Christine Baker, an Ohio lawyer, attempted to make payments to her husband via Zelle, worth $550, in September 2023. She ended up making two payments to Zachary W. Reynolds, who was from Illinois and a total stranger to her. An error that she noticed the very next day, and hence made contact with Reynolds to seek the return of the payment. Reynolds was cautious about returning the amount to a total stranger; thus, he told her that the matter should be sorted out through his bank, Charles Schwab. The money, therefore, was returned to him in October 2023. Nevertheless, this was not the end of the story; rather, it resulted in a lawsuit, which further escalated into an appeal in the Ohio courts in September 2026.
How the Ohio lawyer accidentally sent $550 through Zelle
The mistake happened on September 19 and 20, 2023, when Baker sent two payments totalling $550 through Zelle. According to the Ohio Court of Appeals opinion, Baker had intended to send the payments to her husband’s bank account. Her husband shared the same first and last name as Reynolds, while their email addresses were very similar, which contributed to the mix-up. Baker discovered what had happened the day after the second payment. She then used the internet to find Reynolds and his contact information, as well as information for his wife and some of his co-workers.
Reynolds did not immediately send the money back
On September 22, Baker contacted Reynolds through email, text message and LinkedIn. The court record says some of those communications threatened litigation if the $550 was not returned within 24 hours. Reynolds did not immediately transfer the money because his bank had advised him about the situation, and he was concerned that he could be the target of a financial scam. He instead suggested that Baker contact Charles Schwab to resolve the matter. Baker subsequently contacted Reynolds’s wife and several co-workers, and she also emailed the Kettering Police Department about the matter. Reynolds hired an Illinois attorney to communicate with her.
Baker responded by filing a lawsuit against Reynolds alleging conversion and defamation claims (Image: Canva)
The $550 was returned, but the dispute moved into court
The payment was eventually returned to Baker on October 3, 2023, about two weeks after she had mistakenly sent it. Reynolds then filed a grievance against Baker with the Dayton Bar Association over what the court described as her aggressive tactics following the mistaken payment. Baker responded by filing a lawsuit against Reynolds alleging conversion and defamation claims. The case was removed to federal court, where Baker voluntarily dismissed it without prejudice in January 2024. After the Dayton Bar Association notified Baker in September 2024 of its intent to file a formal disciplinary complaint, she refiled her civil case in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in October 2024.
The case reached the Ohio Court of Appeals in 2026
Reynolds moved for summary judgment in July 2025 on the grounds that Baker’s allegations did not hold up legally. This motion was granted by the trial court on February 27, 2026. Baker filed an appeal challenging the trial court’s ruling and contending that there were unresolved issues of fact and that the trial court misapplied privilege and other rules. The Second District Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s decision on September 4, 2026. It emphasised that Baker did not put forth any evidence that challenged Reynolds’ motion for summary judgment or that showed any factual dispute existed on the record. From Baker sending a mistaken payment of $550 via Zelle in September 2023, this legal issue had turned into a three-year-old case.