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Category: PPP Loans

PPP Loans / Settlements

26 Sep, 2022

DOJ Announces First-In-The-Nation False Claims Act Settlement with PPP Lender

The government has been actively investigating and prosecuting Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP” or the “Program”) fraud ever since the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) rolled out the Program in the Spring of 2020 to provide SBA-backed loans to help eligible businesses maintain their workforces during the COVID-19 pandemic. At first the government’s efforts focused on cases of obvious fraud, resulting in criminal charges. The criminal prosecutions...

COVID-19 / PPP Loans / Settlements

1 Jun, 2022

Healthcare Fraud Settlement Showcases Government’s Additional Focus on COVID-19-Related Fraud

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) last month announced a new blockbuster settlement agreement under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq (“FCA”), involving alleged violations of the Stark law and other efforts to defraud federal and state healthcare programs. The agreement also resolved the government’s allegations that the defendants—having allegedly engaged in healthcare fraud—further violated the FCA by obtaining a loan through...

PPP Loans / Relators / Settlements

23 May, 2022

More DOJ Double-Dipping PPP Fraud News

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) continues rolling out new settlement agreements related to COVID-19 fraud—highlighting the government’s and a common relator’s efforts to crack down on those alleged to have improperly received monies through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP” or “Program”). A new settlement agreement once again showcases these trends and illustrates the civil liability that businesses and individuals may face under the False Claims...

PPP Loans / Settlements

28 Apr, 2022

Latest PPP Fraud Settlement Showcases Civil and Criminal Penalties for Knowingly Submitting False Claims

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) continues racking up more settlement agreements under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq (“FCA”) with companies and individuals alleged to have improperly used funds received through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP” or “Program”). The latest PPP fraud settlement illustrates that attempts to fraudulently obtain forgiveness of PPP loans used for ineligible expenses invites potential liability under...

PPP Loans / Settlements

28 Feb, 2022

DOJ Announces More FCA Settlement Agreements Over PPP Fraud

Fresh off the new year, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) continues to announce new settlements under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq (“FCA”)—further cementing the trend of private parties suing borrowers for violating requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP” or the “Program”). Two new FCA settlements were announced earlier this month involving relators’ allegations that borrowers made false statements when applying for...

PPP Loans / Settlements

5 Nov, 2021

Settlement Illustrates Continued Use of FCA to Combat PPP Fraud

The trend of private parties suing businesses under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq (“FCA”) for violating requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP” or the “Program”) continues. Just recently, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a press release announcing its latest settlement in an FCA case involving Sextant Marine Consulting, LLC (“Sextant”) and a whistleblower named J. Bryan Quesenberry (“Relator”)....

PPP Loans / Retaliation Claims

27 Sep, 2021

Fired Employee Alleges Employer Unlawfully Retaliated Against Him For Complaining of PPP Fraud

Civil litigation by private parties alleging False Claims Act (“FCA”) violations related to Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) fraud appears to be heating up.  On September 22, 2021, a former restaurant manager filed a complaint in the Eastern District of New York alleging he was unlawfully terminated from his employment in retaliation for complaining to his employer that it had unlawfully spent its PPP loan proceeds. ...

Enforcement / PPP Loans / Retaliation Claims

15 Mar, 2021

False Claims Act Anti-Retaliation Claim Leveled at PPP Recipient

A former employee of Great Dane Petroleum Contractors, Inc. a full-service Pollutant Control and General Contractor based in Florida, alleged in a recently-filed lawsuit that the company misused nearly $3 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) funds.  See Rucker v. Great Dane Petroleum Contractors, Inc., No. 21-cv-207 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 10, 2021).  As another wave of applications for PPP funds come in, employers must remain...

COVID-19 / Enforcement / Healthcare / Penalties / PPP Loans / Settlements

19 Jan, 2021

Justice Department Annual Release Shows Decreased FCA Recoveries But Increased FCA Matters in FY2020, Suggesting Likely Uptick in 2021

On January 14, 2021, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued its annual press release highlighting its recoveries from False Claims Act (“FCA”) enforcement over the last fiscal year.  Total recoveries in FY2020 exceeded $2.2 billion, with the majority—$1.8 billion—of those recoveries coming from the healthcare industry.  These totals are down substantially from FY2019, in which total recoveries exceeded $3 billion with $2.6 billion...

COVID-19 / PPP Loans / Settlements

14 Jan, 2021

Borrowers and Banks Beware: The New Year Brings the Nation’s First False Claims Act Settlement for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

On January 12, 2021, the Eastern District of California entered into a civil settlement with a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) borrower and its CEO to resolve allegations of fraud.  The settlement stemmed from a $350,000 PPP loan that SlideBelts Inc., an internet retail company, received even though it was a prohibited borrower as a debtor in bankruptcy.  This is the first civil settlement for PPP-related...