Court filing
Class Action Complaint — Carr v. Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a K Servicing
Filed March 30, 2022 in Carr v. Kabbage; one of 11 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2022-03-30 |
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division · No. 1:22-cv-01249-VMC · Doc. 1 · 2022-03-30 · Docket on CourtListener
Cited in: Kabbage / K Servicing
Full text
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
Jason Carr, Vicki LeMaster, Edward Ford
Services LLC, Carlton Morgan¸ 365 Sun
LLC and Candice Worthy, individually and
on behalf of all others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
v.
Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a K Servicing,
Defendant.
Civil Action No. _________
CLASS ACTION
COMPLAINT
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
Plaintiffs Jason Carr, Vicki LeMaster, Edward Ford Services LLC, Carlton
Morgan¸ 365 Sun LLC and Candice Worthy, individually and on behalf of all others
similarly situated, bring this Class Action Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial
against Defendant Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a K Servicing (referred to herein as “Kabbage”
or “K Servicing” depending on timeframe of reference) seeking declaratory
judgment, injunctive relief and damages as a result of K Servicing’s abject and
ongoing failure to discharge its duties and obligations as servicer of thousands of
Small Business Association (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)
emergency loans by failing to timely and competently process PPP loan forgiveness
applications. As and for their class action complaint, Plaintiffs allege the following
based upon their personal knowledge and experiences and, where indicated, upon
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 1 of 84
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information and belief, as well as based on due investigation conducted by their
attorneys.
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1.
In March of 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its
devastating impact on small businesses across the United States, Kabbage, an
Atlanta-based financial technology lender, was likewise facing tremendous
difficulties and had furloughed a “significant number” of its domestic team of 500
employees, closed its office in India, reduced executive compensation and paused
its lending operations, anticipating the contraction of its customer base.
2.
At the same time as it was taking these drastic measures, Kabbage was
simultaneously lobbying the United States Treasury Department to gain inclusion as
a loan originator in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), as it thought it could
generate millions of dollars in origination fees, revive its floundering business and
make itself an attractive acquisition target.
3.
Turns out Kabbage was right about its ability to save itself, but sadly it
had absolutely no intention or ability to actually service the hundreds of thousands
of PPP loans it would be paid to originate.
4.
In April of 2020, the United States Treasury Department announced
that financial technology (“FinTech”) firms including Kabbage were authorized to
originate loans to small businesses as a part of the United States government’s
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 2 of 84
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CARES Act, the giant stimulus package which eventually would grow to include
over $800 billion in loan guarantees for small businesses.
5.
In its effort to gain Treasury approval as a PPP lender, Kabbage rushed
to frantically restructure its technology “in less than one week to allow potential
borrowers to apply for the government-backed loans.” While its executives boldly
(and frequently) proclaimed Kabbage to be the savior of small businesses, it never
applied the same ingenuity or competence when it came to actually servicing the
PPP loans it originated.
6.
Kabbage has touted the relatively modest size of loans for which it
processed initial loan applications as a sign of its dedication to the smallest, most
vulnerable businesses, yet there was a direct financial incentive for Kabbage to
service these small loans. Under the rules of the PPP program, lenders earn the
highest percentage fees on loans under $350,000.
7.
By the end of the first two funding rounds in early August 2020,
Kabbage had issued the second-largest number of PPP loans in the country.
8.
All told, Kabbage received between $330 million and $340 million in
fees on $7 billion in approved PPP loans, and in doing so caught the eye of American
Express, which agreed to acquire most of Kabbage’s assets for $850 million in 2021.
American Express is quick to make it clear though that it did not acquire the PPP
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 3 of 84
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loan servicing arm, which was promptly renamed K Servicing in an effort to make
it appear like a separate entity.
9.
Kabbage’s “redemption” story is very far from a feel-good affair. While
Kabbage was once just as imperiled as the small businesses that it is brazenly
professes to serve, the federal bailout program aimed at rescuing its customer base
ended up having the perverse effect of being the lender’s salvation and pushing the
borrowers closer to financial ruin.
10.
The newly orphaned company, K Servicing (which is the “d/b/a” of
Kabbage) was left completely bereft of competent employees and necessary
resources to properly service the hundreds of thousands of loans for which Kabbage
had already received hundreds of millions of dollars in fees.
11.
Despite its clear ineptitude, Kabbage inexplicably elected not to
participate in the Small Business Administration’s Direct Borrower Forgiveness
Portal, a streamlined Portal for processing borrower loan forgiveness applications
for all PPP loans of $150,000 or less. Upon receipt of notice that a borrower has
applied for forgiveness through the Portal, lenders can immediately review the loan
forgiveness application and issue a forgiveness decision to SBA.
12.
K Servicing’s decision not to participate in the SBA’s Direct Borrower
Forgiveness Portal would be excusable if it actually could and did process loan
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forgiveness applications in a timely and competent manner. Sadly, it has
continuously failed to do so.
13.
Plaintiffs and Class members have faced tremendous (and avoidable)
uncertainty and stress—not to mention wasted hundreds and hundreds and hours of
time, and in some cases precious financial resources—with K Servicing’s “customer
service,” being asked to provide documentation above and beyond what the SBA’s
regulations actually require, being asked to provide documentation that they
previously submitted (multiple times), receiving apparently fraudulently altered
documents that contain inaccurate information about their loans and requested
forgiveness amounts, and being asked to make payments on loans that should have
been forgiven long ago, among many, many other issues.
14.
The SBA’s Interim Final Rules require servicers to make a
determination on a loan forgiveness application within sixty days, as well as to do
so in good faith. However, K Servicing routinely failed to respond at all within that
mandated timeline and, if it did respond, it did so merely to demand (again and again)
irrelevant and non-existent documentation ostensibly in hopes of re-starting the
sixty-day clock.1
1
In or about December of 2020, and as experienced by many of the
representative Plaintiffs, Kabbage—despite professing to possess the requisite
technical capabilities to service these PPP loans—basically outsourced the creation
and maintenance of a new portal (its current one was, of course, not working) for
processing forgiveness applications. PPP borrowers whose loans were serviced by
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15.
Particularly concerning is that oftentimes K Servicing would deny a
forgiveness application but then immediately send the borrower a pre-populated
forgiveness application with the requested forgiveness amount set to $0.
16.
Due to K Servicing’s ongoing obstruction of the SBA-mandated
forgiveness process, many of its small business owner customers have become
trapped in a frustrating maze, being bounced between the SBA, the funders of the
loans and K Servicing’s off-shore “customer service.”
17.
There are approximately 350,000 PPP loans made to small businesses
in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic that have not been forgiven, and most of them
are for less than $25,000. And, of the top 2020 PPP lenders, Kabbage has—far and
away—the lowest forgiveness rate at 54%.2
18.
To make matters worse, the most recent SBA data finds that PPP loan
forgiveness rates have been significantly lower for small businesses that are based
in majority Black and majority Hispanic ZIP codes, forcing minority entrepreneurs
Kabbage could not access the new (or old) portal, provide documents or otherwise
check on the status of the forgiveness applications for several months, well in excess
of the 60-day time period mandated by the SBA.
2
Small Businesses Still Face $28 Billion of Unforgiven PPP Loans, That
lingering debt is creating a burden for the smallest businesses, including many run
by minority entrepreneurs, BLOOMBERG EQUALITY CAPITAL, Amy Yee & Andre
Tartar (Feb. 17, 2022).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 6 of 84
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to experience yet another layer of difficulty in pursuing the forgiveness to which
they are entitled.
19.
The ongoing impact of Kabbage’s sheer incompetence cannot be
overstated; simply put, the lingering debt of outstanding PPP loans—about $28
billion—is creating a burden for the smallest businesses, including many run by
minority entrepreneurs.3
20.
Small businesses, like the Representative Plaintiffs in this case, provide
almost half of all jobs in the United States and create nearly two-thirds of all new
jobs.4
21.
Kabbage’s avarice, evidenced by its rush to process as many loans as
possible and thereby rack up origination fees at the highest rates, continues to crush
these small businesses, which were already facing their most challenging years to
date.
3
See PPP loans were made to be forgiven. In heavily Black areas like South
Florida, many aren’t, MIAMI HERALD, BLOOMBERG EQUALITY CAPITAL, Ben Wieder
(March 24, 2022) (noting that most PPP lenders have forgiveness rates at or above
90%).
4
See February 17, 2022 Letter from Center for Responsible Lending to The
Honorable Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, et al., “asking the SBA, the U.S.
Treasury and Congress to take steps to help small business owners with outstanding
PPP, including by automatically forgiving those of $25,000 or less,” available here
https://www.responsiblelending.org/sites/default/files/nodes/files/research-
publication/crl-coalition-letter-to-congress-sba-ppp-forgiveness-17feb2022.pdf,
last visited March 29, 2022.
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22.
For the hundreds of thousands of borrowers who utilized Kabbage for
the funding and servicing of their PPP loans, it is understandably hard to
countenance the unmitigated gall of Kabbage’s then-CEO Rob Frohwein when he
stated that “[t]he smallest businesses in America are always the hardest hit, the most
vulnerable and the most in need when a crisis strikes, and together with our bank
partner, we are working tirelessly to support them. We have the technology to
respond to this national crisis and provide equal opportunity to the millions of
business owners seeking relief.” Yet the process of seeking loan forgiveness for
Kabbage’s borrowers has proved the exact opposite.
23.
Simply put, Kabbage is one of the most opportunistic profiteers to
emerge from the COVID-19 global pandemic. Yet, despite its own financial gain,
Kabbage has so badly mismanaged the SBA PPP loan forgiveness process that it has
financially and emotionally devastated the very people Congress intended to help.
THE PARTIES
A.
Representative Plaintiffs
24.
Plaintiff Jason Carr is a resident of Forsyth County, North Carolina.
25.
Plaintiff Vicki LeMaster is a resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
26.
Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC is a Michigan Limited Liability
Company, with its principal address in Belleville, Michigan. DeJuan Ford is a
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citizen of Michigan and is the sole and managing member of Edward Ford Services
LLC.
27.
Plaintiff Carlton Morgan is a resident of Los Angeles County,
California.
28.
Plaintiff 365 Sun LLC is a Florida Limited Liability Company, with its
principal place of business in Palmetto, Florida. Lance Thompson is a citizen of
Florida and is the sole and managing member of 365 Sun LLC.
29.
Plaintiff Candice Worthy is a resident of Chatham County, Georgia.
B.
Defendant
30.
Defendant Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a K Servicing is an online financial
technology company incorporated in the State of Delaware with its principal place
of business in Atlanta, Georgia. Defendant Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a/ K Servicing is a
citizen of Georgia.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
31.
This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to the Class Action
Fairness Act of 2005 (“CAFA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d) because at least one Class
member is of diverse citizenship from Defendant, there are more than 100 Class
members nationwide and the aggregate amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000,
exclusive of interest and costs.
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32.
This Court has general personal jurisdiction over Defendant because it
has its principal place of business in Atlanta, Georgia. Defendant is a citizen of
Georgia. Minimal diversity requirement of CAFA is met.
