A Fort Lauderdale attorney kept clients’ settlement money and abandoned cases
A Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney kept a combined $89,000 of clients’ settlement money, abandoned other clients’ cases and ignored The Florida Bar after the clients filed grievances with it.
All of that earned Todd Herman disbarment by the state Supreme Court last week, prohibiting him from practicing law in Florida.
Herman, 42, owes $50,000 plus interest in settlement funds to Rebecca Liland, and another $39,300 plus interest to Jennifer McGonigal, after each filed civil lawsuits against him in Broward County and received default judgments when Herman didn’t answer. Both Liland and McGonigal hired Herman after being injured in car accidents.
Herman had his clients’ settlement funds deposited into his trust account, as is standard, then never turned over the money to his clients. Tuesday, McGonigal filed a civil theft suit against Herman, seeking damages tripling the $39,300.
Another client, Luis Perez, told the Florida Bar in 2024 that Herman kept all of his $10,000 settlement.
Why Herman, who was admitted to the Bar in 2010, didn’t give Liland her settlement money in 2021, give McGonigal her settlement money in 2022 and began abandoning cases in 2022 remains a mystery.
He didn’t answer any of the grievances filed against him or participate in any phase of The Florida Bar discipline process, which was why he has been suspended since October 2023. Herman didn’t answer a call or an email from the Miami Herald. No database lists Herman’s death.
In fact, the referee’s report says Herman signed for a certified letter from The Florida Bar on Feb. 7, 2025, at a Davie condominium.
