Oscars Blunder Adds Risk for PwC Defense at MF Global Trial

By Bob Van Voris, Bloomberg News

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’sepic screw-up at the Oscars could carry a high cost if jurors arrive at a malpractice trial next week suspecting the global accounting firm is error-prone.

Until a PwC accountant handed Warren Beatty the wrong envelope for the Best Picture award, its lawyers only had to worry about adversary MF Global Holdings, Ltd. Now, PwC’s attorneys will also be concerned that jurors who watched the Feb. 26 awards ceremony will begin the trial doubting the firm’s expertise, jury consultants said.

That’s particularly worrisome in a case where New York-based PwC is accused of ...