On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Supreme Court of Florida approved a conditional guilty plea for consent judgment, publicly reprimanding attorney Kenneth Clark Steel III. The court’s decision stems from a Florida Bar complaint regarding Steel’s handling of a personal injury case.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Kenneth Clark Steel III,” with case no. SC2024-1646.
Steel faced disciplinary action after failing to file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations. In September 2017, Sandra J. Frank hired Steel to represent her in a personal injury case following an accident on July 29, 2017, at the Drury Inn in Valdosta, Georgia. According to the filing, Steel delayed issuing a demand letter until the full extent of Frank’s injuries was known. However, Frank and her husband repeatedly requested a copy of the demand letter when they learned the two-year Georgia statute of limitations had expired.
Steel admitted to mistakenly applying Florida’s four-year statute of limitations instead of Georgia’s two-year limit. On April 9, 2020, the insurer, Cannon Cochran, informed Steel that it had closed its file due to the expired statute. Steel filed a lawsuit against Drury Hotels, Inc. in Duval County, Florida, on July 29, 2020. The case was moved to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where Drury’s counsel filed a motion to dismiss, citing the Georgia statute. On August 16, 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Brian J. Davis granted the motion, dismissing the case with prejudice. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision on September 2, 2022.
The Florida Bar found that Steel’s actions violated rules related to competence, diligence, and professional conduct. As part of the consent judgment, Steel received a public reprimand to be administered in writing by the referee within 30 days of the court’s order. He is also required to attend Ethics School in person within six months, paying associated fees of $750 before attendance. Additionally, Steel must pay $1,340 in disciplinary costs to The Florida Bar within 30 days, with interest accruing if unpaid. Failure to pay could render him delinquent and ineligible to practice law unless the Florida Bar Board of Governors defers payment.
Steel expressed remorse, cooperated fully with the Bar, and admitted fault, citing no dishonest or selfish motive. His substantial experience as an attorney was noted as an aggravating factor, though a prior minor misconduct finding from 2018 was not considered due to the passage of time.
The Disposition states:
“The uncontested amended report of referee accepting consent judgement is approved and Respondent is hereby publicly reprimanded, to be administered in writing by the referee within 30 days of the Court’s order.”
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Steel is a litigation attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He acquired his law license in Florida in 1993.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
