This is Part 2 of a three-part series discussing the basic components of a professional liability lawsuit brought against an accounting firm and its partners and the factors a firm’s managing partner should take into consideration before and during this type of litigation for utilizing applicable insurance coverage, maximizing effectiveness of defense and, where possible, bringing the controversy to conclusion by settlement. Part 1 covered the current litigation environment for accounting firms, relevant provisions in engagement letters, responding to subpoenas, professional liability insurance, and the risk of instigating a professional liability counterclaim in a fee-collection action. Part 2 focuses on the differences between litigation in state and federal courts and in private arbitration, initial assessment of a professional liability claim, development of defense strategy, and the stages of litigation from the initial pleadings through discovery. Part 3 will discuss the latter stages of litigation from summary judgment proceedings through trial and will conclude with the mechanics of and strategies for settlement negotiation.

Defense of a professional liability lawsuit -

As seen in Part 1 of this series, a number of pre-suit measures and decisions can significantly affect whether and how an accounting firm is positioned for defending a professional malpractice suit. Your firm’s preparedness to defend a malpractice claim is put to the test, of course, only upon failure to resolve a controversy with a former client or one or more of its creditors through alternative dispute resolution efforts. At that point, in addition to complying with reporting obligations to primary and any excess insurers, a careful assessment must be made of any procedural options that are available only if invoked at the outset of a lawsuit, electronic and printed document preservation obligations, and substantive defense strategies that are implemented through pre-trial motion practice and discovery. Since most professional liability suits are settled before trial, the pre-trial stages of litigation discussed below ordinarily will drive the outcome of a lawsuit against your firm.

Originally published in the CPA Practice Management Forum - October 2013.