens his own engineering firm in Clover City
Client Solicitation Restraint
Engineer A voluntarily refrains from soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, for a period of time

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Firm Establishment
effect: Client Solicitation Restraint
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.
necessaryFactors content: Engineer A operating as an independent firm (creating the possibility and temptation to solicit ABC's clients); Engineer A's voluntary ethical judgment to protect ABC's goodwill with its clients
sufficientFactors content: Firm establishment + Engineer A's self-imposed restraint despite no no-compete agreement
counterfactual content: Without establishing his own firm, there would be no independent solicitation to refrain from; without his voluntary restraint, solicitation could have begun immediately, since no contractual restriction existed
agentKnowledge content: Knew there was no no-compete agreement but voluntarily chose not to compete directly with his former employer
interveningFactors content: Absence of any formal written agreement between Engineer A and ABC addressing post-departure competition
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Firm Establishment', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A opens his own engineering firm in Clover City'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Client Solicitation Restraint', 'proeth:description': "Engineer A voluntarily refrains from soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City, for a period of time"}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_6",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842308+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew there was no no-compete agreement but voluntarily chose not to compete directly with his former employer",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City for a period of time.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A opens his own engineering firm in Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Firm Establishment",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A voluntarily refrains from soliciting work from ABC\u0027s clients, including Clover City, for a period of time",
      "proeth:element": "Client Solicitation Restraint",
      "proeth:step": 2
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Firm Establishment",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without establishing his own firm, there would be no independent solicitation to refrain from; without his voluntary restraint, solicitation could have begun immediately, since no contractual restriction existed",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Client Solicitation Restraint",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Absence of any formal written agreement between Engineer A and ABC addressing post-departure competition"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Engineer A operating as an independent firm (creating the possibility and temptation to solicit ABC\u0027s clients)",
    "Engineer A\u0027s voluntary ethical judgment to protect ABC\u0027s goodwill with its clients"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Firm establishment + Engineer A\u0027s self-imposed restraint despite no no-compete agreement"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Passage of approximately one year of self-imposed restraint
Engineer A's operating firm with capacity to take on new work
Absence of any no-compete agreement barring solicitation

Sufficient Factors:

Expiration of the self-imposed waiting period + business need of the new firm + legal/contractual freedom to compete

Counterfactual Test: Had the waiting period not elapsed (or had Engineer A extended his restraint), solicitation of ABC's clients would not have occurred at that time; there was also 'no guarantee that with the passage of the year, Engineer A's solicitations for work would be positively received by Clover City'

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Client Solicitation Restraint
Engineer A refrains from soliciting ABC's clients at his firm's founding
Waiting Period Expiration
Approximately one year passes during which the restraint is maintained
Client Solicitation
Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Waiting Period Expiration
effect: Client Solicitation
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC’s clients, including Clover City.
necessaryFactors content: Passage of approximately one year of self-imposed restraint; Engineer A's operating firm with capacity to take on new work; Absence of any no-compete agreement barring solicitation
sufficientFactors content: Expiration of the self-imposed waiting period + business need of the new firm + legal/contractual freedom to compete
counterfactual content: Had the waiting period not elapsed (or had Engineer A extended his restraint), solicitation of ABC's clients would not have occurred at that time; there was also 'no guarantee that with the passage of the year, Engineer A's solicitations for work would be positively received by Clover City'
agentKnowledge content: Knew he had waited over a year, was not bound by any no-compete agreement, and had gained no specialized knowledge at ABC restricting his ability to compete
interveningFactors content: Uncertain reception by Clover City after the year's delay; Possibility that declining the earlier active project made Clover City far less likely to be interested in his services
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Client Solicitation Restraint', 'proeth:description': "Engineer A refrains from soliciting ABC's clients at his firm's founding"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Waiting Period Expiration', 'proeth:description': 'Approximately one year passes during which the restraint is maintained'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Client Solicitation', 'proeth:description': "Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City"}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_7",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842326+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew he had waited over a year, was not bound by any no-compete agreement, and had gained no specialized knowledge at ABC restricting his ability to compete",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC\u2019s clients, including Clover City.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A refrains from soliciting ABC\u0027s clients at his firm\u0027s founding",
      "proeth:element": "Client Solicitation Restraint",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Approximately one year passes during which the restraint is maintained",
      "proeth:element": "Waiting Period Expiration",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC\u0027s clients, including Clover City",
      "proeth:element": "Client Solicitation",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Waiting Period Expiration",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Had the waiting period not elapsed (or had Engineer A extended his restraint), solicitation of ABC\u0027s clients would not have occurred at that time; there was also \u0027no guarantee that with the passage of the year, Engineer A\u0027s solicitations for work would be positively received by Clover City\u0027",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Client Solicitation",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Uncertain reception by Clover City after the year\u0027s delay",
    "Possibility that declining the earlier active project made Clover City far less likely to be interested in his services"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Passage of approximately one year of self-imposed restraint",
    "Engineer A\u0027s operating firm with capacity to take on new work",
    "Absence of any no-compete agreement barring solicitation"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Expiration of the self-imposed waiting period + business need of the new firm + legal/contractual freedom to compete"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: In Case No. 86-5 , the three engineers disclosed the fact that the client was interested in their services to their employer before resigning, while in the present case, there is no disclosure between Engineer A and ABC.

