Non-Bank Lender Sues Insurer Over Alleged Lawyer Negligence in $4 Million Fraud

SR Accord, a non-bank credit company controlled by Adi Tsim, is suing Menora Insurance for NIS 4 million, alleging that the professional negligence of its employee, attorney Zohar Bruner, enabled a borrower to defraud the company of over NIS 4 million. Bruner, employed by SR Accord's underwriting and liens department, allegedly failed to properly verify collateral for a loan.

According to the lawsuit filed in the Central District Court, SR Accord lent NIS 3.8 million last year to Riverpass company and its owner, Ron Naftali. Subsequently, checks from Riverpass totaling NIS 500,000 bounced due to prior loans, bringing the alleged debt to NIS 4.3 million. Naftali had presented a mortgage on his apartment in Tel Aviv's Gindi Towers project as collateral.

SR Accord claims that in mid-November 2025, checks for hundreds of thousands of shekels were dishonored, and Naftali evaded their inquiries. The company discovered that the apartment supposedly pledged as collateral had been fraudulently pledged to other parties. Investigations with the construction company Gindi and its lawyers revealed that Naftali did not own the apartment, and it was never registered in his name, indicating a scam. Naftali and his family have since fled the country with significant funds transferred abroad.

The lawsuit asserts that Bruner was presented with forged documents regarding the apartment's rights, a fake appraisal report, and false confirmations of rights. It claims Bruner failed to verify these documents and conduct necessary due diligence before reporting to SR Accord that the lien was registered and funds could be transferred to Riverpass. SR Accord stated that Riverpass, Naftali, and his partner are undergoing insolvency proceedings, preventing direct recovery from them.