Florida Supreme Court: Larry Powers Jr. III Disbarred After Bar Card Misuse

• Florida personal injury lawyer Larry Powers III was disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court in August 2026 following an incident involving his father's misuse of his bar card.
• Larry Powers Jr., also a Florida personal injury lawyer and the father, was disbarred in January 2025 for allegedly using client funds for personal expenses.
• The incident leading to Powers III's disbarment involved his father attempting to use the son's bar card to visit the son's mother in an Orange County, Florida jail after being initially denied entry.
• Powers III also failed to respond to three requests from the Florida Bar regarding the charges against him.
• Both father and son did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their disbarments.

The disbarments of both Larry Powers Jr. and Larry Powers III underscore the Florida Bar's rigorous commitment to maintaining ethical conduct among its members.

A prominent Florida personal injury lawyer, Larry Powers III, has been disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court, marking the second such disciplinary action against a member of the Powers family in less than two years. The disbarment, which was approved in August 2026, stemmed from an incident involving the attempted use of his Florida Bar card by his father, Larry Powers Jr., during a jail visit in Orange County, Florida.

According to a discipline complaint, the incident unfolded in January 2025 when both Larry Powers Jr. and Larry Powers III sought to visit the latter's mother at a correctional facility. Initially, Powers Jr. was denied entry because he could not produce a valid bar card. Shortly thereafter, he made a second attempt, presenting his driver's license alongside his son's bar card to a sheriff's deputy. The attempt was thwarted when the deputy observed that the names on the two identification documents did not match, leading to both individuals being removed from the premises. The complaint did not specify the reason for the woman's incarceration.

The disbarment of Larry Powers III was not solely predicated on the bar card misuse incident. The Florida Bar had issued three separate requests for him to respond to the charges leveled against him, all of which he failed to address. This non-compliance played a significant role in the Florida Supreme Court's decision to approve his disbarment.

This action closely follows the disbarment of his father, Larry Powers Jr., which occurred in January 2025. Powers Jr.'s disbarment, as reported by the Miami Herald, was a result of accusations that he misappropriated client funds for his personal expenses. The Florida Supreme Court granted Powers Jr. leave to seek readmission to the bar after a period of five years. Neither Larry Powers Jr. nor Larry Powers III immediately responded to requests for comment regarding their respective disbarments.

The disbarments of both Larry Powers Jr. and Larry Powers III underscore the Florida Bar's rigorous commitment to maintaining ethical conduct among its members. The case of Larry Powers Jr. III Florida disbarment highlights the severe repercussions for attorneys who fail to uphold their professional responsibilities, whether through the misuse of client funds or the misrepresentation of their professional identity.

This series of events serves as a stark reminder to all legal professionals in Florida that adherence to ethical guidelines, including proper handling of client funds and the integrity of one's professional credentials, is paramount. The Florida Supreme Court's actions in these cases reinforce the stringent enforcement of attorney discipline, sending a clear message about the consequences of misconduct and the importance of responding to disciplinary inquiries.

This case underscores the Florida Bar's stringent enforcement of ethical rules, particularly regarding client funds and professional identity, serving as a cautionary tale for all attorneys on the severe consequences of misconduct and misrepresentation.

Source: Original reporting via ABA Journal