Ask English Expert

harles Landers, former Anchorage assemblyman and unlicensed engineer for Constructing Engineers, was found guilty of forging partner Henry Wilson's signature and using his professional seal on at least 40 documents. The falsification of the documents was done without Wilson's knowledge, who was away from his office when they were signed. Constructing Engineers designs and test septic systems. The signed and sealed documents certified to the Anchorage city health department that local septic systems met city wastewater disposal regulations. Circuit Judge Michael Wolverton banned Landers for one year from practicing as an engineer's, architect's, or land surveyor's assistant. He also sentenced him to 20 days in jail, 160 hours of community service, $4000 in fines, and a year of probation. Finally, Landers was ordered to inform property owners about the problems with the documents, explain how he would rectify the problem, and pay for a professional engineer to review, sign, and seal the documents.

Assistant Attorney General Dan Cooper had requested the maximum penalty: a four-year suspended sentence and $40,000 in fines. Cooper argued that "the 40 repeated incidents make his offense the most serious within the misuse of an engineer's seal." This may have been the first time a case like this was litigated in Alaska. The Attorney General's office took on the case after seeking advice from several professional engineers in the Anchorage area.

According to Cooper, Landers said he signed and sealed the documents because "his clients needed something done right away." (The documents were needed before going ahead with property transactions.) Lander's attorney, Bill Oberly, argued that his client should be sentenced as a least offender since public health and safety weren't really jeopardized--subsequent review of the documents by a professional engineer found no violations of standards (other than forgery and the misuse of the seal themselves). The documents were resubmitted without needing changes.

However, Judge Wolverton contended that Lander's actions constituted a serious breach of public trust. The public, he said, relies on the word of those, like professional engineers, who are entrusted with special responsibilities: "Our system would break down completely if the word of individuals could not be relied upon."

The judge also cited a letter from Richard Armstrong, chairman of the Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Board of Registration for Alaska's Department of commerce and Economic Development. Armstrong said:

Some of the reasons for requiring professional engineers to seal their work are to protect the public from unqualified practitioners; to assure some minimum level of competency in the profession; to make practicing architects, engineers, and land surveyors responsible for their work; and to promote a level of ethics in the profession. The discovery of this case will cast a shadow of doubt on other engineering designed by properly licensed individuals.

Questions:
1. Identify and discuss the ethically important elements in this case.
2. How relevant is it that subsequent review showed that none of the falsified documents needed to be changed? (Although Judge Wolverton did not impose the maximum penalty, he did not treat Landers as a least offender.)

English, Academics

  • Category:- English
  • Reference No.:- M9488260

Have any Question?


Related Questions in English

Using the following four resource documents prepare a case

Using the following four resource documents, prepare a case analysis regarding the premise "Airline Deregulation - 40 years Later - Pro or Con?" Airlines Move to Meet Regulatory Shifts (1978)/Aviation Week A Law That Cha ...

Question evaluate the cultural competence of the healthcare

Question: Evaluate the cultural competence of the healthcare organization presented in the Integrated Safety-Net Health Care System case study using a population health approach. Please also read the supplemental Interpr ...

Question commitment is very important in every work we do

Question: Commitment is very important in every work we do. If we commit to something that we will do, we must fulfill that commitment. Usually, we make commitment to the tasks to let others know that we will complete th ...

What is lust what is the difference between lust and love

What is lust? What is the difference between lust and love? Why is lust bad? Cite passages from bothOkholm and De Young. Describe what it means to think of love in terms of "gift", and explore how we might change aspects ...

Write a one-page not including cover and reference pages

Write a one-page (not including cover and reference pages) APA-formatted report on two of the following four topics: Topic 1: Open Skies - Explain what is meant by "Open Skies," and discuss the evolution of these interna ...

Read the two supporting documents focusing on airline

Read the two supporting documents focusing on airline globalization in 2018: Aviation Benefits: Contributing To Global Economic Prosperity/Uniting Aviation Aviation Benefits - 2017/ICAO (middle of page) Using the section ...

Read the following articles addressing the two space

Read the following articles addressing the two space treaties: "Outer Space Treaty of 1967" and "The Moon Treaty of 1979": The Outer Space Treaty Has Been Remarkably Successful - but Is It Fit for the Modern Age?/The Con ...

You have read the lottery by jackson and a good man is hard

You have read "The Lottery" by Jackson and "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by O''Connor. Now it is time to argue who does conflict better. In at least two well-structure paragraphs, please respond to the following prompt: W ...

Question your final draft must be added to the dropbox on

Question: Your final draft must be added to the dropbox on CourseDen (labeled "Essay One") by 8PM on the due date. Your final draft should be between 500-1000 words and should adhere to MLA format. Purpose: In this assig ...

Question part i the first part of this assignment will help

Question: Part I: The first part of this assignment will help you "flesh out" your topic. Take 10-15 minutes to free write about your topic. Chapters 4 and 5 in your textbook can help you decide what kind of free writing ...

  • 4,153,160 Questions Asked
  • 13,132 Experts
  • 2,558,936 Questions Answered

Ask Experts for help!!

Looking for Assignment Help?

Start excelling in your Courses, Get help with Assignment

Write us your full requirement for evaluation and you will receive response within 20 minutes turnaround time.

Ask Now Help with Problems, Get a Best Answer

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps even

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps, even when the institution is exposed to significant interest rate

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and coupon bonds. Under what conditions will a coupon bond sell at a p

Compute the present value of an annuity of 880 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 880 per year for 16 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As

Compute the present value of an 1150 payment made in ten

Compute the present value of an $1,150 payment made in ten years when the discount rate is 12 percent. (Do not round int

Compute the present value of an annuity of 699 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 699 per year for 19 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As