england-and-wales tort
Can posting an answer, in the absence of a specific disclaimer, on Law SE attract Hedley-Byrne liability?
<p>If, as a barrister, I post answers on Law SE, without specific extra disclaimers other than the standard Law SE one, can such a posting give rise to a pure economic loss Hedley Byrne tort case against me should my advice lead someone astray (obviously I would hope this would never happen, but I’m a lawyer who has to think of worst case scenarios)?</p>

<h2>Such a suit is extremely unlikely to succeed</h2>
<p>Hedley-Berne negligence requires a special or fiduciary relationship between the speaker and the listener. This Q&amp;A forum is unlikely to provide that level of relationship.</p>
<p>Further, there is a disclaimer, which is the reef that Hedly-Berne foundered on, in the <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/terms-of-service#warranties">contract</a> each user signed up to before they could post. It's repeated on every page if using a browser (but not if using the app), in the <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/tour">tour</a>, and the <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic">how to ask</a>. The user has been warned on multiple occasions that they are not getting legal advice.</p>
<p>Any such suit would almost certainly be summarily dismissed on application.</p>
