Professional Malpractice

In addition to claims for medical malpractice licensed professionals performing other professional services have an obligation to their clients to do their work in accordance with the prevailing standard of care. If they breach the standard of care and cause their client to incur damages, they can be liable to the damaged client in a civil action for malpractice. These general rules apply to lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, land surveyors, real estate and insurance professionals, stockbrokers, financial planners and other licensed persons engaged in the learned professions. In addition, some of the learned professions impose particular duties on their practitioners. For example, lawyers owe their clients fiduciary duties of loyalty so as not to represent a conflict in interest, and fiduciary duties of integrity in financial matters. Most professionals carry professional liability insurance covering them for claims made by clients claiming they were injured by breaches of the prevailing professional standard of care. If you believe you have been a victim of professional negligence, we will assess your claim and recommend a course of action to you, which may involve litigation against the responsible professionals.

Our firm also represents professionals accused of malpractice, regulatory violations, ethical violations or other wrongdoings. We have represented lawyers, doctors, accountants, mental health professionals, teachers and other licensed professionals in defense of malpractice claims, as personal or uninsured counsel, at administrative hearings, before grievance committees and ethics boards, and in defense of criminal charges.

Lawyers who handle professional negligence matters include: Ira B. Grudberg, David L. Belt, Jonathan Katz and Joseph J. Packtor.