State Rep. Darryl Rouson said he has settled a lawsuit claiming that his former law firm defaulted on a credit card bill of nearly $27,000. 'The check's in the mail,' Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat, said Tuesday. In the suit filed Nov. 5 in Hillsborough Circuit Court, BB&T Bank says Rouson's firm was seriously delinquent as of December 2008 and had exceeded the card's $25,000 credit limit. The bank sought $26,895 plus interest and attorney's fees. Rouson, 56, would not say if he had paid the entire amount. An attorney for BB&T Bank did not return a call for comment. Rouson said his nine-person firm, Rouson & Dudley, ran into trouble as the economy soured. 'I was a small firm struggling with payroll and other expenses that other business are going through,' Rouson said. At the time he was also newly elected to the Florida House, where he represents parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Manatee counties. He won re-election this month with token opposition. Rouson, who has a history of financial problems, is now with the Tampa office of Morgan & Morgan, a well-known personal injury firm. On his most recent financial disclosure form he reported a salary of $200,000, but a net worth of just $11,000. Susan Taylor Martin can be contacted at susansptimes.com. 