Partner Article

DBF reports rise in Professional Negligence service.

Davis Blank Furniss - the Manchester & Glossop based law firm – has seen a 40% year on year increase in the number of clients seeking legal advice on issues of negligence by their professional advisors. The three main sectors are the Law, Financial Services and Property.

In terms of the Law, the most regular cases involve solicitors being negligent by not identifying covenants to a title or in the registration of a title; failing to sue on time; failing to make applications to the Employment Tribunal on time; agreeing to under-settlements of damages claims for personal injury cases and giving negligent advice around registered trades mark or business names. Also there are now regular claims against barristers for negligent advice in civil and criminal matters.

Financial advisors are the second most common target with inappropriate or unsuitable investments leading the way. This is followed by giving negligent tax advice to individuals or corporations and being negligent in the completion of collateral Trust documents.

Also surveyors are regularly failing to spot property defects on pre-purchase surveys and giving under-valuations of properties.

Paul Walton – head of the Professional Negligence team at Davis Blank Furniss – commented: “It is a worrying trend that so many people are getting bad advice from professionals who they should be able to trust. However, it is also positive that both personal and corporate clients now realise that they can do something if they receive bad advice.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Davis Blank Furniss Solicitors .