The Democratic representative in the South Carolina House of Representatives has had his law license revoked following a forgery complaint

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina lawmaker has had his law license revoked after a former client accused him of forging his signature to reach a settlement in a lawsuit without his permission.

Democratic Rep. Marvin Pendarvis cannot practice law until the state Supreme Court lifts the suspension, the justices said in a written order Friday.

The order did not explain why the Office of Disciplinary Counsel recommended the suspension. Pendarvis has not publicly responded to former client Adrian Lewis’ lawsuit against him. A call to his law firm went unanswered Friday.

Lewis hired another attorney who held a news conference detailing the misconduct allegations against Pendarvis after he filed a lawsuit last month.

Lewis sued the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office over his 2021 arrest. Pendarvis told him his case was worth up to $325,000, but then settled it for $10,000, unbeknownst to Lewis, said the new lawyer.

According to the lawsuit, Pendarvis ignored Lewis’ questions for weeks. Then, when Lewis learned of the settlement, Pendarvis offered him $75,000 in cash from his client trust fund when Lewis threatened to sue.

Pendarvis then sent Lewis several text messages urging him not to sue.

“Let’s deal with this (expletive). You don’t have to try to hurt me, man. I can help you,” Pendarvis Lewis wrote in text messages filed with the lawsuit.

Pendarvis is running for a fifth term in the House of Representatives from his North Charleston district. He has no competition in either the Democratic primary in June or the general election in November.

The Associated Press