Necessary Factors (NESS):

The existence of the city's expressed interest (creating information that could have been disclosed)
Engineer A's choice not to inform ABC of that interest before departing

Sufficient Factors:

The city's confidential-in-practice approach to Engineer A + his decision to depart for independent reasons without disclosure

Counterfactual Test: Without the city's suggestion, there would have been nothing to disclose; the Board deemed the nondisclosure not particularly significant because Engineer A's departure 'clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City'

Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion
Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm, creating information relevant to ABC
Departure Deliberation
Engineer A decides to depart ABC for independent reasons
Departure Nondisclosure
Engineer A leaves ABC without disclosing the city's expressed interest in his services

Field classification (triples vs literals)

Relations (structural triples)

cause: Business Opportunity Suggestion
effect: Departure Nondisclosure
responsibleAgent: Engineer A

Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)

causalLanguage content: In Case No. 86-5 , the three engineers disclosed the fact that the client was interested in their services to their employer before resigning, while in the present case, there is no disclosure between Engineer A and ABC.
necessaryFactors content: The existence of the city's expressed interest (creating information that could have been disclosed); Engineer A's choice not to inform ABC of that interest before departing
sufficientFactors content: The city's confidential-in-practice approach to Engineer A + his decision to depart for independent reasons without disclosure
counterfactual content: Without the city's suggestion, there would have been nothing to disclose; the Board deemed the nondisclosure not particularly significant because Engineer A's departure 'clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City'
agentKnowledge content: Knew Clover City had expressed interest in his services and knew ABC was unaware of that interest
interveningFactors content: Engineers in precedent Case No. 86-5 provided disclosure but did not seek consent or concurrence; Engineer A's departure was motivated by factors independent of the Clover City relationship
causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Business Opportunity Suggestion', 'proeth:description': 'Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm, creating information relevant to ABC'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Departure Deliberation', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A decides to depart ABC for independent reasons'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Departure Nondisclosure', 'proeth:description': "Engineer A leaves ABC without disclosing the city's expressed interest in his services"}
responsibilityType assessment: direct
withinAgentControl assessment: True

RDF JSON-LD

{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#",
    "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
    "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/178#CausalChain_8",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T08:54:51.842343+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew Clover City had expressed interest in his services and knew ABC was unaware of that interest",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "In Case No. 86-5 , the three engineers disclosed the fact that the client was interested in their services to their employer before resigning, while in the present case, there is no disclosure between Engineer A and ABC.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Clover City officials suggest Engineer A open his own firm, creating information relevant to ABC",
      "proeth:element": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A decides to depart ABC for independent reasons",
      "proeth:element": "Departure Deliberation",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A leaves ABC without disclosing the city\u0027s expressed interest in his services",
      "proeth:element": "Departure Nondisclosure",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Business Opportunity Suggestion",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without the city\u0027s suggestion, there would have been nothing to disclose; the Board deemed the nondisclosure not particularly significant because Engineer A\u0027s departure \u0027clearly appears to be motivated by factors independent from any relationship that Engineer A might be developing with Clover City\u0027",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Departure Nondisclosure",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Engineers in precedent Case No. 86-5 provided disclosure but did not seek consent or concurrence",
    "Engineer A\u0027s departure was motivated by factors independent of the Clover City relationship"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "The existence of the city\u0027s expressed interest (creating information that could have been disclosed)",
    "Engineer A\u0027s choice not to inform ABC of that interest before departing"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The city\u0027s confidential-in-practice approach to Engineer A + his decision to depart for independent reasons without disclosure"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Allen Temporal Relations (8)

