Let down by a professional you hired · professional malpractice

You trusted a professional, and it cost you

The lawyer never filed the case, and now you're told it is too late. The accountant missed a choice on your return, and the tax bill is far bigger than it should have been. The architect or engineer who was supposed to catch the problem did not. When you pay someone for their skill, you're entitled to reasonable care, and when they fall short in a way that costs you, you may have a claim against them, which lawyers call a malpractice claim.

A mistake alone isn't always enough. Professionals may make reasonable judgment calls that turn out badly. The question is usually whether they fell below what a careful member of their profession would do, and whether that caused a loss you can show. Tell us what happened in your own words, and a lawyer at our firm will look at your case.

Tell us what happened

This may be for you if

My lawyer missed a deadline and my case was thrown out.
My lawyer settled my case without my permission, or pushed me into a deal I didn't understand.
My accountant made a mistake on my returns and now I owe penalties.
An auditor or bookkeeper missed a theft that should have been caught.
An architect, engineer or appraiser made an error that cost me money.
A lawyer was holding money for me, and it is gone.

What we do, and what we do not

We do

A lawyer at our firm looks at your case and asks two things first: whether the work fell short, and whether it caused a loss that can be shown.
When another firm is better placed to lead your case day to day, such as one that brings claims against professionals in the state where the work was done, we choose that firm for you, from firms we have vetted for their expertise and track record, and we stay responsible for your case with them.

We do not

We don't promise that your case will be taken on, or what it might be worth.

Two firms on your side, for the cost of one

When another firm leads your case, you have two law firms on your side, and it costs you no more than one firm would. The firm leading it day to day is one that regularly brings claims against lawyers, accountants and other professionals in the state where the work was done, and it's your first call for questions about the case. Our firm stays responsible for your case with them for as long as it lasts: we check in often, keep our own calendar of its deadlines, and we're who you write to if something doesn't feel right.

You decide whether to go ahead, and nothing happens until you say yes.

How it works, step by step How fees work, and how they are shared

Problems we often hear about

Mistakes by your own lawyer
Missed deadlines, settlements you never agreed to, conflicts of interest and mishandled money.
Mistakes by your accountant
Tax errors, missed choices and deadlines, audits that missed fraud, and bad bookkeeping advice.

What helps to have ready

The engagement letter or contract with the professional, if there was one.
Bills and invoices, and proof of what you paid.
Emails, letters and texts between you and the professional.
The documents at the center of the problem: the court papers, the tax return, the audit report or the plans.
Anything showing the harm: a dismissal, a tax notice, a judgment against you, a deal that fell through.
A short timeline of when you first noticed something was wrong, and what you did about it.

What to have ready before you talk to a lawyer
A short, practical list you can use for any kind of problem.

Questions people ask

My lawyer lost my case. Does that mean I have a claim?

Not necessarily. Losing isn't malpractice. In many states you would need to show that the lawyer fell short of reasonable care and that without the mistake you would have done better, often that you would have won. Lawyers call this proving a case within a case.

Is a complaint to a licensing board the same thing?

No. A licensing or disciplinary body can discipline a professional, but it usually can't get your money back. A claim for money is a separate thing. You can pursue one, both or neither.

Will I need an expert?

Often, at some point. Many claims against professionals need another member of that profession to explain what a careful one would have done. The lawyer handling your case arranges that; you don't need to find one yourself.

Bad advice or trading by a broker
If the professional was a stockbroker or investment adviser.
Harm from medical care
If the professional was a doctor, nurse, dentist or hospital.

This page explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation, and the law differs from state to state.