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1. Defendant had a duty towards the plaintiff;
2. Defendant breached the duty; and
3. The breach resulted in damages to the Plaintiff.

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1. Defendant had a duty towards the plaintiff;
2. Defendant breached the duty; and
3. The breach resulted in damages to the Plaintiff.

“[W]here the negligent party is a professional, the law imposes a duty to perform the requested services in accordance with the standard of care used by similar professionals in the community under similar circumstances.” Moransais v. Heathman, 744 So. 2d 973, 975-76 (Fla. 1999).

Very few courts outline the elements of a cause of action for Professional Negligence. As a result, below you will find those cases that do, and those cases that provide a robust discussion of the claim.

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FLORIDA STATE COURTS

Florida Supreme Court: Moransais v. Heathman, 744 So. 2d 973, 975-76 (Fla. 1999) (discussing the cause of action).

Fourth District: Sunset Beach Invs., LLC v. Kimley-Horn & Assocs., Inc., 207 So. 3d 1012, 1014 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017) (discussing the cause of action).

FLORIDA FEDERAL COURTS

Southern District: Marino v. Phaidon Int’l, Inc., 2022 WL 9505265, *4 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 16, 2022) (discussing the cause of action); Arnstein & Lehr LLP v. Etkin & Co., Inc., 2016 WL 11501336, *4 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 5, 2016) (listing the elements); Salas v. Schachter, 2015 WL 13777968, *1 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 22, 2015) (listing the elements); Millette v. DEK Techs., Inc., 2009 WL 3334629, *2 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 8, 2009) (listing the elements).

Middle District: Certified Collectibles Grp., LLC v. Globant, LLC, 2021 WL 1214963, *7 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 31, 2021) (discussing the cause of action); Hadcock v. Jest Operating, Inc., 2020 WL 8461571, *4 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 18, 2020) (listing the elements); NCM of Collier Cnty., Inc. v. Durkin Grp., LLC, 2012 WL 2389756, *2 (M.D. Fla. June 25, 2012) (listing the elements).

Northern District: Waterford LLC v. Garlick, 2009 WL 248093, *2 (N.D. Fla. Feb. 2, 2009) (discussing the cause of action).

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2 Defenses to Claim for Professional Negligence

(1) R. Civ. P. 1.110(d) (pleading affirmative defenses), and other standard defenses. See § 1.

(2) Statute of Limitations: 95.11(4)(a), Fla. Stat. (two years); Peers v. Brown, 2023 WL 3613667, *3 (11th Cir. May 24, 2023); Moransais v. Heathman, 744 So. 2d 973, 976 (Fla. 1999).

(3) “[T]he economic loss rule does not bar relief in tort against individual professionals who were not parties to the underlying contract.” Cessna Aircraft Co. v. Avior Techs., Inc., 990 So. 2d 532, 538 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008)(emphasis added); Moransais v. Heathman, 744 So. 2d 973, 983 (Fla. 1999).

(4) “To prevail on a professional negligence claim at the motion to dismiss stage, a client must allege that it would not have suffered harm “but for” the attorney’s negligence.” Arnstein & Lehr LLP v. Etkin & Co., Inc., 2016 WL 11501336, *4 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 5, 2016)(emphasis added).

(5) “Where a duty is not so obvious as to be apparent to persons of common experience, as is generally the case with professional negligence, plaintiff must offer expert testimony to establish the standard of care used by similar professionals in the community under similar circumstances.” Eng’g, Inc. v. Cruz, 152 So. 3d 37, 49 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (citing, U.S. ex rel. J&A Mech., Inc. v. Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, 2006 WL 3388450,*3 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 21, 2006))(emphasis added).

(6) In some cases, a professional can be liable to a third party without a contractual agreement between them. NCM of Collier Cnty., Inc. v. Durkin Group, LLC, 2012 WL 2389756, *2 (M.D. Fla. June 25, 2012).

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