Ohio Society of Professional Engineers v. Hulslander

89 N.E.2d 119, 86 Ohio App. 497, 55 Ohio Law. Abs. 225
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 26, 1949
Docket21264
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 89 N.E.2d 119 (Ohio Society of Professional Engineers v. Hulslander) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ohio Society of Professional Engineers v. Hulslander, 89 N.E.2d 119, 86 Ohio App. 497, 55 Ohio Law. Abs. 225 (Ohio Ct. App. 1949).

Opinion

OPINION

Per CURIAM:

This is an appeal on questions of law from a judgment in a civil case wherein the defendant was found guilty of contempt of court for violation of an injunction issued at the instance of the plaintiffs.

*226 The action originated in the common pieas court of Cuyahoga County on January 14, 1947, when a petition for injunction and equitable relief was filed by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, an Ohio corporation not for profit, and by William C. Hammerer, individually and in behalf of said Society, as parties plaintiff, against the defendant, Ray D. Hulslander and three other. defendants, praying for a permanent injunction under and by virtue of §1083-1 to 1083-26 GC, both inclusive, to enjoin the defendants from “practicing or offering to practice engineering within the State of Ohio, or using the word ‘engineer’ or any word of like import in connection with their name or their business.”

Thereafter, upon application of the plaintiffs, the court dismissed all defendants except the single defendant, Ray D. Hulslander, against whom the action then proceeded.

On November 12, 1947, a journal entry was signed by the trial court whereby the defendant, Ray D. Hulslander was “perpetually enjoined from practicing or offering to practice engineering either directly or indirectly, in the State of Ohio, or using the word “engineer” or any word or words of like import, in connection with or in reference to himself, unless and until he becomes registered by the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.”

He was further “perpetually enjoined from listing, publishing or advertising in any directory or any periodical, or from otherwise in any manner or form, either expressly or impliedly, advertising, publishing or representing that Ray D. Hulslander or any legal entity with which he may be associated, may engage in the practice of engineering in the State of Ohio.” No appeal was prosecuted from this decree.

Subsequently, on August 13, 1949, charges in contempt were filed by plaintiff against defendant, charging him with failure to comply with the injunctive order of the court in that he had published or caused to be published, in the June, 1948, issue of the telephone directory, the words “Aimes Engineering Company” in the alphabetical section thereof, and the same name in the classified section thereof under the headings “Engineers — Mechanical”—“Engineers—Structural.”

It was further alleged that said defendant was associated with Aimes Company Inc., and that as a result of said listings he violated the injunction issued on November 12, and was “in contempt thereof.”

On September 2, 1948, the defendant was tried upon said charges of contempt, found guilty, fined $500.00 and costs and sentenced to ten days in the county jail therefor.

*227 There are four assignments of error as follows:

“1. In overruling motion of defendant, Ray D. Hulslander, for the dismissal of the contempt charges.

2. In overruling motion of defendant, Ray D. Hulslander, at the conclusion of plaintiffs’ evidence, for a judgment for defendant.

3. The final judgment and order are not sustained by sufficient evidence.

4. The final judgment and order are contrary to law.”

Insofar as is pertinent to this case, §1083-1 et seq, GC, under which the injunction was issued and the defendant later brought to trial on the charge of contempt, reads:

“Sec. 1083-1 GC Purposes of Act.

That in order to safeguard life, health and property any person practicing or offering to practice the professions of engineering * * * shall hereafter be required to submit evidence that he is qualified so to practice, and shall be registered as hereinafter provided; and it shall be unlawful for any person to practice or to offer to practice the professions of engineering * * * in this state, or to use in connection with his name or otherwise to assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that he is a professional engineer * * * unless such person has been duly registered or exempted under the provisions of this act.”

The terms “professional engineer” and “practice of professional engineering” are defined by the act as follows:

“Sec. 1083-2 GC. Definition of terms.

The term ‘professional engineer’ as used in this act shall mean a person who, by reason of his knowledge of mathematics, the physical sciences and the principles of engineering, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in engineering practice as hereinafter defined.”

“The practice of ‘professional engineering’ within the meaning and intent of this act includes any professional service such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design or responsible supervision of construction or operation, in connection with any public or privately owned public utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works *228 or projects, wherein the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, public health or property is concerned or involved, when such professional service requires the application of engineering principles and data * * *.”

It will be observed from an examination of the foregoing provisions of the statute that the prime purpose of the act is to protect the public from the unauthorized practice of professional engineering as defined by the act. This purpose is clearly indicated in the first words of §1083-1 GC, and in the second paragraph of §1083-2 GC.

These sections differentiate between professional engineering therein intended to be regulated and the other fields of engineering not intended to be regulated and which by their very nature could not be the subject of regulation. It therefore follows that all engineering remains unaffected under the act except that which involves or concerns the safeguarding of life, public health or property. It should then be noted that after the act undertakes to regulate certain kinds of engineering involving public health, welfare and safety, it then provides for exemptions from the provisions of the act. These exemptions are set forth in §1083-20(g) GC, as follows:

“Sec. 1083-20 GC (Persons exempt from act). The following persons shall be exempt from the provisions of this act, to-wit * * * (g) Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring registration for the purpose of practicing professional engineering or surveying by an individual, firm or corporation on property owned or leased by said individual, firm or corporation, unless the same involves the public safety or public health; or for the performance of engineering or surveying which relates solely to the design or fabrication of manufactured products.”

That the provisions of the act do not apply to those engaged in designing or fabricating manufactured products was recognized by the Attorney General of Ohio, the legal advisor of the State Board of Engineers and Surveyors, in an informal opinion (No. 199) dated May 2, 1947.

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Bluebook (online)
89 N.E.2d 119, 86 Ohio App. 497, 55 Ohio Law. Abs. 225, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ohio-society-of-professional-engineers-v-hulslander-ohioctapp-1949.