33.
This Court has specific personal jurisdiction over Defendant because a
substantial part of the actions or omissions giving rise to Plaintiffs’ claims occurred
in this judicial district.
34.
The exercise of specific personal jurisdiction over Defendant is
consistent with due process as Defendant has voluntarily subjected itself to the
jurisdiction of this Court, regularly transacts business within this judicial district, has
purposefully availed itself of the jurisdiction of this Court for the specific
transactions at issue and is domiciled in Georgia, with its principal place of business
located in Atlanta, Georgia.
35.
Venue is proper in the Northern District of Georgia pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise
to this action occurred in this District.
36.
Venue is also proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(3)
because the Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant and Defendant has
sufficient contacts with this District.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A.
Overview of SBA’s PPP Loan Program
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37.
In what was intended to be a much-needed emergency lifeline for
millions of Americans struggling through an unprecedented global pandemic, the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed
into law on March 27, 2020.5
38.
The CARES Act established the SBA PPP, which was initially tasked
with providing up to $349 billion in funding for loans to entities including small
businesses, certain nonprofit organizations, sole proprietorships, independent
contractors and self-employed individuals to see them through the economic
upheavals brought on by the global public health crisis.6
39.
The PPP loans were to be administered using the existing SBA 7(a)
loan guaranty program, but with key differences intended to expedite the intended
relief for qualified borrowers, who were desperate to keep their businesses afloat
and, to the extent possible, to maintain day-to-day operations.
40.
The PPP loans could be used to cover qualified payroll costs, rent,
utilities and interest on mortgage and other debt obligations in an effort to allow
5
See Pub. L. 116-136.
6
Some of the more salient features of the PPP loans are that they came with a
100% SBA loan guarantee, there were no borrower fees, a 1% interest rate, a two-
year term and any loan repayment obligation was deferred for six months. See, U.S.
TREASURY, PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) INFORMATION
SHEET:
BORROWERS,
available
at
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP--Fact-Sheet.pdf,
last
accessed
March 22, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 11 of 84
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borrowers to maintain pre-COVID-19 employment numbers and compensation
levels as nearly as possible.
41.
The first round of PPP loans totaling $349 billion were to be distributed
on a first-come, first-serve basis through June 30, 2020.
42.
Traditional lending institutions began processing loan applications
immediately in early April and the initial $349 billion set aside by Congress (“Round
One”) was completely exhausted by April 16, 2020.
43.
Just over a week later, on April 24, 2020, Congress provided an
additional $310 billion for the PPP in H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program
and Health Care Enhancement Act (“Round Two”).
44.
Round Two of funding for the First Draw ran through August 8, 2020,
at which time approximately $134 billion in PPP funds remained undisbursed.
45.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (the “CAA”) was signed
into law on December 27, 2020, and included, once again, $284 billion for the PPP
program (“Round Three” of funding the program, the “Second Draw” for
borrowers).7
7
The CAA also rescinded the money that had remained in the program at the
end of Round Two, simultaneously increasing and decreasing the funds available to
the program on re-authorization.
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46.
The SBA opened this “Second Draw” of the PPP loans on Monday
January 13, 2021, with a period where access to the program would only be possible
for community-centered small businesses and those owned by minorities (the
Second Draw was later opened to all who qualify).8
47.
On May 5, 2021, the SBA announced that all funds for the PPP as a
whole – over $800 billion – had been nearly exhausted, except for a small amount
of funding previously set aside for community-based small businesses and minority
borrowers.9
B.
FinTech Companies, including Kabbage, Lobby to Participate in the
PPP Program
48.
The first of many Interim Final Rules (“IFR”) enacted by the SBA
allowed for the United States Treasury to approve of Additional Lenders, in addition
to previously qualified SBA section 7(a) lenders.10
8
SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION bulletin, PPP Re-Opens to First Time
Borrowers TODAY; Second Draw Applications Accepted on January 13th! (January
11,
2021,
5:58
PM),
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/2b591e6, last accessed
March 22, 2022.
9
Carmen Reinicke, Paycheck Protection Program has run out of money for
most borrowers. What you need to know, CNBC.COM (May 5, 2021, 3:43 PM),
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/05/ppp-has-run-out-of-money-for-most-borrowers-
what-to-know.html, last accessed March 22, 2022.
10
See Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 73.
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49.
This initial IFR also established that the SBA would hold harmless any
lender for borrowers that failed to comply with program criteria, effectively granting
immunity to lenders for any fraudulent applications and incentivizing more potential
lenders to begin distributing the PPP loans.
50.
Financial technology companies (“FinTechs”) “lobbied federal
officials hard to participate in emergency lending,” and in April 2020 several
FinTech lenders, including Kabbage, were approved to distribute the SBA PPP
loans.11
51.
In its effort to gain Treasury approval as a PPP lender, which proved
successful, Kabbage frantically rushed to restructure its technology “in less than one
week to allow potential borrowers to apply for the government-backed loans.”12
11
See John Reosti, Penny Crosman, Fintechs OK’d to make emergency small
business
loans,
AMERICAN
BANKER
(April
13,
2020,
6:02
PM),
https://www.americanbanker.com/news/fintechs-okd-to-make-emergency-small-
business-loans. See also, Sarah Perez, PayPal, Intuit & Square approved to offer
loans to small businesses through coronavirus relief program, TECHCRUNCH (April
13, 2020, 12:29 PM), https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/13/paypal-intuit-square-
approved-to-offer-loans-to-small-businesses-through-coronavirus-relief-program/,
last accessed March 22, 2022.
12
Kabbage Partners with SBA-Authorized Bank to Deliver Paycheck Protection
Program Loans to Small Businesses, BLOOMBERG.COM (April 7, 2020, 10:48 AM),
https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-04-07/kabbage-partners-with-
sba-authorized-bank-to-deliver-paycheck-protection-program-loans-to-small-
businesses, last accessed March 22, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 14 of 84
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52.
By mid-April of 2020, the federal government officially approved
several FinTech companies to participate in the PPP by processing loan
applications.13
53.
Kabbage likely lobbied for its own inclusion in the PPP program
because it thought it could generate millions of dollars in origination fees, revive its
floundering business and make itself an attractive acquisition target. Yet Kabbage
had no realistic intention of servicing the hundreds of thousands of small dollar PPP
loans it distributed.
54.
Still, Kabbage was approved as a lender, and the first IFR mandated
that “[l]enders must comply with the applicable lender obligations set forth in this
interim rule.”14
55.
Kabbage both issued PPP loans as an SBA-authorized lender as well as
in partnership with other approved SBA Lenders, serving as the originator for
lenders such as Customers Bank and Cross River Bank.15
13
Brian P. Coughlan, Carolee Anne Hoover & Molly M. White, Update –
Fintech Lenders Approved to Participate in the Paycheck Protection Program,
MCGUIREWOODS
(April
14,
2020),
https://www.consumerfinsights.com/2020/04/update-fintech-lenders-approved-to-
participate-in-the-paycheck-protection-program/, last accessed March 22, 2022.
14
Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 73.
15
Ben Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still waiting for
promised PPP loan forgiveness, Miami Herald (March 8, 2022), attached as Group
Ex. A.
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C.
Kabbage Was Nearly Bankrupt by the Onset of COVID-19; Being
Selected to Originate and to Service PPP Loans Ended Up Being Its
Salvation.
56.
Kabbage is (or was) a financial technology (aka “FinTech”) company
that initially launched in May 2011.
57.
Kabbage’s business model included using machine learning to evaluate
loan applications, which it would later pitch as a perfect match for small business
owners who needed access to capital quickly.
58.
According to its co-founder and former COO, Kathryn Petralia,
Kabbage “pioneered 21st century business financing by collapsing the time it takes
to obtain a loan from weeks to a few minutes.”16
59.
But by March of 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and
its devastating impact on small businesses across the United States, Kabbage itself
was on the verge of collapsing and had furloughed a ‘significant number’ of its US
team of 500 employees, closed its office in Bangalore, India, reduced executive
compensation, and paused its lending operation, anticipating the contraction of its
customer base.17
16
KABBAGE, Kabbage Closes $50 Million Series D Led by Softbank Capital
(May 5, 2014), https://newsroom.kabbage.com/news/company/kabbage-closes-50-
million-series-d-led-by-softbank-capital/, last accessed March 22, 2022.
17
See Ari Levy, How Kabbage saved its small business lending operation in the
middle
of
the
pandemic,
CNBC.COM
(June
17,
2020,
11:03
AM),
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/17/kabbage-turned-to-doling-out-ppp-loans-to-
save-its-lending-business.html; see also Ingrid Lunden, SMB loans platform
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 16 of 84
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60.
As detailed below, the PPP program would provide Kabbage the
opportunity to originate a tremendous number of loans and to receive hundreds of
millions of dollars in loan origination fees.
D.
Kabbage Receives Massive Fees for Originating PPP Loans and, in turn,
Is Acquired by American Express for Nearly a Billion Dollars.
61.
With the rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for PPP
loans was so high that traditional banks quickly became overwhelmed and often
prioritized existing customers with whom they had preexisting financing
relationships.
62.
Kabbage boasted about the ability of its technology to turn around loan
applications in record time and using a fully automated process, with 75% of overall
loans (and 90% of self-employed loans) being approved with no human interaction.18
63.
Kabbage’s median time from application to approval was only 4
hours.19
Kabbage to furlough a ‘significant’ number of staff, close office in Bangalore,
TECHCRUNCH (May 30, 2020), https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/30/smb-loans-
platform-kabbage-to-furlough-a-significant-number-of-staff-close-office-in-
bangalore/, last accessed March 22, 2022.
18
KABBAGE, Kabbage PPP Results: A Historic Feat for FinTech (Updated as of
August
8,
2020),
https://newsroom.kabbage.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/Kabbage-Paycheck-Protection-Program-PPP-Report.pdf,
last accessed March 22, 2022.
19
Id.
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64.
Co-founder and then-CEO of Kabbage Rob Frohwein was quoted in the
press reassuring understandably nervous and anxious small business owners, “[t]he
smallest businesses in America are always the hardest hit, the most vulnerable and
the most in need when a crisis strikes, and together with our bank partner, we are
working tirelessly to support them.”20
65.
And, while that sentiment certainly sounds nice in a press release, the
truth of the matter could not be farther from those words. In short, Kabbage has not
come close to supporting the smallest businesses in America. In fact, it has
intentionally turned on its back on them and left them to fend for themselves after
piling up its ill-deserved origination fees and was acquired by American Express.
66.
The banks and FinTech companies that participated in the PPP program
received significant fees for originating loans. Those entities were paid a fee, on a
sliding scale based on the size of the loan, for each application they pushed through.
20
Supra, n. 12, Kabbage Partners with SBA-Authorized Bank to Deliver
Paycheck Protection Program Loan to Small Businesses, BLOOMBERG.COM (April
7,
2020,
10:48
AM),
https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-04-
07/kabbage-partners-with-sba-authorized-bank-to-deliver-paycheck-protection-
program-loans-to-small-businesses, last accessed March 22, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 18 of 84
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67.
