Rodriguez

FACTS

Defendants worked together at Palos Verdes Engineering (PVE), which provides engineering services for residential and commercial building projects. During the relevant time period, PVE was owned by Ricky Morales and John Schuricht. In 2015, Morales became sole owner of PVE. Morales is a licensed civil engineer who provides structural design and drafting for buildings as well as structural inspections and observations for distressed structures or buildings under construction. Schuricht, a licensed structural engineer, provides similar services but is allowed to design essential facilities such as libraries, public schools, and buildings over five stories tall. Licensed engineers who have passed the professional engineering tests receive an engineering seal which they use to stamp building plans or other documents requiring an engineer’s services. The seal identifies the engineer by name and license number, and it specifies the type of engineer he or she is. An engineer uses his seal to stamp building plan sets and engineering reports that are submitted to a city for approval.

2 Plan sets are comprised of pages showing the design of the building and structural calculations…