The forum poster is soliciting advice, for the purpose of continuing use of the construction. The poster is relying on the engineer for their safety.
If a neighbor looks over the fence, and tells you “looking good Joe!”, it won’t create any sort of relationship between you, and if it is in fact not good the neighbor isn’t liable. You weren’t relying on their comment.
The engineer is publishing an open letter about work that somebody else completed, that they were never involved in. They aren’t being relied on to approve the continued use of the construction. This is the same as lawyers blogging dissenting opinions on rulings or commenting on legal proceedings in areas they haven’t passed the bar.
Your forum example is different from this.
The forum poster is soliciting advice, for the purpose of continuing use of the construction. The poster is relying on the engineer for their safety.
If a neighbor looks over the fence, and tells you “looking good Joe!”, it won’t create any sort of relationship between you, and if it is in fact not good the neighbor isn’t liable. You weren’t relying on their comment.
The engineer is publishing an open letter about work that somebody else completed, that they were never involved in. They aren’t being relied on to approve the continued use of the construction. This is the same as lawyers blogging dissenting opinions on rulings or commenting on legal proceedings in areas they haven’t passed the bar.