After the First Draw of PPP loan funding was exhausted, SBA lenders
had “earned billions of dollars in fees from processing over 4.5 million PPP loans
worth more than $511 billion.”21
68.
PPP Loans approved by Kabbage in 2020 alone generated more than
$145 million in fees.22
69.
Loans approved by partner banks Cross River and Customers generated
an additional $405 million.23
70.
By the end of the program’s extension in early August, Kabbage
became the second-largest PPP lender in the country with nearly 300,000 approved
applications that amounted to over $7 billion in small business funding.24
21
Robin Saks Frankel, Banks Made Billions on PPP Loans. Learn What They’re
Doing
With
The
Cash,
FORBES
(July
10,
2020,
8:51
PM),
https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/07/10/banks-made-billions-on-ppp-
loans-learn-what-theyre-doing-with-the-cash/?sh=581da9df7f2f,
last
accessed
March 22, 2022.
22
See Ben Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still waiting
for promised PPP loan forgiveness.
23
Id. (stating that “Kabbage and other FinTech companies typically processed
the applications using their online systems and then put the loans on the books of
their partner banks, splitting the fees”).
24
Riley de Leon, American Express acquiring small business lender Kabbage,
CNBC.COM
(August
17,
2020,
4:33
PM),
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/17/american-express-acquiring-small-business-
lender-kabbage.html, last accessed March 22, 2022.
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71.
In an ironic twist, originators of the smallest loans to the smallest, most
vulnerable businesses generated the most revenue for themselves based on
origination fees:
Source: NEW YORK TIMES25
72.
Kabbage’s participation in the PPP program turned out to be a lifeline
not for struggling small businesses, but for itself.
E.
Once Kabbage Made Millions on Origination Fees and Was Acquired, It
Left a Shell of a Company Wholly Incapable of Servicing PPP Loans Behind.
73.
Thanks largely to its newly minted hundreds of millions of dollars in
fees, Kabbage became an attractive takeover target and American Express
25
Stacey Cowley and Ella Koeze, How Two Start-Ups Reaped Billions in Fees
on Small Business Relief Loans, THE NEW YORK TIMES (June 27, 2021),
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/business/ppp-relief-loans-blueacorn-
womply.html?searchResultPosition=12, last accessed March 22, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 20 of 84
-21-
announced in August 2020 that it would acquire Kabbage for approximately $850
million.26
74.
However, Kabbage’s pre-existing loan portfolio – including all of the
PPP loans it was servicing – was not included in the purchase agreement.27
75.
In announcing the acquisition, American Express went to great pains to
say that it had acquired “substantially” all of Kabbage except for the PPP Loan
servicing division, which would be re-named K Servicing:
What are the details of Kabbage’s acquisition by American Express?
On 10/16/20, American Express acquired substantially all of Kabbage to
expand support of businesses like yours with the backing of one of the most
respected financial companies in the world. You can continue to access
financial solutions offered by Kabbage, now an American Express
Company—like payment processing, checking accounts and cash flow
26
Luisa Beltran, American Express Sai to Be in Talks to Buy Kabbge for $850
Million,
BARRON’S
(August
11,
2020,
10:56
AM),
https://www.barrons.com/articles/american-express-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-
kabbage-for-850-million-51597157814, last accessed March 22, 2022.
27
Ingrid Lunden, Amex acquires SoftBank-backed Kabbage after tough 2020
for
SMB
lender,
TECHCRUNCH
(August
17,
2020),
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/17/amex-acquires-softbank-backed-kabbage-after-
tough-2020-for-the-smb-lender/; see also AMERICAN EXPRESS, Acquisition Will
Expand American Express’ Digital Cash Flow Management Offerings for Small
Businesses (August 17, 2020), https://about.americanexpress.com/all-news/news-
details/2020/American-Express-to-Acquire-Kabbage/default.aspx, last accessed
March 22, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 21 of 84
-22-
insights—at kabbage.com. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and
outstanding Kabbage FundingTM loans will be managed by Kabbage, Inc.
through K Servicing for Kabbage through a new K Servicing site.
76.
Instead, the loan portfolio previously belonging to the entity known as
Kabbage was to be managed by a “new” entity known as K Servicing.
77.
Almost overnight, K Servicing became the new point of contact for
customers who had previously applied and had their loans disbursed by Kabbage (as
well as those funded by Kabbage partner banks, Customers Bank and Cross River
Bank).
78.
In addition to servicing loans disbursed by Kabbage prior to its
acquisition by American Express, K Servicing processed disbursements of “Second
Draw” PPP loans.
79.
Now that all PPP funding has been exhausted and it is tasked with the
project of servicing loan forgiveness applications, K Servicing has left borrowers
frustrated, confused and searching for answers as their businesses hang on by a
thread.
80.
Several media reports have detailed the enormous obstacles and
difficulties that small businesses and individual borrowers have experienced as a
result of Kabbage/K Servicing’s abject failure to timely and competently process
loan forgiveness applications of its borrower clients:
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 22 of 84
-23-
•
Small Businesses Still Face $28 Billion of Unforgiven PPP
Loans, That lingering debt is creating a burden for the smallest
businesses, including many run by minority entrepreneurs,
BLOOMBERG EQUALITY CAPITAL, Amy Yee & Andre Tartar
(Feb. 17, 2022);
•
PPP loans were made to be forgiven. In heavily Black areas like
South Florida, many aren’t, MIAMI HERALD, Ben Wieder (March
24, 2022);
•
Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still waiting for
promised PPP loan forgiveness, MIAMI HERALD, Ben Wieder
(March 8, 2022);
•
AmEx’s purchase of online lender Kabbage left desperate PPP
borrowers in the cold, CNBC.COM, Ari Levy (April 7, 2021),
available
at
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/07/amex-
acquisition-of-online-lender-kabbage-hurt-ppp-
borrowers.html.28
81.
As detailed below, borrowers have faced uncertainty and frustrating
interactions with K Servicing’s “customer service,” being asked to provide
documentation above and beyond what the SBA’s regulations actually require, being
asked to provide documentation that they previously submitted, receiving
documents that contain inaccurate information about their financing and accounts,
and being asked to make payments on loans that should have been forgiven long
ago, among other things.
28
A true and correct copy of each cited article is attached as Group Exhibit A
hereto.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 23 of 84
-24-
82.
Over the past year, various FinTechs, including Kabbage, have
attracted government scrutiny because they processed loans at high-speed using
software that in some cases had glitches, causing errors in applications.29
83.
Other industry sources have said that FinTechs’ use of automated
lending platforms with few manual checks potentially caused errors to be replicated
across thousands of loans.30
84.
Still, many business owners and entrepreneurs, including Plaintiffs and
the putative class members, trusted Kabbage to assist them in obtaining legitimate
government resources, to which they were fully entitled, in their time of need.
85.
For these borrowers, what initially seemed like a saving grace has
turned into a living nightmare.
F.
The PPP Loan Forgiveness Process
86.
The first IFR published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2020
outlined that PPP loan forgiveness was available up to the full principal amount of
the PPP loan (and all accrued interest) if the entirety of the loan was utilized for
approved expenses in the eight-week period following the date of the loan.31
29
Koh Gui Qing & Pete Schroeder, U.S. Justice Department probing Kabbage,
fintechs over PPP loan calculations – sources, REUTERS (May 7, 2021, 9:29 PM),
https://jp.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-probe-idCAKBN2CP020,
last visited March 29, 2022.
30
Id.
31
See Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 73.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 24 of 84
-25-
87.
That IFR stated, in response to the question, “Can lenders rely on
borrower documentation for loan forgiveness?,” “Yes. The lender does not need to
conduct any verification if the borrower submits documentation supporting its
request for loan forgiveness and attests that it has accurately verified the payments
for eligible costs.”32
88.
Over time the SBA would streamline these requirements, but even from
the beginning lenders were tasked with accepting the verifications of their
borrowers.
89.
On May 18, 2020, the SBA released the first version of the borrower’s
application for PPP loan forgiveness (Form 3508).33
90.
The SBA continued to release guidance with respect to the lender
review process for loan forgiveness applications, including another IFR published
in the Federal Register on June 1, 2020, which more formally established the Loan
Review Procedures and Related Borrower and Lender Responsibilities (the “Loan
Review Process IFR”).34
32
See id.
33
See SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, “Paycheck Protection Program Loan
Forgiveness
Application
Revised
June
16,
2020,”
available
at
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/3245-0407-SBA-Form-3508-PPP-
Forgiveness-Application.pdf, last visited March 29, 2022.
34
See Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 105.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 25 of 84
-26-
91.
The Loan Review Process IFR stated that the “lender must issue a
decision to SBA on a loan forgiveness application not later than 60 days after receipt
of a complete loan forgiveness application from the borrower.”35
92.
The Loan Review Process IFR also stated each lender must perform a
good-faith review to “[c]onfirm the borrower’s calculations on the borrower’s Loan
Forgiveness Application…by reviewing the documentation submitted with the Loan
Forgiveness Application.”36
93.
If the lender discovered missing documents or incorrect calculations,
the Loan Review IFR provided that the lender should work – again, in good faith –
with the borrower to fix the problems.
G.
SBA Streamlines the Forgiveness Process for PPP Loans Under $150,000.
94.
On June 5, 2020, H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program
Flexibility Act of 2020 (“PPP Flexibility Act”) was signed into law, making several
changes to the PPP including extending the covered period for making qualifying
expenditures eligible for forgiveness from 8 to 24 weeks.37
95.
The PPP Flexibility Act also prompted the SBA to release a revised
version of forgiveness application (Form 3508) to account for changes mandated by
35
See id.
36
See id., 2.a.iii.
37
See Pub. L. 116-142.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 26 of 84
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Congress, in addition to releasing an EZ loan forgiveness application (Form
3508EZ) requiring even fewer calculations and less documentation for certain
borrowers.
96.
The SBA began accepting PPP lender loan forgiveness submissions on
August 10, 2020 and began issuing decisions on these submissions (and remitting
funds to lenders) on or about October 2, 2020.
97.
On October 8, 2020, the SBA released yet another forgiveness
application for disbursed PPP loans of $50,000 or less (Form 3580S).38
98.
This 3508S form was intended to “streamline[] the PPP forgiveness
process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest
businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”39
99.
The SBA also released another IFR with a purpose of “allowing lenders
to process forgiveness applications more swiftly” for loans of $50,000 or less,
including changes to the Loan Review Process IFR, simplifying the review process
for lenders when a borrower submits the SBA Form 3508S to require the lender to
do two things: (i) confirm receipt of the borrower’s certifications on the form and
38
SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION press release, SBA and Treasury Announce
Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less (October 8, 2020),
https://www.sba.gov/article/2020/oct/08/sba-treasury-announce-simpler-ppp-
forgiveness-loans-50000-or-less, last visited March 29, 2022.
