A statutory violation results in an act being considered negligent and is known as "Negligence per se". The specific details of the alleged breach and/or negligence were not mentioned in early news reports. Negligence Per Se: Statutory Violations. Ordinary negligence and professional negligence complaints against your business can trigger expensive lawsuits, costing you valuable time and money. April 8, 2017 By Toluwalope. In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court held that an auditor who had acted negligently by deviating from generally accepted auditing principles was not liable for damages to a shareholder who had acquired shares in the company. Often, defendants use contributory negligence as a defense. Accountant negligence usually happens when an accountant acts with knowledge that an accounting practice was inappropriate and client damages may occur. It also claimed against the auditors for breach of contract and negligence, on the grounds that they had failed to deliver a competent report. Contributory negligence is the plaintiff's failure to demonstrate care for their own safety. In Stephens Industries, Inc. v. Haskins & Sells, 438 F.2d 357 (10th Cir. Failing to perform within ethical and legal guidelines of accounting standards may lead to accountant negligence. Auditor Negligence. An accountant’s liability for ordinary negligence in the conduct of an audit of its client’s financial statements is confined to the client. Interference of the company in decisions during auditing process relieves the auditor of any liability as a result of the audited information to the third party. In North Carolina or elsewhere, the financial reports, profit and loss statements and other economic indicators published by an independent auditing firm may have a lot to do with the ultimate equity value of the stockholders’ stock. An auditor must not be seen to be negligible, he must be thorough in his work and if the auditor’s suspicions are aroused, he has to probe the matter to the bottom. Auditors who are negligent in conducting their audit are liable for losses that result from reliance on misstated financial statements. A negligent audit can damage shareholders and investors, particularly if overpriced company shares are purchased based on the results of the audit. This paper expands the set of previously considered liability rules to include a negligence liability rule with a vague specification of due care. The company, in liquidation, claimed against the directors for reimbursement of the purchase price, damages for breach of fiduciary duty and damages for negligence. Not to mention loss of clients from a damaged reputation. To his client, with whom he has contractual relationship. Auditor’s Duty when put on inquiry . However, what constitutes negligence for auditors is not clearly specified in the law. An auditor is liable to the following persons for negligence while discharging his duties. To Third parties, if the auditor knows or had reasonable opportunity to know that he (the third party) is relying on the skill and judgement of the auditor. Consider the case of Hedley Byrne and Co. verses Heller and Partners in 1963 where there was an establishment or damage recovery as a result of reliance on negligent misrepresentations. The research work examined the effect of audit fees on auditors' negligence. Therefore, many courts after considering the scope of an auditor's vulnerability to negligence have sought to provide some policy considerations in an attempt to protect the auditors. The accountant is considered to have willfully violated fiduciary trust and responsibility — beyond using poor judgment. 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