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

>photo caption: FILE - Democratic South Carolina state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis speaks against a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 in Columbia, S.C. Pendarvis had his law license suspended Friday, May 17, 2024, by the state's Supreme Court after a former client accused him of forging his signature to reach a settlement in a lawsuit without his permission. (AP Photo/James Pollard)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/democratic-south-carolina-house-member-194759115.html

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.