Common law cases are decided often by reference to established precedents or past decisions. The three main precedents regulating auditors' liability are: Ultramares $($known user$),$ Restatement $($foreseen user$),$ and Rosenblum $($foreseeable user$).$

The three approaches that regulate auditor responsiblity create conflicting precedents relative to auditor liability for negligence. Variants of each approach exist in every state.