Former property manager Tony Rodriguez claims in a lawsuit he was unfairly fired from his position of 25 years at the Botanica Condominium by an abusive board for a $105,000 email fraud that was not his fault.
“Mr. Rodriguez was wrongfully terminated and/or used as a scapegoat as a result of the phishing incident,” the suit claims.
A con artist tricked another Botanica employee through a phishing ruse to reroute the monthly payment made to the Key Colony Homeowners‘ Association for Botanica’s share in the luxury complex’s upkeep. The Key Biscayne Police Department said in April 2023 all but $4,000 of the $105,000 stolen had been recovered — but no arrests were made.
Rodriguez, in his Jan. 22 complaint, said he told Botanica’s board of directors that administrative office staff was understaffed and under trained,. The lawsuit claims retaliatory discharge, discrimination because of his marital status, and defamation. It says a severance offered to Rodriguez was unacceptable compensation.