Takes Exception to News Report

I am writing with respect to the article in the News Digest section ( JofA, Dec.01, page 16) concerning Grant Thornton’s reaction to BDO Seidman’s lawsuit filed against the AICPA, CPA2Biz and Shared Services. In the article, the reporter stated, “According to published reports, CPA2Biz’s independent auditor Grant Thornton disputes the suit’s merits even though the firm itself offers services comparable to the portal’s.”

In the only such published report of which we are aware, Grant Thornton took no position on the merits of the lawsuit. Instead, Grant Thornton was quoted as stating as follows: “We are shocked by the suit brought by BDO Seidman, and do not believe any global accounting firm would be a part of a suit against CPA2Biz. We believe that the AICPA is working for the best interest of the accounting profession, and that disputes should be handled internally, rather than in court.”

As an aside, we were surprised that CPA2Biz had not informed its own auditor, Grant Thornton, that BDO had attempted to discuss this matter privately, but to no avail.

If that is the published report to which the reporter was referring in the article, BDO kindly requests that the description of Grant Thornton’s position be corrected in next month’s JofA . If there are other published reports to which the reporter was referring, please direct us to them.

Howard B. Allenberg
Vice Chairman and Chief Information Officer
BDO Seidman, LLP
Chicago

Editor’s note: The JofA staff believes its reporting on this subject constituted fair comment on a subject important to readers.