Principles Of Auditing & Other Assurance Services
Principles Of Auditing & Other Assurance Services
21st Edition
ISBN: 9781259916984
Author: WHITTINGTON, Ray, Pany, Kurt
Publisher: Mcgraw-hill Education,
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Chapter 4, Problem 1RQ
To determine

Explain the reason for the potential liability of auditors for professional malpractice exceeding physicians or other professionals.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

The Certified Public Accountant’s liability:

The accountants have both common law and statutory law liability. Common law liability emerges through court decisions for negligence, breach of contract, and fraud. Statutory liability is developed when the governmental units enforce laws and regulations either explicitly or implicitly imposed the liability on the accountants.

The reason for the potential liability of auditors for professional malpractice exceeding physicians or other professionals:

The important reason is the area of liability based on the users of the financial statements as prepared and audited by the auditors. When there are small misstatements in the financial statements its impact results in heavy loss incurred by the users and the potential users of those financial statements. The auditor’s liability is not restricted to the parties to the contract but includes third-party users also. Malpractice suits usually turn to be a small dollar recovery suits with huge litigation cost in any profession.

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