said by guppy_fish:If the PE doesn't have soil report, as its was not provided by the client, his options are limited, his license is on the line as is his liability insurance, not a clients budget concerns.
I'm still not seeing where the PE is at fault here ...
Sure, assuming the building is going to be floating on quicksand is fine, right.
A PE's job is to design a safe, compliant foundation that also happens to meet the job requirements. Overbuilding a ridiculous foundation because he was too lazy to investigate, or even ask about, soil conditions is a display of incompetence.
I'm with Xcal here (and I'm a PE): That guy screwed up and his work OUGHT to be ridiculed. It's well deserved.