39
Id.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 27 of 84
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(ii) confirm receipt of the documentation the borrower must submit to aid in
verifying payroll and non-payroll costs.40
100. Importantly, the IFR that corresponded with the SBA’s release of Form
3508S no longer required lenders to confirm the borrower’s calculations on the loan
forgiveness application for loans of $50,000 or less.
101. These changes were intended to reduce the amount of time and efforts
spent by lenders on processing loan forgiveness applications for loans of $50,000 or
less.
102. In January of 2021, the SBA issued yet another revised PPP loan
forgiveness application Form 3508S, which increased the loan amount for which the
form could be used from $50,000 to $150,000.41
103. Again, this was done to drastically reduce the amount of time and effort
lenders and borrowers were required to put into the loan forgiveness application
review process.
104. In a corresponding IFR, the SBA stated that: “[a]n eligible borrower
that received a loan of $150,000 or less should use the SBA Form 3508S and shall
40
See Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 202.
41
See SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, “Paycheck Protection Program PPP Loan
Forgiveness Application Form 3508S Revised January 19, 2021,” available at
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/PPP%20--
%20Forgiveness%20Application%20and%20Instructions%20--
%203508S%20%281.19.2021%29-508.pdf, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 28 of 84
-29-
not, at the time of its application for loan forgiveness, be required to submit any
application or documentation in addition to the certification and information
required by section 7A(I)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act.”42
105. In sum, by early 2021, the revised Form 3508S was shortened to one
page and no longer required the submission of supporting loan forgiveness
documentation for loans of $150,000 or less.
H.
Despite Reducing its Loan Servicing Operations to a Skeletal and
Incompetent Crew, Kabbage Inexplicably Elects Not to Participate in the SBA
Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal.
106. In July of 2021, the SBA announced it would be making available a
Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal as an alternative method for processing
borrower loan forgiveness applications for all PPP loans of $150,000 or less, which
accounted for nearly 93% of all PPP loans.43
107. When a PPP lender elects to participate in the Direct Borrower
Forgiveness Portal, the Portal can provide a single secure location for all of its
borrowers with loans of $150,000 or less to apply for loan forgiveness through the
Portal using the electronic equivalent of SBA Form 3508S.44
42
Federal Register Vol. 86, No. 23 (emphasis added).
43
See 13 CFR Part 120, available at
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-
07/FINAL%20IFR%20Forgiveness%207.23.21-508.pdf, last accessed March 23,
2022.
44
Id.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 29 of 84
-30-
108. Upon receipt of notice that a borrower has applied for forgiveness
through the Portal, lenders can review the loan forgiveness application in the Portal
and issue a forgiveness decision to SBA inside the Portal.
109. SBA was of the belief that lenders that opt-in to using the Direct
Borrower Forgiveness Portal would benefit from reduced costs, increased efficiency
and more timely remittance of forgiveness payments from SBA, while borrowers
would benefit from the ability to submit loan forgiveness applications directly
through the Portal and reduce the wait time and uncertainty associated with
submission through their lender.45
110. Kabbage, flush with cash from its acquisition by American Express,
was seemingly unconcerned with actually assisting borrowers achieve forgiveness
in the most expedient possible manner and did not elect to participate in the SBA’s
streamlined Portal.46
111. To reiterate, Kabbage’s participation in the SBA’s PPP Program as a
disburser of small dollar loans was prolific.
45
Jeff Drew, SBA streamlines forgiveness process for most PPP loans, JOURNAL
OF
ACCOUNTANCY
(July
28,
2021),
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2021/jul/sba-streamlines-
forgiveness-process-most-ppp-loans.html, last accessed March 22, 2022.
46
Id. The only reasons proffered by the lenders which elected not to participate
(i.e., Kabbage) was that they were concerned about the functionality of the SBA’s
direct borrower portal, a contention that is particularly suspect given the rampant
failings of Kabbage/K Servicing and its servicing portals.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 30 of 84
-31-
112. Kabbage ultimately became one of the largest PPP lenders in the
country by volume of loans, with nearly 300,000 approved applications that
amounted to over $7 billion in small business funding.47
113. Yet, despite all of its empty rhetoric and self-congratulatory press
releases, the truth of the matter is that “Kabbage … has the worst forgiveness of any
major lender in the [PPP] program” (and its partner banks are close behind).48
114. Only 54% of PPP loans originated by Kabbage in 2020 had been
forgiven as of early January 2022, which pales in comparison to the overall
forgiveness rate of non-Kabbage-serviced PPP loans (93%).49
47
See Ari Levy, AmEx’s purchase of online lender Kabbage left desperate PPP
borrowers in the cold, CNBC.COM (April 7, 2021), attached as Group Ex. A; see
also KABBAGE, Kabbage PPP Results: A Historic Feat for FinTech (updated as of
August
8,
2020),
available
at
https://newsroom.kabbage.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/Kabbage-Paycheck-Protection-Program-PPP-Report.pdf,
last visited March 29, 2022.
48
According to a Miami Herald analysis of loans approved in the first year of
the program. Ben Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still
waiting for promised PPP loan forgiveness, Miami Herald (March 8, 2022), attached
as Group Ex. A.
49
Id.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 31 of 84
-32-
115. This makes it even more nonsensical that, despite more than doubling
its customer base50 after an earlier layoff,51 which would undoubtedly leave Kabbage
scrambling to find a workforce to properly service the loans it disbursed, Kabbage
refused to take advantage of SBA-created mechanisms for easing the loan
forgiveness application review process.
116. Kabbage’s haphazard entry into the market for PPP lending, processing
as many loans as it could quickly as possible in order to generate massive origination
fees in order to appear an attractive target for its eventual acquirer, American
Express, is now creating severe consequences for its small business borrowers who
are left holding the bag, spending hours upon hours being shuttled between Kabbage,
its partner banks, K Servicing, its off-shore “customer service department” and the
SBA.
I.
Kabbage Is Unwilling or Unable to Process Borrowers’ PPP Loan
Forgiveness Applications.
50
Anna Hrushka, Kabbage nearly doubles customer count through PPP
participation,
BANKINGDIVE
(July
2,
2020),
https://www.bankingdive.com/news/kabbage-customer-count-paycheck-
protection-program/580982/, last accessed March 22, 2022. As of July 2, 2020,
Kabbage said it approved $5.8 billion in PPP loans for 209,000 customers — 97%
of whom are new to its platform.
51
Supra, fn. 17, Ingrid Lunden, SMB loans platform Kabbage to furlough a
‘significant’ number of staff, close office in Bangalore, TECHCRUNCH (May 30,
2020),
available
at
https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/30/smb-loans-platform-
kabbage-to-furlough-a-significant-number-of-staff-close-office-in-bangalore/, last
accessed March 29, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 32 of 84
-33-
117. Despite processing hundreds of thousands of initial PPP loan
applications—which grossed Kabbage hundreds of millions of dollars in origination
fees—on the back end, Kabbage has been unwilling or unable to process the loan
forgiveness applications of its borrower clients.
118. While it is not clear whether Kabbage’s incompetence is intentional, in
order to keep these loans on its books and thereby generate additional unwarranted
servicing fees on top of unwarranted origination fees or merely negligent, the fact is
Kabbage has basically gutted its loan services operations and has left the vast
majority of its customers frustrated, anxious and scared that their PPP loans will not
be forgiven.
119. Kabbage has refused to comply with SBA regulations on loan
forgiveness and failed its borrower customers in (at least) the following ways:
• Failing to process customers’ applications within the 60-day
turnaround time required by SBA regulations and failing to
respond to customers for months at a time.
120. Despite initially being approved for their relatively small loans (e.g.,
$3,000) in just hours, customers seeking forgiveness have waited several months,
spent hundreds of hours on the phone and replied to countless emails asking them to
(re)submit documents and paperwork that had already been provided or was simply
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 33 of 84
-34-
did not exist.52 When understandably frustrated borrowers did eventually reach
customer service representatives at Kabbage/K Servicing and informed them that
requested documents did not exist or were not applicable to their situation, the
representatives told them “to make one up.”
121. One K Servicing customer wrote expressing a commonly held
sentiment that while Kabbage was quick to issue loans it seemingly had no interest
in actually servicing those very same loans: “They were fast to issue our ppp loan
but it has been a year and I have not heard one word on our forgiveness application
for our ppp loan. I have emailed and no response on how to move forward from
here.”53
• Changing customers’ submitted loan forgiveness applications,
specifically, changing the “Requested Loan Forgiveness Amount”
from the amount of the PPP Loan to be forgiven to “$0,” and then
requiring customers to sign these forged and inaccurate forms.
122. A significant number of Kabbage borrowers report that at some point
in their communications with K Servicing throughout the forgiveness process, K
Servicing sent them a DocuSign version of their SBA forgiveness Form with the
52
Ben Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still waiting for
promised PPP loan forgiveness, Miami Herald (March 8, 2022), attached as Group
Ex. A.
53
William G, Customer Review, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (Marcy 2, 2022),
available
at
https://www.bbb.org/us/ga/atlanta/profile/small-business-loans/k-
servicing-0443-27469815/customer-reviews, last visited March 29, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 34 of 84
-35-
“Requested Loan Forgiveness Amount” wrongfully changed from the correct
amount (the amount of the PPP Loan) to “$0.00” and demanding the borrower sign
and return this document.54
• Repeatedly asking customers for unnecessary documentation
(even after customers have remitted this wholly unnecessary
documentation).
123. K Servicing has repeatedly asked customers for unnecessary
documentation including documents and information throughout the review process
in order to stall the process, causing borrowers confusion, frustration and time loss.
124. For example, K Servicing has wrongfully demanded borrowers send in
articles of incorporation, certificates of organization, voided checks, business utility
bills, business lease agreements, business insurance agreements, personal utility
bills, business tax returns, bank statements, and letters from banks for loans that the
SBA streamlined to not require such documentation.55
54
u/offizstorz,
Spoildtcangel,
e2johnson,
Ornery_Arm8176,
InformationShort660, and Revolutionary-Row845, Original Post and Comments on
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN
FORGIVENESS AND DENIAL, REDDIT, available at
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2020. Several representative
Plaintiffs experienced this practice firsthand. See, infra, ¶¶ 156, 172 & 186.
55
rebelmantn, Wrong_Combination_17, Comments on CLASS ACTION
LAWSUIT AGAINST KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS
AND DENIAL, REDDIT, available at
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 35 of 84
-36-
125. At times the same unnecessary documentation has been “requested on
more than 10 separate occasions” from the same borrower, if not more.56
126. K Servicing has refused to work in good faith with borrowers to allow
them to correct information that may have been wrongly reported due to the failings
of its own software, instead telling a borrower that a correction could not be made
one day after information was submitted and wrongly processed by its software,
despite SBA regulations mandating PPP lenders work in good faith with borrowers
through the forgiveness application process.57
• Refusing to participate into the SBA’s Direct Borrower
Forgiveness Portal, despite its knowledge of its own incompetence
and technical shortcomings.
