Licensed engineer certified altered photos and submitted misleading application to Buildings. Buildings filed charges against engineer Leon St. Clair Nation after discovering he had certified the accuracy of altered photographs and submitted a false application to alter the second floor of a building which did not have a second floor. Buildings specifically charged St. Clair Nation with violating the City’s rules by knowingly or negligently submitting false or misleading documents.

After a hearing at OATH, the Buildings Commissioner ordered the revocation of St. Clair Nation’s self-certification privileges. The Commissioner also prohibited St. Clair Nation from filing any application or document with Buildings for two years. St. Clair Nation filed an article 78 petition, claiming that the Commissioner lacked the authority to impose the two-year suspension because the construction code provision relied on by Buildings had been enacted after he had engaged in the acts charged against him. (more…)