Cases from the NSPE Board of Ethical Review

On the OEC you can find two versions of National Society of Professional Engineers, or NSPE, cases.  The parent collection “Cases from the NSPE Board of Ethical Review” contains the original summary of an actual case brought to the NSPE Board of Ethical Review and the board’s conclusions.  The parent collection “Professional Ethics in Engineering Practice: Discussion Cases Based on NSPE BER Cases” has adapted versions some instructors find easier for use in classrooms.  The individual cases contain cross links in the notes.  Additionally, the NSPE has a larger collection of cases available on their website at: https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/ethics-resources/board-ethical-review-cases.

Knowledge of Information Damaging to Client's Interest -- NSPE Case No. 76-4
Gifts to Foreign Officials -- NSPE Case No. 76-6
Promotional Letter - Emphasis on Non-Insurance of Other Firms -- NSPE Case No. 76-7
Supplanting - Promotion of Work by Former Employees -- NSPE Case No. 77-11
Contingent Contract - Industrial Design -- NSPE Case No. 77-12
Use of Another's Project Study -- NSPE Case No. 77-5
Obligation to Write Letter of Recommendation for Other Engineers -- NSPE Case No. 77-7
Related Services for Private Party Following Public Employment -- NSPE Case No. 78-10
Employment of Former Convicted Engineer -- NSPE Case No. 78-2
Binary Service to Same Client -- NSPE Case No. 78-3
Design Commissions and Fund Raising -- NSPE Case No. 78-4
Post-Interview Change in Joint Venture Team -- NSPE Case No. 78-5
Commission Basis of Payment Under Marketing Agreement -- NSPE Case No. 78-7
Advertising of Company -- NSPE Case No. 78-8
Services on Same Project -- NSPE Case No. 78-9
Protest of a Low Fee Proposal -- NSPE Case No. 80-1
Participation of Engineer with Competing Firms for Same Contract -- NSPE Case No. 80-4
Whistleblowing -- NSPE Case No. 82-5
Ethical Duty of Employer and Employee -- NSPE Case No. 82-7
Using Technical Proposal of Another Without Consent -- NSPE Case No. 83-3
Engineer's Dispute With Client Over Design -- NSPE Case No. 84-4
Engineer's Recommendation For Full-Time, On-Site Project Representative -- NSPE Case No. 84-5
Joint Authorship Of Paper -- NSPE Case No. 85-1
Engineer's Duty To Report Data Relating to Research -- NSPE Case No. 85-5
Engineer's Disclosure of Potential Conflict Of Interest -- NSPE Case No. 85-6
Complimentary Seminar Registration -- NSPE Case No. 87-5
Feasibility Study -- NSPE Case No. 88-1
Signing of Drawings By Engineer In Industry -- NSPE Case No. 88-5
City Engineer -- NSPE Case No. 88-6
Public Criticism of Bridge Safety -- NSPE Case No. 88-7