Former Fort Lauderdale lawyer arrested in Broward client theft case
Todd J. Herman was jailed in Fort Lauderdale after deputies said he siphoned more than $100,000 from Broward and Miami-Dade clients.
Broward deputies booked former Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney Todd J. Herman into the Broward County Main Jail after he misappropriated more than $100,000 from clients over several years. Herman, 42, was already disbarred and had been out of practice for about nine months when he was arrested, then appeared in bond court with his bond set at $200,000.
The case centers on money Herman was supposed to safeguard in settlement matters. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2010 and later faced misconduct allegations across multiple client files, including a personal injury case for Jennifer McGonigal in which a State Farm check for $14,300 was issued to his trust account and the Florida Bar complaint alleges none of the settlement proceeds were transferred to the client. The Florida Bar complaint covers four separate matters and involved Broward County and Miami-Dade County cases.
The warning signs mounted well before the arrest. Herman was held in contempt and suspended for 91 days in July 2023 after failing to respond to Bar inquiries, then suspended again for 91 days in July 2024. A Sept. 25, 2025 order disbarred him effective immediately, citing failures to account for client funds, deliver client funds, keep clients informed and respond to official inquiries. Correspondence sent to his Fort Lauderdale office and Davie address was returned as undeliverable, and the referee in the case was Dina Keever-Agrama while Joi L. Pearsall represented The Florida Bar.
Clients who believe a lawyer took settlement money can use the case number, 202350232, to review the public disciplinary file, which includes the complaint, referee report and Supreme Court order. The Florida Bar’s Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program accepts complaints at 866-352-0707 and can help consumers request a complaint form. Its Clients’ Security Fund considers claims for losses caused by attorney misappropriation once discipline is in place; a grievance is generally required unless the lawyer has already been disbarred or revoked. Claimants may seek reimbursement for actual misappropriated funds, up to $250,000.
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