Engineering New Zealand has penalised a Christchurch engineer over an insurance claim report.
An Engineering NZ disciplinary committee found that Pavol Csiba, an engineer in Christchurch, signed a report indicating that he visited a property despite not actually doing so.
The report was in the context of a High Court dispute over an insurance claim for a Christchurch property damaged by an earthquake.
The disciplinary committee explained that the report was misleading “as a reasonable observer would read the report and assume that he had visited [the] site and based his recommendations on that site visit.”
“Mr Csiba had multiple opportunities to correct the mistake and did not. As a member of Engineering New Zealand, the public places trust in Mr Csiba and the care he uses when signing documents should reflect this trust,” said the committee.
Csiba appealed the disciplinary committee’s decision but an appeal committee upheld the complaint and imposed additional costs.
Engineering NZ ordered Csiba to pay a fine and costs totalling $9,000 as well as to undertake professional development for his actions.
If Csiba does not undertake further professional development in being an expert witness by January 06 next year, his membership of Engineering NZ will be suspended for six months.