127. Despite boasting about its technology for the purposes of processing
initial PPP applications, Kabbage has experienced extreme difficulties with its loan
forgiveness processing software, causing it to eliminate its existing loan forgiveness
application processing platform multiple times, forcing borrowers to start the
process over from scratch.58
56
Id.
57
South-Apple-7694, Comment on CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST
KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS AND DENIAL, REDDIT,
available at
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
58
Wrong_Combination_17, Comment on CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST
KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS AND DENIAL, REDDIT,
available
at
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 36 of 84
-37-
128. Customers have repeatedly reported to K Servicing that its online
dashboard is not working and they are unable to submit requested (albeit
unnecessary, per SBA regulations) documents as part of the forgiveness process.
129. Despite knowledge of its own technology’s shortcomings, Kabbage has
refused to opt-in to the SBA’s streamlined loan application forgiveness portal for
loans of $150,000 or less—for which the vast majority of Kabbage-issued loans
would qualify.59
130. One borrower reported in June of 2021: “I applied back in January and
they ignored my application before shutting down the whole portal for the rest of the
year!”60
131. Another borrower reported in August of 2021: “KServicing opened a
portal last Jan. and I applied but they closed it and said I would have to re-apply.
Then they opened one with Biz2Credit in June and I sent in my applications again.
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
59
Sweet_Composer2437 and Rich-Narwhal2100, Comments on CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN
FORGIVENESS AND DENIAL, REDDIT, available at
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
60
biowiz, Anyone Received an Email from KServicing about PPP1 Forgiveness
Application?, REDDIT, available at
https://old.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/nz9mtp/anyone_received_an_email_f
rom_kservicing_about, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 37 of 84
-38-
It closed too and explained I would have to apply when the get their new site open.
Now they claim they are close to having a new forgiveness portal, but they can’t tell
me when or where.”61
132. Still, another borrower stated in November of 2021: “August 2021 -
After many calls, finally received Kservicing email stating that I could apply for PPP
First Draw Loan forgiveness. Kservicing Portal allowed me to complete and
Docusign Form 3508S. Sept 2021 - No response. Portal says forgiveness platform is
launching soon. Called forgiveness hotline and was assured that I’d receive an email
soon. They said they’ve ha[d] technical issues. Oct 2021 - No response. Portal says
forgiveness platform is launching soon. Called forgiveness hotline and was assured
that I’d receive an email soon. They said they’ve ha[d] technical issues. Nov 2021 -
No response. Portal says forgiveness platform is launching soon. Called forgiveness
hotline and was assured that I’d receive an email soon. They said they’ve ha[d]
technical issues. I’m very worried as it says I have to start making payments in
December. It sure seems like this is some sort of scam.”
61
Deadline to Get Forgiveness About to Expire – K Servicing, available at
https://www.socialgrep.com/search?query=kservicing, last accessed March 23,
2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 38 of 84
-39-
133. Despite opening and closing its own portal multiple times due to
technical difficulties, K Servicing inexplicably refused to participate in the SBA’s
streamlined forgiveness application portal.
134. To date, over 1,400 lenders have opted into this portal in order to assist
their small business customers in obtaining the relief they are entitled to.62
• Sending borrowers incorrect bills and past due statements to
intimidate them into making payments on loans that should be
forgiven or are in the process of forgiveness review.
135. One customer relayed in early 2022: “I tried to apply for loan
forgiveness on their website in March 2021, but they announced that they would use
a different application. I have been waiting for months for that link to be sent to my
email, but I have received none, unfortunately.”63
136. The customer’s attempt to access K Servicing’s portal was futile: “I
found and tried to use the link https://kservicingforgiveness.biz2x.com/login, but it
62
See SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, PPP lenders participating in direct
forgiveness (Effective September 23, 2021), downloadable list available at
https://www.sba.gov/document/support-ppp-lenders-participating-direct-
forgiveness, last accessed March 23, 2022.
63
Capable-Ad90, Post KSERVICING/KABBAGE 1st Payment is dues soon and
PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS is nowhere to be found… PLEASE HELP, REDDIT,
available
at
https://old.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/r1nome/kservicingkabbage_1st_paym
ent_is_dues_soon_and/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 39 of 84
-40-
did not work. I have made numerous calls, but they all told me to wait and they are
“trying” their “best.”64
137. Yet, after 9 months of attempted contact and not hearing back from K
Servicing regarding how to apply for forgiveness, the customer received a
notification that payment on their loan was due: “In conclusion, my payment is due
this month, and I have not received an email about the loan forgiveness application.
Could anyone please give me any advice about what I should do? Should I make the
first payment?”65
• Attempting (sometimes successfully) to collect on loans that
should be forgiven.
138. K Servicing has wrongfully attempted to collect on loans that should be
forgiven, but for its incompetency in handling the loan forgiveness application
process.
139. Some customers made payments upwards of thousands of dollars
because K Servicing told them they were required to do so, until K Servicing later
posted a statement on its website stating the actual SBA policy that payments are
deferred until a forgiveness application is processed.66
64
Id.
65
Id.
66
Ornery_Arm8176, Comment on CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST
KSERVICING/KABBAGE for PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS AND DENIAL, REDDIT,
available
at
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140. While a few customers that made these incorrect payments have been
able to recoup some of the funds illegally obtained by Kabbage,67 others have not.
141. As time passes, more and more borrowers are in danger of falling prey
to Kabbage’s collection tactics, feeling they must make payments to avoid long-term
consequences to their credit.68
CLASS REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCES
A.
Jason Carr
142. Plaintiff Jason Carr is a resident and citizen of Forsyth County, North
Carolina.
143. On July 15, 2020, Plaintiff Carr applied for a $17,973.00 PPP loan
through Kabbage.
144. At the time he applied, Carr submitted all required documentation
including his tax returns, 1099s, bank statements, and a copy of voided checks,
among other items.
https://www.reddit.com/r/EIDLPPP/comments/ql2hpd/class_action_lawsuit_agains
t_kservicingkabbage/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
67
See Group Ex. A, Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still
waiting for promised PPP loan forgiveness, detailing a customer who repaid $3500
of his $14,000 PPP loan while he was in the middle of the forgiveness application
review process.
68
See, e.g., Group Ex. A, Small Businesses Still Face $28 Billion of Unforgiven
PPP Loans, That lingering debt is creating a burden for the smallest businesses,
including many run by minority entrpreneurs, BLOOMBERG EQUITY CAPITAL, Amy
Yee & Andre Tartar (Feb. 17, 2022).
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145. On July 16, 2020, Carr’s PPP loan application was approved in the
amount of $17,973.00.69
146. On August 16, 2021, several months after other servicers were
accepting and processing forgiveness applications, Kabbage informed Carr that he
could apply for loan forgiveness.
147. Carr applied for forgiveness of his PPP Loan on August 19, 2021.
148. The 60-day window for K Servicing to make a determination regarding
Carr’s forgiveness passed in October 2021.
149. Carr did not hear anything regarding his loan forgiveness application
from K Servicing until December of 2021.70
150. According to Customers Bank, Carr’s application was “prompted for
additional review” whereupon K Servicing, on or about December 23, 2021,
requested Carr to provide the following information: (i) Color copy of voided check;
(ii) Business utility bills; (iii) Business lease agreement; (iv) Business tax returns;
(v) Previous three month bank statements; (vi) Bank letter and (vii) IRS transcript.
69
See “PPP Loan Data – Jason Russell Carr, Lewsville, NC,” available at
https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/jason-russell-carr-
lewisville-nc, last accessed March 23, 2022.
70
Notably, interest accrues on PPP loans from the date of funding so the delay
in processing forgiveness applications has additional negative consequences for
those borrowers who are ultimately denied forgiveness.
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151. Carr is an independent contractor, and he therefore qualifies to apply
for forgiveness using the 3508S short form, which does not require any forgiveness
documentation unless requested from SBA.
152. K Servicing persisted in its attempts to force Carr to provide
unnecessary (and, in some instances, non-existent) documentation.
153. For example, on December 27, 2021, K Servicing requested Carr to
provide the following information: (i) Color copy of voided checks; (ii) Personal
utility bills (e.g., electric, gas, water) ; (iii) Previous three month bank statements;
(iv) IRS EIN Documents and (v) Personal Lease Agreement.
154. In response, Carr informed K Servicing that he “has no personal leases,
[and that he is] an independent contractor with no EIN document.”
155. Undaunted, K Servicing continued in its efforts to collect unnecessary
and non-existent documentation and ultimately, on December 29, 2021, K Servicing
declined Carr’s forgiveness application.71
156. After denying Carr’s application, K Servicing then sent Carr a
forgiveness application with the forgiveness amount pre-populated as “$0.00,”
meaning that if Carr signed that document he would not be requesting forgiveness
of any amount of his PPP loan.
71
Plaintiff Carr could not appeal K Servicing’s denial of his forgiveness
application because only a determination by the SBA can be appealed, not one made
by a servicer of a PPP loan.
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157. Carr did not sign the pre-populated K Servicing PPP loan forgiveness
form.
158. According to federalpay.org, the current status of Carr’s $17,973 PPP
loan is “ongoing.”
159. To make matters worse, in addition to attempting to collecting
unnecessary documentation multiple times (which ostensibly re-started its 60-day
clock under SBA guidelines) and then unjustly denying his forgiveness application,
K Servicing has initiated collection efforts against Carr:
B.
Vicki LeMaster
160. Plaintiff Vicki LeMaster is a resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
161. Plaintiff LeMaster applied for and received a modest $3,000 PPP Loan
in May of 2020.
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162. Further to the terms of the PPP program, the loan would be forgiven if
the funds were used for approved purposes, like rent or payroll.
163. As detailed in the Miami Herald article entitled “Unforgiven: Two years
later, small businesses still waiting for promised PPP loan forgiveness,” the process
of obtaining forgiveness of LeMaster’s loan has been incredibly flawed:
While it took just hours for LeMaster, who is an
independent contractor, to get approved by Kabbage for
her loan, the lender is now asking for the money back and
her application for forgiveness has still not been
approved seven months later. She said she’s spent
hundreds of hours on the phone and replied to numerous
emails asking her to resubmit documents and paperwork
that she had already provided. Calls to the SBA for help
got her nowhere.72
C.
Edward Ford
Services LLC
164. Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC is a Michigan Limited Liability
Company, with its principal address in Canton, Michigan.
165. On or about July 12, 2020, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC was
approved for a PPP loan in the amount of $15,617.
166. In or about December of 2020, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC
applied for forgiveness with K Servicing for its PPP loan in the amount of $15,617.
72
Group Ex. A, Wieder, Unforgiven: Two Years later, small businesses still
waiting for promised PPP loan forgiveness.
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167. In or about January 2021, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC received
various communications from K Servicing requesting it to provide additional,
unnecessary and oftentimes non-existent documents.
168. Through Dejuan Ford, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC attempted
to contact customer service at K Servicing to discuss the fact that K Servicing kept
requesting previously provided documents or documents that were not applicable to
the borrower.
169. Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC was informed by K Servicing, at
that time, given the pendency of Round 2 of PPP loans, that all forgiveness
applications were on hold.
170. Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC was likewise informed that K
Servicing was migrating its system to a new portal (whereupon he would have to re-
apply).
171. In early November of 2021, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC
received an email from K Servicing informing that its forgiveness loan application
was denied.
172. At or about that same time (November 2021), Plaintiff Edward Ford
Services LLC received another forgiveness loan application from K Servicing;
however, this loan application pre-populated the amount to be forgiven loan amount
to “$0.00.”
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173. In November and December 2021, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services
LLC, by and through Dejuan Ford, attempted to get any clarity regarding this new
application.
174. Mr. Ford was informed that he should just sign that loan forgiveness
application since it was up to the SBA in any event.
175. Despite the fact that Mr. Ford signed that loan forgiveness application
(and despite the fact that he was seeking forgiveness of the full loan amount), K
Servicing nonetheless sent several additional emails over the following months
requesting Mr. Ford to sign the same forgiveness application.
176. As recently as March 1, 2022, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC has
received communications from K Servicing requesting that Mr. Ford complete the
loan forgiveness application (which Mr. Ford completed and submitted on behalf of
Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC in December of 2020).
177. K Servicing is now attempting to collect on the PPP Loan, representing
that the first payment is due on or before March 15, 2022.
D.
Carlton Morgan
178. Plaintiff Carlton Morgan is a resident of Los Angeles County,
California.
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179. On July 5, 2020, Morgan was approved for a PPP Loan in the amount
of $8,125.73
180. In or about March 2021, Morgan applied for forgiveness using
Kabbage’s “Core Portal.”
181. Plaintiff Morgan had to reach out and contact customer services
representatives in order to find out any information regarding his forgiveness
applications.
182. In the instances where he was able to connect with a live person, they
informed him that Kabbage was not processing any forgiveness applications because
of anticipated additional guidance from the SBA and/or that Kabbage was
transitioning to a new portal from biz2credit and that would be operational “shortly.”
183. Eventually the new Kabbage (biz2credit) portal was operational and
Morgan re-applied for forgiveness in or about October of 2021.
184. While the application itself was straightforward, the “follow-up” from
Kabbage/K Servicing to collect documents not required by SBA was relentless and
eventually resulted in the supposed denial of his forgiveness application.
73
See “PPP Loan Data – Carlton Morgan, Los Angeles, CA,” available at
https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/carlton-morgan-los-
angeles-ca, last accessed March 23, 2022.
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185. On or about December 20, 2021, Plaintiff Morgan received an email
from K Servicing informing him that his forgiveness application had been denied
because it had been “unable to verify” the information provided in his application:
186. Also, on or about December 20, 2021, Plaintiff Morgan then received
a second email from K Servicing containing a pre-populated forgiveness application
with the amount of the forgiveness request set to “$0.00.”
187. Plaintiff Morgan has provided the same documentation multiple times.
188. Plaintiff Morgan was (and continues to seek) seeking forgiveness of the
entire amount of his PPP Loan of $8,125.
189. Despite the fact that SBA guidelines specify that borrowers do not owe
any payments on PPP Loans unless and until a decision on a forgiveness request is
rendered by the SBA, K Servicing is attempting to collect on a non-existent debt:
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Dear Carlton,
Your PPP Cares Act Loan is past due. This failure to pay your scheduled
repayment amount when due has resulted in a breach of the SBA Note you
executed when you received your PPP Loan. Your account has been sent to
our collections department. Escalated collections activity has begun, of
which you may already have been notified.
Please note that if this loan is not repaid in full, the loan will be assigned to
the SBA for the SBA to undertake its own collection activity, which can
include referral of the loan to the Department of Treasury for further
collection efforts.
Please log into your account today and make a payment.
If you have filed an appeal of your Forgiveness decision, please notify us at
pppforgiveness@kservicing.com.
Regards,
The KServicing Team
190. Even more perplexing is the fact that Plaintiff Morgan has received
even more communications from K Servicing—after notifying him that his account
is past due and has been sent to collections—indicating that they are still trying to
review his loan for forgiveness:
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191. To recap, at this time, K Servicing has simultaneously (i) told Plaintiff
Morgan that they are unable to verify his information and that his loan is denied, (ii)
sent him an altered loan forgiveness document, (iii) sent him a past-due notice in an
effort to illegally collect on a debt that should not actually be due and (iv) told him
that they are still requesting documents in order to process his forgiveness
application. All the while, the funder of his loan (Customer’s Bank) is saying that
he should be able to receive forgiveness for his loan via the SBA Direct Borrower
Forgiveness Portal. But alas K Servicing will not let him nor will it actually process
his forbearance application.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 51 of 84
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192. As a result, Plaintiff Morgan has spent hundreds of hours on the phone
and emailing K Servicing, lodging complaints with the BBB, reaching out to the
SBA and Customer’s Bank, all in an attempt to get K Servicing to process his
application for forgiveness of his $8,125 PPP Loan.
D.
365 Sun LLC
193. Plaintiff 365 Sun LLC is a Florida Limited Liability Company, with its
principal place of business in Palmetto, Florida.
194. On or about May 1, 2020, Plaintiff 365 Sun was approved for a PPP
loan in the amount of $7,298.
195. In or about December of 2020, Plaintiff 365 Sun applied for forgiveness
with K Servicing for its PPP loan in the amount of $7,298.
196. On January 12, 2021, Plaintiff 365 Sun received an email from K
Servicing informing that its “loan forgiveness application is now being reviewed.”
197. Thereafter, on March 2, 2021, Plaintiff 365 Sun received an email from
K Servicing stating that its loan forgiveness application had been reviewed and
verified forgiveness amount of $7,298.
198. Despite these acknowledgements and the fact that Plaintiff Sun 365
provided all documentation in connection with its forgiveness application in
December of 2020, K Servicing continues to request previously provided or, in some
cases, non-existent documentation.
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199. K Servicing maintains that it was migrating all borrowers and
forgiveness applications to a new (biz2credit) platform but then it waited several
months before reaching out to Plaintiff 365 Sun regarding its long-pending
application.
200. After numerous calls, K Servicing informed Plaintiff 365 Sun not to
worry and that it should continue to wait while the new platform becomes
operational.
201. Several months later, K Servicing then informs Plaintiff 365 Sun that it
is past due on its PPP loan.
202. Unbelievably, in or about March of 2022, K Servicing sent Plaintiff 365
Sun an email with steps to begin the application for forgiveness process but true to
form the link included in the email did not allow Plaintiff 365 Sun to access K
Servicing’s portal.
203. K Servicing is attempting to collect on Plaintiff 365 Sun’s PPP Loan
despite the fact that it has a long-pending forgiveness application.
F.
Candice Worthy
204. Plaintiff Candice Worthy is a resident and citizen of Chatham County,
Georgia.
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205. On June 28, 2020, Worthy was approved for a PPP Loan in the amount
of $10,000.74
206. In or about December 2020, Plaintiff Worthy initially applied for
forgiveness for her PPP Loan.75
207. In or about January 2021, Plaintiff Worthy re-applied for forgiveness
for her PPP Loan.
208. Thereafter, Plaintiff Worthy was told to wait while the K Servicing
portal was switched to the biz2credit portal and that she would be sent a link when
it was operational and she could continue with her forgiveness application.
209. Despite the SBA’s guidelines regarding PPP Loans under $150,000
Plaintiff Worthy continues to receive communications from K Servicing’s
verification team requesting her to “upload documents.”
210. Plaintiff Worthy, a self-employed independent contractor, has provided
all pertinent documentation numerous times.
74
See “PPP Loan Data – Candice Worthy, Savannah, GA,” available at
https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/candice-worthy-
savannah-ga, last accessed March 23, 2022.
75
Notably, Plaintiff Worthy applied for and received forgiveness for her second
PPP Loan without delay. See “PPP Loan Data – Candice Worthy, Savannah, GA,”
available at https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/candice-
worthy-savannah-ga, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 54 of 84
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211. Plaintiff Worthy has spent numerous hours on the phone and emailing
K Servicing attempting to force them to process her loan forgiveness application,
not to mention additional time spent working with the Better Business Bureau
(“BBB”) in an attempt to get K Servicing to comply with its obligations under the
PPP and the SBA guidelines.
212. Plaintiff Worthy has received emails from K Servicing requesting
payment on her PPP Loan despite the fact that SBA guidelines specify that
borrowers do not owe any payments on PPP Loans unless and until a decision on a
forgiveness request is rendered.
CLASS ALLEGATIONS
213. Plaintiffs bring this complaint on behalf of themselves and all others
similarly situated under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2) and 23(b)(3).
214. The Nationwide Class that Plaintiffs seek to represent is defined as
follows:
All borrowers of PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or
less serviced by K Servicing for which the borrower has
applied for but not received forgiveness of the entire
amount of the PPP loan (the “Nationwide Class”).
215. In addition, Plaintiffs LeMaster and 365 Sun LLC seek to represent the
following Florida Sub-Class:
All borrowers that are domiciled in the State of Florida
with PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or less serviced
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 55 of 84
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by K Servicing for which the borrower has applied for but
not received forgiveness (the “Florida Sub-Class”).
216. In addition, Plaintiff Worthy seeks to represent the following Georgia
Sub-Class:
All borrowers that are domiciled in the State of Georgia
with PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or less serviced
by K Servicing for which the borrower has applied for but
not received forgiveness (the “Georgia Sub-Class”).
217. In addition, Plaintiff Morgan seeks to represent the following California
Sub-Class:
All borrowers that are domiciled in the State of California
with PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or less serviced
by K Servicing for which the borrower has applied for but
not received forgiveness (the “California Sub-Class”).
218. In addition, Plaintiff Carr seeks to represent the following North
Carolina Sub-Class:
All borrowers that are domiciled in the North Carolina
with PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or less serviced
by K Servicing for which the borrower has applied for but
not received forgiveness (the “North Carolina Sub-
Class”).
219. In addition, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC seeks to represent the
following Michigan Sub-Class:
All borrowers that are domiciled in the State of Michigan
with PPP loans in the amount of $150,000 or less serviced
by K Servicing for which the borrower has applied for but
not received forgiveness (the “Michigan Sub-Class”).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 56 of 84
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220. Excluded from the Classes and Sub-Classes are Defendant’s officers,
directors and employees; the judicial officers and associated court staff assigned to
this case and the immediate family members of such officers and staff.
221. Numerosity: The exact number of members of the Classes and Sub-
Classes is unknown and is not available to Plaintiffs at this time; but, consistent with
Rule 23(a)(1), the members of the Class are so numerous and geographically
dispersed that joinder of all Class members is impracticable. Based on publicly
available documents, each of the Classes likely numbers in the thousands or more;
recent media reports note that “as of early January [2022], there were 349,372
unforgiven loans and another 380,000 that were partially forgiven.”76 Class
members may be identified through objective means, notably, Defendant’s records.
