In New York, we hold everything and everyone to very high standards when it comes to all fields of labor. Our expections that professionals act with a certain level of responsibility and care when providing their services goes without saying. If a professional is negligent or reckless, they may cause harm to someone that was otherwise avoidable. When that happens, they can be held liable for legal or monetary damages.

Different professionals can be held accountable for varying reasons. For example, if it is a doctor or nurse in a medical malpractice case, you will be able to pursue a lawsuit on personal injury or death damages, whereas if you sue a stock brocker, accountant, or financial advisor, you will only be able to collect on monetary damages.

It is important to know that professional malpractice depends on the following factors:

• a relationship exists or existed between you and the professional (for example, attorney/client or doctor/patient);
• you must show that professional failed to act within their scope of employment duties;
• you must show that you suffered a physical harm or financial loss as a result of the professional’s actions.