“Professional” Standard of Care Can Be Required Based Solely on Nature of Services Provided

The First Department noted that a “professional” standard of care could be required of a party solely by virtue of the nature of services rendered:

The court properly found that Impact had a professional duty independent of the parties’ agreements. Although Impact, an environmental consultant, was not subject to licensing requirements, public policy requires that it should be held to a “professional” standard of care, given the nature of its services … . Indeed, “[p]rofessionals . . . may be subject to tort liability for failure to exercise reasonable care, irrespective of their contractual duties” … .  Southern Wine & Spirits of Am, Inc v Impact Envtl Eng’g, PLLC, 2013 NY Slip Op o2i46, 9651, 650083/10, 1st Dept 3-28-13