On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, The Florida Bar filed a formal complaint against attorney Kenneth Clark Steel, III, citing violations of professional conduct rules. Steel is accused of failing to adequately represent a client in a personal injury case stemming from a slip and fall incident in Valdosta, Georgia.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Kenneth Clark Steel, III,” with case no. 2023-00,164(4D).
The charges cited Rules Regulating Florida Bar 4-1.1 4-1.3, and 4-8.4(a).
The complaint outlines that on July 29, 2017, Sandra J. Frank engaged Steel to represent her after she sustained significant injuries from the accident, which required multiple surgical interventions. Despite repeated requests from Frank and her husband for updates on the case, including a copy of the demand letter, Steel delayed communication and indicated that he needed to understand the full extent of her injuries before proceeding.
In March 2020, Steel assured Frank that there were no concerns regarding the statute of limitations. However, by April 9, 2020, Cannon Cochran Management Services, the insurer, informed Steel that the case was closed due to the expiration of the two-year statute of limitations in Georgia.
Subsequently, Steel filed a lawsuit on July 29, 2020, in Duval County, Florida, against Drury Hotels, Inc. The case was later removed to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where it faced a Motion to Dismiss from Drury’s counsel, arguing that the lawsuit was barred by Georgia’s statute of limitations. On August 16, 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Brian J. Davis granted the motion, emphasizing that the case was filed beyond the allowable time frame.
Steel attempted to appeal the decision, but the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal on September 2, 2022. In his response to the Florida Bar’s initial complaint, Steel acknowledged that he incorrectly applied Florida’s four-year statute of limitations rather than the two-year statute applicable under Georgia law.
The Florida Bar has requested disciplinary action against Steel for violations of several professional conduct rules, including those about competence and diligence. The complaint was officially filed with the Supreme Court of Florida, which will determine the appropriate disciplinary measures.
The complaint states:
“The Florida Bar respectfully requests that this Court appropriately discipline the respondent under the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Steel III 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.
