What is intended by the term "foreseeable third-party beneficiaries" in CPA liability?

The term "foreseeable third-party beneficiaries" in the context of CPA liability refers specifically to individuals whose interests can be reasonably anticipated by the CPA. This concept is crucial in determining the scope of a CPA's duty of care and liability. When a CPA is performing their services, they must consider not only their direct clients but also those third parties who may reasonably rely on their work and whose interests are directly linked to the effectiveness and reliability of that work.

Understanding this term entails recognizing that the CPA has a responsibility to ensure their reports or outputs are accurate and reflect the professional standards required, knowing that certain third parties will depend on those outputs for making informed decisions. If the CPA fails in that duty, leading to a foreseeable harm to these third parties, they may be held liable.

In contrast, individuals who might accidentally benefit from a CPA's actions do not fall under this category, as their benefit is unintentional. Similarly, parties that the CPA did not intend to benefit or any party that may come into contact with the CPA's work does not capture the essence of "foreseeable" beneficiaries, because they do not encompass the reasonable anticipation of reliance on the work performed. Thus, the focus lies on the reasonable anticipation of benefit to particular individuals