Democratic South Carolina House member has law license suspended after forgery complaint

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A legislator in South Carolina has had his law license suspended 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, justices said Friday in a written order.

The order didn’t detail why the Office of Disciplinary Counsel recommended the suspension. Pendarvis has not responded publicly to the lawsuit against him by former client Adrian Lewis. A call to his law office number went unanswered Friday.

Lewis has hired a different lawyer who held a news conference detailing the malpractice allegations against Pendarvis after filing a lawsuit last month.

Lewis sued the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office over his arrest in 2021. Pendarvis told him his case was worth up to $325,000 but then settled it for $10,000 without Lewis knowing, the new lawyer said.

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

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

“Let’s handle this (expletive). No need to try and hurt me man. I can help you,” Pendarvis wrote Lewis in text messages filed with the lawsuit.

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