Report: Lexington Lawyer Faces Two Lawsuits Over $500K

A prominent Lexington lawyer is facing two lawsuits alleging that he took more than $500,000 from his clients' funds, according to The State newspaper. 

Two civil lawsuits obtained by The State accuse Richard J. Breibart of taking the money from two of his clients and spending it without their knowledge.

The FBI is also investigating the missing money at Breibart's firm, former SLED Director Reggie Lloyd told The State.

A South Carolina Bar fund set up to pay clients for their losses in these situations may not be enough to cover all the claims that could be filed by Breibart's clients, according to The State. The fund has a $200,000 cap on losses caused by any one lawyer.

Breibart's law office on West Main Street in Lexington closed in June after the state Supreme Court suspended his license and appointed Columbia lawyer Mark Barrow to handle the firm's clients and accounts. The court didn't give a reason for Breibart's suspension in public documents.

A "space available" sign is now up in front of the West Main office.