Reputation

Figure out what is either wrong with the survey, or with somebody's interpretation of it, or somebody else's survey that disagrees with it, so that the matter can get settled.

Sounds like someone else needs some education

I seriously doubt that you have done anything to desire such treatment. Resolving the matter is next to impossible. Once you've been labeled a $@&*$$#@*^*, it's hard to convince the whole world otherwise.

If it is a disgruntled client, there is virtually nothing you can do.

If it is a competitor smearing your good name, anything I would recommend would probably get me tossed from the Board for promoting criminal activity.

If it is someone who simply likes to cause trouble at random, you are really screwed because wrestling with people like that is like wrestling a pig. You both get filthy and thoroughly stained, but the pig likes it.

What are the issues or alleged issues with the survey you did several months ago?

Any way to address the problem even if you don't think you did anything wrong? Obviously it is doing you harm.

Even if it involves swallowing your pride and losing some money it may be worth it in the long run to fix whatever the problem is.

> Over the last month, I have been contacted by 6 different parties; 2 property owners, 2 realtors, 1 title company and 1 surveyor indicating that my good name has been drug through the mud. Apparently due to a survey that I did several months ago.
>
> It looks like my good name is being damaged.
>
> What can I do?

Well, the obvious first step is to post to beerleg.com, which you have done. The next step is to sue all those realtors and title companies and that one surveyor for slander.

Well, on second thought, why not just post the details? I mean if you're right, you're right. If you're wrong, you're wrong. And if you're not sure whether you're right or wrong, there's beerleg.com - or so I'm sure we all would hope.

> > Over the last month, I have been contacted by 6 different parties; 2 property owners, 2 realtors, 1 title company and 1 surveyor indicating that my good name has been drug through the mud. Apparently due to a survey that I did several months ago.
> >
> > It looks like my good name is being damaged.
> >
> > What can I do?
>
> Well, the obvious first step is to post to beerleg.com, which you have done. The next step is to sue all those realtors and title companies and that one surveyor for slander.
>
> Well, on second thought, why not just post the details? I mean if you're right, you're right. If you're wrong, you're wrong. And if you're not sure whether you're right or wrong, there's beerleg.com - or so I'm sure we all would hope.

:good:

Just a thought when you repeat the story:

Try for DRAGGED through the mud. Nothing worse than putting the word drug in a paragraph about reputation.

By "dragged through the mud," do you mean they said you are a bad surveyor who lacks knowledge or did that say something like you are arrogant and pushy and loud and really mean? Or do you just have a bum job out there and they found it and it's your turn through the wringer?

Let people say what they will. You have no control over what wagging tongues will say.

If you lose work due to slanderous accusations, sue the pants off of 'em. If others are "tattling" on you because of a proverbial skeleton in a field book; swallow hard and keep your head held high.

Most surveyors that I know that have reached old age carry many professional "scars". I have several. If you think you can make it through an entire career with your "good name" intact, more power to ya. I personally think that may be an unreachable goal in a profession where every project is subjected to either acceptance or refute by the next surveyor.

My Granny use to tell me that "even a sugar cookie has some salt in it."

And Granny ain't never been wrong.;-)

If there are problems with your prior survey about the best thing you can do is to address the issues as soon as possible.

If the slamming is by another surveyor because of a difference of opinion, you should contact them and discuss the problem. If it is by another surveyor have they violated your states code of ethics and caused a reason to file a complaint ?

The only other thing I can think of is to contact an attorney (probably the last thing to do) and check out your states slander rules, and have them write a strongly worded letter.

Hard to say more without details.

Here in CA. something similar happened to me.

Another surveyor acted as an advocate for his/her client and lawyer. The surveyor went to the extent of re-filing his/her earlier official survey map, revising certain information to show the client's property line in a better light, and then inserted a lengthy narrative explaining my incompetence,lack of boundary analysis knowledge,etc., all in the hope that as part of the pre-trial deposition, if they threw enough up against the wall, surely some of it might stick.

I took this to the local Professional Practice Committee. They shook their heads side to side; being very familiar with that surveyor. In fact, they were involved in sifting through another situation involving that same surveyor. They sympathized with me but refused to get involved.

Eventually, after the neighbor and neighbor's attorney used that revised survey plat map to file a complaint against me with the Board for Engineers and Surveyors, I received a citation in the mail. They took 2 1/2 years to get to the complaint, review it, hire their "expert consultant" and arrive at their decision.

I appealed via a phone hearing. I wanted to know why their expert had been naïve enough to rely on that last fabricated survey plat map. I asked why are there no bells and alarms going off in the system to protect their fellow professionals ? I asked why had they not interviewed our local county surveyor, who was 100% satisfied with my particular survey and plat map?

I asked why no one was concerned about Board Rule 475 b10 states," A licensee shall not falsely or maliciously injure the reputation or business of others". No response there.

They could not give me any decent answers, in fact I could tell by the replies that they were beginning to realize this was one of those mistakes that can be created in the system. The whole session was being taped according to them, so I am not surprised that they could admit little.

We all need to be patient Bob. Here in my state of CA, they will now publicly list me as a violator, with citation #___ for five years on the website before it is erased.

You want to know the real truth guys ? Just step back, look around at the world -- I see huge injustices done to people that make the little injustices we suffer absolutely puny.

Sticks and Stones can break your bones but a good reputation speaks for itself. Let the naysayers air their grief or move on.

Very little has been divulged here other than "somebody drug a name through the mud". Depending on the person's level of sensitivity it could mean any number of things to various different people. No details have been given whatsoever but based on what has been written, there are already people determining an appropriate course of action. I personally would rather wait for more to be revealed. If in fact somebody is bad mouthing an individual, I would suggest that the appropriate course of action would be to confront the accuser. Particularly if the other person is a Licensed Professional.

:good:

I agree. If it consists of lies geared toward ruining your reputation, the party might also be sued for libel and/or slander depending on the circumstances.

I agree with what has been said.

What has not been said, who has a problem with your work? Is it the client or some other party? I mean you need to get to the root of the problem, or is it just a perceived problem?

More information on who is unhappy and why they maybe unhappy.

not knowing any more details, I would say forget it.
1 survey can't overturn a lifetime reputation.

> I have tried to build a good reputation during the course of my career.
> There had been ups and downs through the years.
>
> Over the last month, I have been contacted by 6 different parties; 2 property owners, 2 realtors, 1 title company and 1 surveyor indicating that my good name has been drug through the mud. Apparently due to a survey that I did several months ago.
>
> It looks like my good name is being damaged.
>
> What can I do?

Visit the surveyor at his office first. He is probably the one stirring the pot.