People hire professionals because they cannot do the work themselves. You trust an accountant with your taxes, an engineer with a building's design, a real estate agent with one of the biggest purchases of your life, and a stock broker with your savings. The law expects those professionals to meet the standard of care that careful members of their field follow.
When they do not, the damage often shows up later: a tax penalty, a structural problem, a failed closing, or a retirement account that lost value for reasons no one explained. Pruitt & Pruitt reviews these claims for individuals and businesses across the Upstate, and we will tell you plainly whether we think the professional's mistake gives you a case.
Professionals who owe a standard of care
- Accountants and CPAs
- Engineers
- Architects and surveyors
- Real estate agents and brokers
- Stock brokers and financial advisors
- Insurance agents
- Appraisers and other licensed professionals
A bad result is not always negligence
Investments can lose value even when they are handled correctly, and a project can run into problems no one could have predicted. The question in a professional liability case is whether the professional did what a reasonably careful person in the same field would have done, and whether the failure caused you real harm.
Claims we review include an accountant who missed a filing deadline or gave advice that led to penalties, an engineer whose design or inspection missed a defect, an agent who failed to disclose a known problem or a conflict of interest, and a broker who recommended unsuitable investments or traded without permission.
How these claims work in South Carolina
Professional negligence cases usually turn on testimony from someone in the same profession who can explain what the standard of care required. In many of these cases, South Carolina requires an affidavit from a qualified expert to be filed along with the lawsuit. Disputes with stock brokers often go to arbitration instead of court because of the account agreement you signed.
Deadlines apply, and in many cases the clock starts when you knew or should have known about the problem. If you suspect a professional let you down, it is better to ask early.
Start with a confidential conversation
Your first consultation is free and confidential. Bring what you have: engagement letters, contracts, account statements, tax returns, reports, emails and texts. We will review the facts with you and explain your options in plain terms.
