SC doctor grabbed patient’s crotch, drugged him for Vegas marriage, suit claims
This lawsuit presents only the plaintiff’s side of the story.
A patient at a Myrtle Beach optometry office was allegedly pursued romantically by his doctor, who later injured him in an assault, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in Horry County.
Jonathan Garrick, a Georgetown County resident, went to Coastal Vision Center Inc. in Myrtle Beach in 2023 for eye issues. He was scheduled with Dr. Carla Blankenship, who resolved his issue. But shortly after his visit, the lawsuit claims he received a personal greeting card signed by Blankenship inviting him on a romantic date.
Garrick had been a patient at the vision center for several years before this appointment, the lawsuit says.
Coastal Vision did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Blankenship could not be reached for comment.
Information included in the lawsuit is based on information provided by Garrick. Blankenship has not provided a response to the lawsuit. An attorney for Blankenship was not listed in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that Blankenship remained Garrick’s optometrist, and she “began escalating personal and sexual advances during and immediately after appointments.” In one encounter, the lawsuit claims that Blankenship placed her hand on Garrick’s crotch and said “this is going to be a problem.”
She then continued to pursue Garrick by sending “aggressive” texts from a device provided by Coastal Vision, and dispensing contacts at no charge from the clinic’s inventory, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that Blankenship was aware that Garrick had gained a recent inheritance, was engaged in business activities, and had certain vulnerabilities, including recently losing both parents and being a veteran with PTSD. She allegedly tried to exploit these “to exercise coercive control.”
Later, Blankenship planned a trip to Las Vegas, where she “plied” Garrick with psychoactive substances, then took him to an all-hours chapel for a “commitment ceremony.”
When they returned, Blankenship allegedly inserted herself into Garrick’s business affairs, “extracting his acquiescence” to add her to the deed for an investment property under claims it would help her better communicate with the HOA of that property. According to the lawsuit, she never had significant contact with the HOA afterward.
Blankenship then hired a contractor who had a history of violence and fraud, with whom she “began an inappropriate relationship focused on defrauding” Garrick, the lawsuit claims.
Blankenship is also accused of later assaulting Garrick, leading to a severe hip injury that required immediate care at the VA, where personnel characterized the incident as domestic abuse and sexual assault, according to the lawsuit. After the injury, Garrick lost 50 pounds and required additional treatment and hospitalization, the lawsuit says.
After four months of this relationship, Garrick ended things with Blankenship, the lawsuit says. At this point, Blankenship began an “email harassment campaign” using her Coastal Vision email and equipment, the lawsuit claims.
Blankenship then filed family court litigation seeking support and claiming interest in Garrick’s properties, the lawsuit says. The suit claims this followed “extensive property damage” by the contractor at Blankenship’s direction.
Blankenship also filed for divorce with claims of “habitual drunkenness” by Garrick, pressuring him to hand over equity and assets, according to the lawsuit. The claims of drunkenness were without merit, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit claims that Garrick has suffered not only financial loss from this sage, but also “mental torment.” He is suing for damages.
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 12:11 PM.
