Peak body urges liability cap
Chris Merritt
12/03/2003
The peak body representing the professions last night intensified its push for a national system of capped liability by releasing statistics showing that just a handful of claims against NSW solicitors exceed the state's cap.
Professions Australia released the figures in response to concern that a national system of capped liability would be unfair to consumers whose damages claims against professionals were higher than the cap.
The figures show that most claims against NSW solicitors that resulted in a cash payment last year fell within the $1.5 million cap administered by the Professional Standards Council.
The NSW Law Society verified the figures and released information showing the average claim against solicitors was $52,000 - well under the cap.
Since 1987, just 20 claims against NSW solicitors have matched or exceeded the $1.5 million cap, according to the Law Society.
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