Appeal Ruling #58 2 August 2021

Appeal Description

The appeal related to a decision of an adjudicator to dismiss a complaint by a member of the public about an engineer’s competence and ethical conduct. The services provided by the engineer involved preliminary assessment of earthquake repairs to a residence, were for structural engineering aspects only, and did not involve detailed design or implementation of remedial work .  The engineer was engaged by / on behalf of an insurance company.

Appeal Finding

While sympathising with the complainant’s unresolved earthquake repair issues, the panel found that the situation cannot reasonably be attributed to engineer, whose role was preliminary and whose accountability was to others. On a matter of detailed reporting the panel considered that the engineer could have communicated better, but no ground was proven to overturn the adjudicator’s decision.  The appeal was dismissed.