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The Securities Exchange Act of 1933 offers recourse against the auditors to a far greater number of investors than does the Securities Act of 1934.

A) True
B) False

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Assume that a CPA firm was negligent but not grossly negligent in the performance of an engagement.Which of the following plaintiffs probably would not recover losses proximately caused by the auditors' negligence?


A) A loss sustained by a client in a suit brought under common law.
B) A loss sustained by a lender not in privity of contract in a suit brought in a state court which adheres to the Ultramares v.Touche precedent.
C) A loss sustained by initial purchasers of stock in a suit brought under the Securities Act of 1933.
D) A loss sustained by a bank named as a third-party beneficiary in the engagement letter in a suit brought under common law.

E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

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Wilson bought Zimmer Corp.common stock in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933.Baldridge & Co. ,CPAs,gave an unqualified opinion on Zimmer's financial statements that were included in the registration statement filed with the SEC.Wilson sued Baldridge under the provisions of the 1933 Act that deal with omission of facts required to be in the registration statement.Wilson must prove that:


A) There was fraudulent activity by Baldridge.
B) There was a material misstatement in the financial statements.
C) Wilson relied on Baldridge's opinion.
D) Wilson was in privity with Baldridge.

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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A plaintiff may elect to bring a lawsuit against auditors under applicable statutes-including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934-and under common law.For each circumstance,indicate the most likely source of CPA liability by placing the appropriate letter in the third column. A.The Securities Act of 1933 B.The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 C.Common Law A plaintiff may elect to bring a lawsuit against auditors under applicable statutes-including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934-and under common law.For each circumstance,indicate the most likely source of CPA liability by placing the appropriate letter in the third column. A.The Securities Act of 1933 B.The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 C.Common Law

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Auditors may be held liable to both their clients and third parties under common law. a.What must a client prove to recover its losses from the auditors under common law? b.In a court that adheres to the precedent set by the Ultramares v.Touche case,what must an ordinary third party prove to recover losses from the auditors under common law?

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a.To recover losses under common law,a c...

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Negligence is defined as failure to use reasonable care in the performance of services.

A) True
B) False

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Fleming and Co. ,CPAs,issued an unqualified opinion on the 20X3 financial statements of Walton Corp.Late in 20X4,Walton determined that its controller had embezzled over $2,000,000.Fleming was unaware of the embezzlement.Walton has decided to sue Fleming to recover the $2,000,000.Waltons suit is based upon Fleming's failure to discover the missing money while performing the audit.Which of the following is Fleming's best defense?


A) That the audit was performed in accordance with GAAS.
B) Fleming had no knowledge of the embezzlement.
C) The financial statements were presented in conformity with GAAP.
D) The controller was Walton's agent and as such had designed the controls which facilitated the embezzlement.

E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

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The Securities Act of 1934 includes provisions for criminal charges against persons violating the Act.

A) True
B) False

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Under which act (or acts) must a client prove that a CPA has performed an audit with due diligence to establish that CPA's liability?  Securities Act of 1933 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 A  Yes  Yes  B.  Yes  No  C.  No  Yes  D.  No  No \begin{array}{lll}&\text { Securities Act of } 1933&\text { Securities Exchange Act of } 1934\\\text { A } & \text { Yes } & \text { Yes } \\\text { B. } & \text { Yes } & \text { No } \\\text { C. } & \text { No } & \text { Yes } \\\text { D. } & \text { No } & \text { No }\end{array}


A) Option A
B) Option B
C) Option C
D) Option D

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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The results of the Continental Vending Corporation case did not result in the criminal prosecution of auditors for gross negligence.

A) True
B) False

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Under Section 10 of the 1934 Securities Exchange Act auditors are liable to security purchasers for:


A) Lack of due diligence.
B) Intent to deceive or defraud.
C) Ordinary negligence.
D) Auditors have no liability to security purchasers under this act.

E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

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Bailey CPA,audited Lincoln Corporation.The shareholders sued both Lincoln and Bailey for securities fraud under the Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The court determined that there was securities fraud and that Lincoln was 80% at fault and Bailey was 20% at fault due to her negligence in the audit.Both Lincoln and Bailey are solvent and the damages were determined to be $2 million.What is the maximum liability of Bailey?


A) $0
B) $400,000
C) $1,000,000
D) $2,000,000

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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The use of engagement letters is generally designed to prevent lawsuits by third parties against the auditors.

A) True
B) False

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Hark,CPA,negligently failed to follow generally accepted auditing standards in auditing Long Corporation's financial statements.Long's president told Hark that the audited financial statements would be submitted to several,at this point undetermined,banks to obtain financing.Relying on the statements,Third Bank gave Long a loan.Long defaulted on the loan.In jurisdiction applying the Ultramares decision,if Third sues Hark,Hark will:


A) Win because there was no privity of contract between Hark and Third.
B) Lose because Hark knew that a bank would be relaying the financial statements.
C) Win because Third was contributory negligent in granting the loan.
D) Lose because Hark was negligent in performing the audit.

E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

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Which of the following is a correct statement related to CPA legal liability under common law?


A) CPAs are normally liable to their clients,the shareholders,for either ordinary or gross negligence.
B) CPAs are liable for either ordinary or gross negligence to identified third parties for whose benefit the audit was performed.
C) CPAs may escape all personal liability through incorporation as a limited liability corporation.
D) CPAs are guilty until they prove that they performed the audit with "good faith."

E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

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If a CPA recklessly departs from the standards of due care when conducting an audit,the CPA will be liable to third parties who are unknown to the CPA based on:


A) Ordinary negligence.
B) Gross negligence.
C) Strict liability.
D) Criminal deceit.

E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

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A CPA firm has audited the financial statements included in a Form S-1 filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933.Shortly thereafter,the company went bankrupt and a class action lawsuit was filed by the initial investors against the CPA firm. a.What should the plaintiff investors attempt to prove? b.Must the plaintiffs prove that they relied on the financial statements included in the Form S-1? c.What must the CPA firm prove in order to be successful with respect to the firm's defense?

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a.The plaintiff investors should attempt...

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The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board may conduct investigations and disciplinary proceedings of:  Registered Public Accounting Firms  Registered Public Accounting Firm  Employees  A  Yes  Yes  B.  Yes  No  C.  No  Yes  D.  No  No \begin{array}{lll}&\text { Registered Public Accounting Firms }&\text { Registered Public Accounting Firm }\\&&\text { Employees }\\\text { A } & \text { Yes } & \text { Yes } \\\text { B. } & \text { Yes } & \text { No } \\\text { C. } & \text { No } & \text { Yes } \\\text { D. } & \text { No } & \text { No }\end{array}


A) Option A
B) Option B
C) Option C
D) Option D

E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

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Under common law,which of the following statements most accurately reflects the liability of a CPA who fraudulently gives an opinion on an audit of a client's financial statements?


A) The CPA is liable only to third parties in privity of contract with the CPA.
B) The CPA is liable only to known users of the financial statements.
C) The CPA probably is liable to any person who suffered a loss as a result of the fraud.
D) The CPA probably is liable to the client even if the client was aware of the fraud and did not rely on the opinion.

E) C) and D)
F) A) and C)

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A CPA's duty of due care to a client most likely will be breached when a CPA:


A) Gives a client an oral report instead of a written report.
B) Gives a client incorrect advice based on an honest error of judgment.
C) Fails to give tax advice that saves the client money.
D) Fails to follow generally accepted auditing standards.

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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