PP 2004/14

The courts have upheld several professional negligence claims over the past few months, including: – Maden v Clifford Coppock & Carter (a firm) [2004] EWCA Civ 1037; [2004] PLSCS 203; – Greymalkin Ltd v Copleys (a firm) [2004] EWHC 1155 (Ch); [2004] PLSCS 130; – Green v Alexander Johnson (a firm) [2004] EWHC 1205 (Ch); [2004] PLSCS 138; and – Asiansky Television plc v Bayer Rosin (a firm) [2004] EWHC 1362 (QB). In his legal note A very simple truth Estates Gazette 3 July 2004, at p127, John Murdoch looks at a couple of solicitor’s negligence disputes, including the recent Privy Council decision in Riley v Pickersgill [2004] UKPC 14. He argues that such cases could perhaps be avoided if clients better understood a solicitor’s responsibility to advise on legal, rather than commercial, matters. Compare this article with the one by John Pointing on surveyor’s negligence, Survey the facts of each case Estates Gazette 13 December 2003, at p88, and an earlier legal note by John Murdoch on valuer’s negligence – Good value for money Estates Gazette 17 May 2003, at p145. In any event, we can expect more such claims to reach the courts in the near future. Watch out for the forthcoming High Court hearings of Tesco Stores v Berwin Leighton and Ely Properties v Glaisyers, or read our news coverage: Solicitor sued over Tesco superstore negotiations EGi Legal News 5 July 2004 and Glaisyers sued over Maidenhead development EGi Legal News 15 March 2004. Related points: PP 2003/23 PP 2003/19 PP 2001/14