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The blame game

23 November 2012 / Adrian Kwintner
Issue: 7539 / Categories: Features , Professional negligence
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Adrian Kwintner reviews causation defences in mortgage lender claims

Recent cases on lender claims have seen professionals rely on causation defences to escape liability despite clear breaches of their duties. These cases vividly demonstrate that even where negligence is established, the lender must still show that it would have acted differently had it been properly advised by the defendant. Otherwise, the claim will fail. Although the cases were decided on very specific facts, they provide welcome news for solicitors and surveyors, and their insurers, facing a torrent of lender claims over recent years.

Surveyors saved by underlying fraud

The High Court case of Platform Funding Ltd v Anderson & Associates Ltd [2012] EWHC 1853 (QB) arose out of a large fraud between 2005 and 2006 in which a Mr Barrie had purchased all 84 flats in a new development at a significant reduction. He then sold the flats on to sub-prime borrowers at prices significantly above the market price. Valuers were misled into providing over-valuations using false comparable data manufactured by Barrie. The

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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