Standards for Professional Liability
Professionals such as accountants, architects, engineers, attorneys, real estate brokers and insurance agents can be responsible for harms and losses caused by their failure to comply with the standard of care of their profession.
A person seeking the services of a professional typically cannot determine the precise services that are needed or the abilities of the professional consulted. Nonetheless, the professional has a duty to provide services that meet the standard of care of his or her profession.
A plaintiff in a professional malpractice action must provide evidence of the applicable standard of care of other professionals -- accountants, engineers or attorneys -- and that the professional providing services to the plaintiff did not provide services that satisfied this standard of care. This showing typically requires testimony from other professionals who are familiar with the standards of the profession.
