Liability

[Haf]

I have some questions about liability for engineers.

Under what circumstances is a PE personally liable in the US? I have heard several different viewpoints expressed by several different individuals in other threads. I have heard the contention that you are only liable for designs/plans with your stamp on them. I have also heard that PE’s are liable for even casual advice given to family, friends, etc.. There are even some who think that we could be held liable for information/advice we post on this website. What is the answer?

Also, what typically happens to those that are found criminally liable? Do they lose their jobs? Get fined? Go to jail? All of the above? I’m an ME in an industry where there are few, if any, PE’s, so I have never heard of anyone getting fined or going to jail when found liable. Of course, people are frequently demoted or fired for making critical mistakes. You also hear about lawsuits against companies, but rarely, if ever, against specific engineers.

One last question, if you choose to become a PE in an industry exempt position, do you open yourself up to personal liability?

Thanks,

Haf

 

[JAE]

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~ajenney/webpage.htm

This site is about the Hyatt Regency collapse in Kansas City. Jack Gilliam lost his license but I don't believe he was ever charged criminally.

 

[BobPE]

haf:

There is a forum at

http://www.nspe.org.

On that forum is a professional liability thread. That site is well traveled by PE's who have more knowledge than me and will post an answer if they have on. NSPE also has lawyers that answer questions there. Its not a fast paced site like this, but it is rather good.

BobPE

 

[GregLocock]

In the UK the track engineers at the company responsible for railway maintenance are up for trial over a recent rail accident. I think they are facing prison terms for manslaughter if convicted.

Given the weak state of registration in the UK I doubt that their membership or otherwise of an engineering institution will make much difference to their fate.





Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[leanne]

Greg,

Were the track engineers following documented procedures for track maintenance or had they "skipped" a few steps for the sake of budget/schedule?

 

[GregLocock]

leanne, good question, which I can't answer.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=424520

is a story related to the court case.


Cheers

Greg Locock