222. Commonality and Predominance. Consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P.
23(a)(2) and with 23(b)(3)’s commonality and predominance requirements, there are
many questions of law and fact common to the claims of Plaintiffs and the other
Class members, and those questions predominate over any questions that may affect
individual members of the Classes. Common questions for the Classes include,
without limitation, the following:
76
See Small Businesses Still Face $28 Billion of Unforgiven PPP Loans, That
lingering debt is creating a burden for the smallest businesses, including many run
by minority entrepreneurs, BLOOMBERG EQUALITY CAPITAL, Amy Yee & Andre
Tartar (Feb. 17, 2022).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 57 of 84
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A.
Whether K Servicing negligently or intentionally failed to timely
process thousands of PPP Loan forgiveness applications;
B.
Whether K Servicing’s actions or inactions violated the
consumer protection statutes invoked herein;
C.
Whether Plaintiffs, Class members, and Sub-Class members
were damaged by K Servicing’s conduct and, if so, the
appropriate amount of such damages;
D.
Whether, because of K Servicing’s misconduct, Plaintiffs, Class
Members, and Sub-Class members are entitled to declaratory
relief and, if so, the nature of such relief.
223. Typicality: Consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(3), the representative
Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of the claims of the other members of the Classes and
Sub-Classes. Plaintiffs and members of the Classes and Sub-Classes sustained
damages as a result of Defendant’s wrongful conduct in failing to timely process
forgiveness applications for PPP Loans under $150,000.
224. Adequate Representation: Consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4),
Plaintiffs have and will continue to fairly and adequately represents the interests of
the Classes and Sub-Classes, and have retained counsel competent and experienced
in complex litigation and class actions. Plaintiffs and their counsel are committed
to vigorously prosecuting this action on behalf of the members of the Classes and
Sub-Classes, and they have the resources to do so. Neither Plaintiffs nor their
counsel have any interest adverse to those of the other members of the Classes and
Sub-Classes.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 58 of 84
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225. Superiority: Consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P 23(b)(3), class action
litigation is superior to any other available means for the fair and efficient
adjudication of this controversy. Individual litigation by each Class member would
strain the court system because of the numerous members of the Class. This case is
appropriate for certification because class proceedings are superior to all other
available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this controversy because
litigation of the claims of all Class members and Sub-Class members is economically
unfeasible and procedurally impracticable. While the aggregate damages sustained
by the Class members and Sub-Class members are likely in the millions of dollars,
the individual damages incurred by each Class member are too small to warrant the
expense of individual lawsuits. Even if members of the Classes and Sub-Classes
themselves could sustain such individual litigation, it would not be preferable to a
class action because individual litigation would increase the delay and expense to all
parties and the Court and require duplicative consideration of the legal and factual
issues presented herein. By contrast, a class action presents far fewer management
difficulties and provides benefits of single adjudication, economy of scale, and
comprehensive supervision by a single Court. Economies of time, effort, and
expense will be fostered, and uniformity of decisions will be ensured.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 59 of 84
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226. K Servicing has, or has access to, address and/or other contact
information for the Class members and Sub-Class members, which may be used to
provide notice of the pendency of this action.
227. Injunctive and Declaratory Relief. Consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P.
23(b)(2), Defendant, through its uniform conduct, acted or refused to act on grounds
generally applicable to the Class as a whole, making injunctive and declaratory relief
appropriate to the class as a whole.
GEORGIA LAW SHOULD APPLY TO PLAINTIFFS AND ALL CLASSES
AS A WHOLE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SPECIFIED SUB-
CLASSES
228. The State of Georgia has a significant interest in regulating the conduct
of businesses operating within its borders.
229. Georgia, which seeks to protect the rights and interests of Georgia and
all residents and citizens of the United States against a company headquartered and
doing business in Georgia, has a greater interest in the claims of Plaintiffs and the
Classes than any other state and is most intimately concerned with the claims and
outcome of this litigation.
230. The principal place of business and headquarters of Kabbage/ K
Servicing, located at 925B Peachtree Street NE Suite 383, Atlanta, GA, 30309, is
the “nerve center” of its business activities – the place where its high-level officers
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 60 of 84
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direct, control and coordinate Defendant’s activities, including major policy,
financial and legal decisions.
231. Defendant’s actions and corporate decisions surrounding the
allegations made in the Complaint were made from and in Georgia.
232. Defendant’s breaches of duty to Plaintiffs and Class members emanated
from Georgia.
233. Application of Georgia law to the Classes with respect to Plaintiffs’ and
the Classes’ claims is neither arbitrary nor fundamentally unfair because Georgia
has significant contacts and a significant aggregation of contacts that create a state
interest in the claims of Plaintiffs and the Classes.
234. Moreover, K Servicing’s Terms of Service state that “[t]hese Terms of
Service shall be governed by the internal substantive laws of the State of Georgia,
without respect to its conflict of laws principles. Any claim or dispute between you
and Kabbage, Inc. that arises in whole or in part from the Website or the Services
shall be decided exclusively by a court of competent jurisdiction located in Atlanta,
Georgia.”77
77
KABBAGE,
“Kabbage,
Inc.
Terms
of
Service,”
available
at
https://www.kservicing.com/legal/tos/, last accessed March 21, 2022.
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235. Under Georgia’s choice of law principles, which are applicable to this
action, the common law of Georgia applies to the nationwide common law claims
of all Class members.
236. Additionally, given Georgia’s significant interest in regulating the
conduct of businesses operating within its borders, and that Georgia has the most
significant relationship to Defendants, as they are headquartered in Georgia, and
their executives and officers are located and made decisions which have given rise
to the allegations and claims asserted herein, there is no conflict in applying Georgia
law to non-resident consumers such as Plaintiffs and the Classes.
CAUSES OF ACTION
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Declaratory Judgment Further to the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §
2201
And Injunctive Relief
(On behalf of all Plaintiffs and the Nationwide Class)
237. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
238. Under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, et seq., this
Court is authorized to enter a judgment declaring the rights and legal relations of the
parties and to grant further necessary relief. Furthermore, the Court has broad
authority to restrain acts, such as here, that are tortious and violate the terms of the
federal and state statutes described herein.
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239. An actual controversy has arisen in light of the fact that the SBA has
issued an Interim Final Rule streamlining the forgiveness application process for
PPP Loans under $150,000 should be forgiven and as a result of K Servicing’s
unwillingness and/or inability to process Plaintiffs’ and the Class members’ PPP
Loan forgiveness applications, as detailed herein.
240. Plaintiffs maintain that K Servicing’s processing of its borrower
clients’ PPP loan forgiveness applications for loans under $150,000 remains
inadequate.
241. K Servicing maintains that it is doing everything it can to support its
small business clients.
242. Plaintiffs and the Class members continue to suffer injury as a result of
K Servicing’s inability to timely and accurately process the loan applications.
243. Plaintiffs and the Nationwide Class members seek a declaration, in
accordance with the SBA regulations and pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act,
28 U.S.C. § 2201, that:
a. Defendant is obligated to review and to process loan forgiveness
applications in good faith and within the 60-day time frame
according to SBA regulations;
b. Defendant is obligated to process PPP loan forgiveness
applications for loans equal to or less than $150,000 via Form
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3508S, according to SBA regulations; and,
c. that Defendants is obligated to process PPP loan forgiveness
applications and may not require any documentation other than that
explicitly required by SBA regulations.
244. This Court also should issue corresponding prospective injunctive relief
requiring K Servicing to abide by SBA regulations for processing loans of $150,000
and under, including, but not limited to, immediately ceasing to ask for
documentation that is not required by SBA regulations and allowing borrowers to
utilize the streamlined application process. If an injunction is not issued, Plaintiffs
will suffer irreparable injury, and lack an adequate legal remedy. Plaintiffs will not
have an adequate remedy at law because many of the resulting injuries are not readily
quantifiable, and are not recoverable (time and effort), and they will be forced to
bring multiple lawsuits to rectify the same conduct.
245. The hardship to Plaintiffs if an injunction does not issue exceeds the
hardship to K Servicing if an injunction is issued as the “cost” to K Servicing of
complying with an injunction by following SBA guidelines is minimal, and K
Servicing has a pre-existing legal obligation to employ such measures.
246. Ironically, if K Servicing had elected to participate in the SBA’s Direct
Borrower Forgiveness Portal, then many of the issues complaint about herein could
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have been avoided. The “burden” of compelling K Servicing to comply with SBA
guidelines and to timely process loan forgiveness applications is minimal.
247. Issuance of the requested injunction will not disserve the public interest.
To the contrary, such an injunction would benefit the public by allowing many
borrowers of PPP loans under $150,000 to receive forgiveness of those loans, thus
eliminating the additional injuries that would result to Plaintiffs and consumers in
the future.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
Unjust Enrichment
(On behalf of Plaintiffs & the Nationwide Class)
248. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
249. Unjust enrichment, or restitution, may be alleged where a defendant
unjustly obtains and retains a benefit to the plaintiff’s detriment, where such
retention violates fundamental principles of equity, justice and good conscience.
250. Here, Defendant has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits
in the form of PPP loan origination fees not to mention, on information and belief,
additional, undisclosed fees for servicing PPP loans.
251. Defendant would not have obtained this benefit but-for its small
business customers (Plaintiffs and class members) that entrusted it to service their
loans.
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252. Defendant has fallen short in its duties as servicers for these PPP loans
and have frustrated Congressional intent to aid small businesses during a global
health crisis no less.
253. Because Defendant has been unwilling or unable to adequately service
the plaintiffs’ and class members loans, principles of justice, equity and good
conscience demand that Defendant not be allowed to retain these fees.
254. Accordingly, Defendant should be ordered to disgorge the portion of
any and all PPP origination fees that it has retained.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et seq. (“UCL”)
(On Behalf of Plaintiff Morgan & the California Sub-Class)
255. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
256. Defendant is subject to the Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), Business
& Professions Code, §§ 17200, et seq.
257. The UCL provides, in pertinent part: “Unfair competition shall mean
and include unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices…”
258. Defendant violated the “unlawful” prong of the UCL by violating
California’s Rosenthal Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1788, et seq., and the federal Fair
Debt Collections Practice Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692, et seq.
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259. Defendant’s conduct, described herein, violated the “unfair” prong of
the UCL because Defendant’s conduct was immoral, unethical, unscrupulous or
substantially injurious to consumers and the utility of its conduct, if any, does not
outweigh the gravity of the harm to its victims.
260. Defendant’s conduct with respect to servicing the PPP loans it
disbursed, including but not limited to its incompetence throughout the loan
forgiveness application process for its borrowers, was unfair because it violates
public policy, in that the very victims of its services were the small businesses that
the SBA and Congress endeavored to help through PPP emergency loans.
261. Defendant’s conduct with respect to servicing the PPP loans it
disbursed, including but not limited to its incompetence throughout the loan
forgiveness application process for its borrowers, was unfair because the consumer
injuries are substantial, not outweighed by any benefits to consumers or competition,
and none of Defendant’s borrowers could have reasonably avoided falling victim to
Defendant’s failures.
