Opinion ID: 677610
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: AY's duty to Agretech.

Text: 120 The Agretech complaint alleges generally that AY performed accounting services for FPI and Agretech and thereby entered into an accountant-client relationship with both companies. Regarding the work that AY performed specifically for Agretech, the complaint alleges that 121 In or before May 1985, ARTHUR YOUNG was retained by Agretech to perform a variety of accounting and management consulting services for Agretech and its affiliated companies, and an accountant-client relationship was formed. ARTHUR YOUNG agreed to, inter alia, review the Agretech accounting systems ... and in that connection, to evaluate conducting a certified audit for Agretech for December 31, 1985; to review the operations of Agretech Distribution, Agretech's marketing arm, and to prepare for future audits ... 122 These allegations, which we must take as true when reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal, are sufficient to establish that AY supplied Agretech with management consulting and accounting services, even though they fell short of a formal audit. 123 Hawaii imposes on professionals a duty to exercise due care in the provision of their services. See, e.g., Collins v. Greenstein, 595 P.2d 275, 283 (Haw.1979) (attorneys); Quality Furniture, Inc. v. Hay, 595 P.2d 1066, 1068 (Haw.1979) (insurance agents); Property House, Inc. v. Kelley, 715 P.2d 805, 810 (Haw.1986) (real estate brokers). Because the Agretech trustee's complaint alleges that Agretech retained AY to give advice on accounting and management matters, the complaint alleges sufficient facts to show that by agreeing to render such advice AY assumed a duty of due care. The Agretech trustee's complaint should not have been dismissed on this ground. 124