Question: what is the ethical for Engineer A to charge Client X for the complete traffic study?

Question

Facts: Engineer A, a profession engineer, performs a traffic study for Client X as part of the client’s permit application for traffic flow for the development of a store. Engineer A invoices Client X for a complete traffic study.

Later, Client X learns that part of the traffic study provided by Engineer A to Client X was earlier developed by Engineer A for a developer, Client Y, at a nearby location and that Engineer A invoiced Client Y for the complete traffic study. The second study on a new project for Client X utilized some of the same raw data as was in the report prepared for Client Y. The final conclusion of the engineering study was essentially the same in both studies.

Answer 1

ok

Answer 2

Based on the fact I would say that Engineer A is acting ethically. If we assume the traffic study is for private clients than the study is work-product of Engineer A. Engineer A then may charge clients the market price for his or her work.

Take a situation with another professional, an attorney. Client Y starts a new business and the attorney draws up the incorporation papers. Later Client X wants to start a similar business and asks the attorney to make the incorporation filing. Is Client X entitled to a discount or free services because the attorney recently did something similar? No, the attorney is free to charge for services rendered even if past actions can be utilized to complete the task.