Making an end run around the privity rule, the Texas Supreme Court hasexpanded the scope of lawyers’ liability for negligence in an opinionsome experts predict will spawn substantial litigation and possibly evendrive up malpractice rates.

In McCamish, Martin, Brown & Loeffler v. F.E. Appling Interests, et al.,the court on April 29 held that plaintiffs can bring a negligentmisrepresentation claim against a now-defunct San Antonio firm whichrepresented the plaintiffs’ opponent in an earlier suit.