Interval algebra relationships with OWL-Time standard properties

From Entity	Allen Relation	To Entity	OWL-Time Property	Evidence
Engineer A's employment at ABC	overlaps Entity1 starts before Entity2 and ends during Entity2	preparation of the water treatment plant report	`time:intervalOverlaps` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalOverlaps	As an employee of ABC, Engineer A developed the report by which the city will get funding for the wa... [more]
report preparation and payment by Clover City	before Entity1 is before Entity2	Clover City officials' suggestion to start a firm	`time:intervalBefore` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore	The city has paid ABC for this report. Recently, officials in Clover City suggested that Engineer A ... [more]
Clover City officials' suggestion	before Entity1 is before Entity2	Engineer A establishing his own firm	`time:intervalBefore` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore	Six months later, Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City.
Engineer A establishing his own firm	before Entity1 is before Entity2	Engineer A soliciting ABC's clients	`time:intervalBefore` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore	However, after a year has passed, Engineer A begins soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Cl... [more]
voluntary non-solicitation period	meets Entity1 ends exactly when Entity2 begins	solicitation of ABC's clients	`time:intervalMeets` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalMeets	without soliciting work from ABC's clients, including Clover City for a period of time. However, aft... [more]
voluntary non-solicitation period	starts Entity1 and Entity2 start at the same time, Entity1 ends first	operation of Engineer A's own firm	`time:intervalStarts` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalStarts	Engineer A decides to establish his own firm in Clover City without soliciting work from ABC's clien... [more]
elevated storage tank report component	during Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2	preparation of the funded report	`time:intervalDuring` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring	The report included a part dealing with funding for an elevated storage tank.
Engineer A declining Clover City's apparent offer of work	before Entity1 is before Entity2	Engineer A competing with ABC	`time:intervalBefore` http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore	Engineer A still declined an apparent offer of work by Clover City, decided not to compete directly ... [more]

About Allen Relations & OWL-Time

Allen's Interval Algebra provides 13 basic temporal relations between intervals. These relations are mapped to OWL-Time standard properties for interoperability with Semantic Web temporal reasoning systems and SPARQL queries.

Each relation includes both a ProEthica custom property and a time:* OWL-Time property for maximum compatibility.

Back to Extraction Continue to Step 4

PASS 3: Temporal Dynamics

Timeline Overview

Extracted Actions (7)

#1 Report Scope Expansion Engineer A (employee of ABC Engineering Company)

Fluent Transitions:

Required Capabilities:

#4 Business Opportunity Suggestion Clover City officials (client representatives)

Fluent Transitions:

Guided By Principles:

Required Capabilities:

#5 Work Offer Declination Engineer A (employee of ABC Engineering Company)

Fluent Transitions:

Obligation Engagement:

Guided By Principles:

Required Capabilities:

#6 Departure Nondisclosure Engineer A (employee of ABC Engineering Company)

Fluent Transitions:

#8 Firm Establishment Engineer A (former employee of ABC, now firm principal)

Fluent Transitions:

Guided By Principles:

Required Capabilities:

#9 Client Solicitation Restraint Engineer A (principal of his own firm)

Fluent Transitions:

Obligation Engagement:

Guided By Principles:

Required Capabilities:

#11 Client Solicitation Engineer A (principal of his own firm)

Fluent Transitions:

Guided By Principles:

Required Capabilities:

Extracted Events (4)

#2 Report Payment Outcome of action

Fluent Transitions:

#3 Client Favorable Impression Outcome of action

Fluent Transitions:

#7 Six Month Interval Elapse External event

#10 Waiting Period Expiration External event

Fluent Transitions:

Causal Chains (8)

Report Scope Expansion Client Favorable Impression

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Report Scope Expansion Report Payment

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Client Favorable Impression Business Opportunity Suggestion

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion Work Offer Declination

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion Firm Establishment

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Firm Establishment Client Solicitation Restraint

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Waiting Period Expiration Client Solicitation

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Business Opportunity Suggestion Departure Nondisclosure

Necessary Factors (NESS):

Sufficient Factors:

Responsibility Attribution:

Causal Sequence:

Allen Temporal Relations (8)