Ohio Security Insurance Company says it paid a settlement twice after a Florida law firm’s employee allegedly sent the insurer’s money to the wrong account.
Filed on August 13, 2025, in the Northern District of Florida, the complaint lays out the insurer’s version of events: a settlement payment, electronic transfers, and a dispute over missing funds. Ohio Security is now asking the court to decide who should bear the loss.
According to the complaint, Ohio Security had issued an insurance policy to Praters Insulators, LLC. Praters faced a lawsuit in Bay County, Florida, brought by Joni Byrd and William Byrd, who claimed they were exposed to fiberglass particulates after insulation was installed in their townhome. Ohio Security defended Praters in that lawsuit and ultimately agreed to settle the Byrds’ claims.
The complaint states that The McKee Law Group, representing the Byrds, told Ohio Security it could not accept a settlement check because it was undergoing an audit. The law firm requested that the settlement funds be sent electronically. Pamela Rodriguez, an employee of The McKee Law Group, was authorized to provide payment instructions and communicated with defense counsel retained by Ohio Security.
In December 2023, Rodriguez, on behalf of The McKee Law Group, provided Ohio Security with payment instructions for the electronic transfer of the settlement funds. Ohio Security transferred the settlement funds according to those instructions. The McKee Law Group then claimed it had not received the funds and filed a Motion to Compel Settlement Payment. Ohio Security subsequently issued payment a second time, and The McKee Law Group acknowledged receipt of this second payment.
The complaint alleges that Rodriguez provided routing and account numbers for an account from which she could withdraw the funds and then absconded with the first payment. As a result, Ohio Security claims it issued two payments totaling double the settlement amount.
Ohio Security’s complaint includes claims for common law fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment, vicarious liability, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. The insurer alleges that Rodriguez made a false statement regarding the bank account information with the intent to deceive, and that The McKee Law Group failed to adequately supervise Rodriguez and permitted her to provide inaccurate banking information for the settlement proceeds.
Ohio Security seeks damages against Rodriguez and The McKee Law Group in the amount of the settlement proceeds, as well as punitive damages against Rodriguez. The complaint does not reference any specific insurance policy clauses.
All statements described are based on the complaint filed by Ohio Security Insurance Company. No findings of fact or liability have been made by the court. The case is pending, and a jury trial has been demanded.