262. Defendant’s conduct, described herein, violated the “fraudulent” prong
of the UCL.
263. A statement or practice is “fraudulent” under the UCL if it is likely to
mislead or deceive the public, applying an objective reasonable consumer test.
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264. The objective reasonable consumer would have been misled or
deceived by Defendant’s statements and representations regarding its abilities to
carry out its obligations as a service of PPP loans and to process loan forgiveness
applications in good faith, according to SBA regulations, and within the mandated
time period contained therein.
265. Defendant profited from its misleading statements by inducing
prospective borrowers to choose it as a loan disburser and servicer, only later to be
subjected to stress and unfair treatment throughout the loan forgiveness application
process.
266. Defendant’s conduct caused substantial injury to Plaintiff Morgan, and
the other California Sub-Class Members. Plaintiffs have suffered injury in fact as a
result of Defendant’s unlawful, unfair and fraudulent conduct.
267. Plaintiff Morgan and California Sub-Class Members were damaged
because they have suffered and will continue to suffer injury, ascertainable losses of
money or property, and monetary and non-monetary damages, including but not
limited to wasting hundreds and hundreds and hours of time, and in some cases
precious financial resource, with K Servicing’s “customer service,” reapplying
multiple times after K Servicing switched application portals, being asked to provide
documentation above and beyond what the SBA’s regulations actually require, being
asked to provide documentation that they previously submitted (multiple times),
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receiving documents that contain inaccurate information about their financing and
accounts, and being asked to make payments on loans that should have been forgiven
long ago.
268. In accordance with Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203, Plaintiff Morgan and
the California Sub-Class seek an order enjoining Defendant from continuing to
violate SBA regulations on processing loan forgiveness applications by refusing to
adhere to the 60-day timeline and repeatedly requesting unnecessary documentation.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Georgia Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Ga. Code Ann. §§ 10-1-370, et seq.
(On behalf of Plaintiff Worthy & the Nationwide Sub-Class)
269. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
270. Defendant, Plaintiff Worthy and the Georgia Sub-Class Members are
“persons” within the meaning of § 10-1-371(5) of the Georgia Uniform Deceptive
Trade Practices Act (“Georgia UDTPA”).
271. Defendant has engaged in deceptive trade practices in the conduct of its
business, in violation of Ga. Code § 110-1-372(a), including:
• Representing that goods or services have characteristics that they do
not have;
• Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard,
quality, or grade if they are of another;
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• Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as
advertised and
• Engaging in other conduct that creates a likelihood of confusion or
misunderstanding.
272. Defendant’s deceptive trade practices include:
• Representing on its website under a section titled “Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness” that customers will
“enjoy the same great service and security you’ve come to expect
with your line of credit – just through our new website.”78;
• Representing on its website, under a FAQ “When will I receive my
forgiveness decision?”, that “K Servicing has 60 days from receipt
of a complete loan forgiveness application to issue a
recommendation to the SBA, and the SBA is required to issue a
decision within 90 days after the lender issues its recommendation
to the SBA,” indicating to customers that their loan forgiveness
decisions would be finalized within 150 days.79;
• Representing the loan forgiveness timeline with misleading visuals,
including but not limited to:
78
Kabbage, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/, last accessed March 23,
2022.
79
Kabbage, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/, last accessed March 23,
2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 70 of 84
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Source: KABBAGE80
• Representing on its website that “borrowers with loans under
$150,000 who qualify to use the new Form 3508S may not need to
submit any supporting documentation,” but continuing to demand
thousands of customers with loans under this threshold continue
submitting unnecessary documentation.81;
• Representing on its website that only the following information was
needed for loan forgiveness application, yet repeatedly requesting
unnecessary documentation not included on that list, nor included in
SBA regulations, from borrowers when they actually began the loan
forgiveness application process:
80
KABBAGE, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/, last accessed March 23,
2022.
81
KABBAGE, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/, last accessed March 23,
2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 71 of 84
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Source: KABBAGE82
• Defendant edited and sent DocuSign versions of loan forgiveness
applications to Plaintiffs and Class Members, with “$0.00” reported
as “Requested Loan Forgiveness Amount,” in an effort to induce
Plaintiffs and Class Members into attesting to false information
82
KABBAGE, How to Calculate PPP Loan Forgiveness and Apply, available at
https://www.kservicing.com/resources/how-to-calculate-ppp-loan-forgiveness-and-
apply/, last accessed March 23, 2022.
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 72 of 84
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about the amount of loan forgiveness they were seeking and entitled
to.
273. Defendant’s representations and omissions were material because
Defendant knew or had reason to believe that borrowers would rely on its
instructions and timelines related to loan forgiveness applications, despite knowing
or having reason to believe that these instructions and timelines were grossly
inaccurate and would not be followed by Defendant.
274. Likewise, Defendant’s representations and omissions were material
because Defendant knew or had reason to believe that it did not have the proper
staffing and technological capacity to process a high volume of loan forgiveness
applications in the time mandated by SBA regulations, yet Defendant knew
borrowers would rely on Defendant’s representations of itself as a competent loan
disburser and servicer.
275. Defendant intended to mislead Plaintiffs and the Georgia Sub-Class
Members and induce them to rely on their misrepresentations and omissions.
276. In the course of their business, Defendant engaged in activities with a
tendency or capacity to deceive.
277. Defendant acted intentionally, knowingly and maliciously to violate
Georgia’s Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and recklessly disregarded
Plaintiff Worthy’s and the Georgia Sub-Class Members’ rights.
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278. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ deceptive trade
practices, Plaintiff Worthy and the Georgia Sub-Class Members have suffered and
will continue to suffer injury, ascertainable losses of money or property, and
monetary and non-monetary damages, including, but not limited to, wasting
hundreds and hundreds and hours of time, and in some cases precious financial
resources, with K Servicing’s “customer service,” reapplying multiple times after K
Servicing switched application portals, being asked to provide documentation above
and beyond what the SBA’s regulations actually require, being asked to provide
documentation that they previously submitted (multiple times), receiving documents
that contain inaccurate information about their financing and accounts, and being
asked to make payments on loans that should have been forgiven long ago.
279. Plaintiff Worthy and the Georgia Sub-Class Members seek all relief
allowed by law including injunctive relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs
under Ga. Code § 10-1-373.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act
N.C.G.S §§ 75, et seq.
(On behalf of Plaintiff Jason Carr & the North Carolina Sub-Class)
280. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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281. Defendant’s acts and omissions as set forth herein were in or affecting
commerce.
282. As set forth herein, Defendant has violated the provisions of N.G.C.S.
§ 75-54, by attempting to collect a debt by fraudulent, deceptive or misleading
representation.
283. Defendant misled Carr for months on end, repeatedly requiring him to
submit unnecessary paperwork.
284. After denying Carr’s application, K Servicing then fraudulently sent
Carr a forgiveness application with the forgiveness amount pre-populated as
“$0.00,” meaning that if Carr signed that document he would not be requesting
forgiveness of any amount of his PPP loan.
Thereafter, Defendant continued its deceptive practices, contacting Carr to collect
on his PPP loan by emailing him to tell him his loan was in default and that multiple
payments were overdue
285. N.C.G.S. § 75-16 provides: “If any person shall be injured or the
business of any person, firm or corporation shall be broken up, destroyed or injured
by reason of any act or thing done by any other person, firm or corporation in
violation of the provisions of this Chapter, such person, firm or corporation so
injured shall have a right of action on account of such injury done, and if damages
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 75 of 84
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are assessed in such case judgment shall be rendered in favor of the plaintiff and
against the defendant for treble the amount fixed by the verdict.”
286. Defendant has committed unfair and deceptive trade practices as
defined by N.G.C.S. § 75-16.
287. Plaintiff Carr and North Carolina Sub-Class members are entitled to an
award of treble damages against Defendant pursuant to N.G.C.S. § 75-16.
SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Michigan Consumer Protection Act (“MPCA”)
Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §§ 445.901, et seq.
(On behalf of Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC & the Michigan Sub-Class)
288. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
289. Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC and Defendant are “person[s]”
within the meaning of § 445.902(d) of the MCPA.
290. Defendant is engaged in “trade or commerce” within the meaning of §
445.902(g) of the MCPA via its marketing of its small business lending services.
291. Defendant’s conduct, as described above, constitutes unlawful conduct
of trade or commerce within the meaning of § 445.903 of the MCPA, including, but
not limited to, specifically § 445.903(e) representing its services are of a particular
standard, quality, or grade if they are another; § 445.903(g) advertising or
representing its service with intent not to dispose of those services as advertised or
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 76 of 84
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represented; § 445.903(n) causing a probability of confusion or of misunderstanding
as to the legal rights, obligations or remedies of a party to a transaction; § 445.903(o)
causing a probability of misunderstanding as to the terms or conditions of credit if
credit is extended in a transaction; § 445.903(q) representing or implying its services
will be provided promptly or at a specified time, or within a reasonable time,
knowing or having reason to know it will not so be provided; § 445.903(v) taking or
arranging for the consumer to sign a writing affirming acceptance, delivery,
compliance with a requirement of law, or other performance, knowing or having
reason to know that the statement is not true.
292. Under Section 445.911 of the MCPA, Plaintiff Edward Ford Services
LLC and the Michigan Sub-Class have standing to pursue this claim because they
suffered an ascertainable loss resulting from Defendant’s conduct. Accordingly,
Plaintiff Edward Ford Services LLC seeks damages, restitution, declaratory and
injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs of suit on behalf of itself and the Michigan
Subclass.
SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act
Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201, et seq.
(On behalf of Plaintiffs Vicki LeMaster & 365 Sun LLC & the Florida Sub-
Class)
293. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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294. Plaintiffs Vicki LeMaster and 365 Sun LLC and the Florida Sub-Class
members are “consumer[s]” as defined by Fla. Stat. § 501.203.
295. Kabbage/K Servicing advertised and offered services in Florida and
engaged in commerce directly or indirectly affecting the people of Florida.
296. K Servicing engaged in unconscionable, unfair, and deceptive acts and
practices in the conduct of trade and commerce, in violation of Fla. Stat. §
501.204(1), including:
297. Defendant’s deceptive trade practices include:
• Representing on its website under a section titled “Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness” that customers will
“enjoy the same great service and security you’ve come to expect
with your line of credit – just through our new website.”83;
• Representing on its website, under a FAQ “When will I receive my
forgiveness decision?”, that “K Servicing has 60 days from receipt
of a complete loan forgiveness application to issue a
recommendation to the SBA, and the SBA is required to issue a
decision within 90 days after the lender issues its recommendation
to the SBA,” indicating to customers that their loan forgiveness
decisions would be finalized within 150 days.84;
• Representing the loan forgiveness timeline with misleading visuals,
including but not limited to:
83
Kabbage, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/ (last accessed March 23,
2022).
84
Kabbage, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/ (last accessed March 23,
2022).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 78 of 84
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Source: KABBAGE85
• Representing on its website that “borrowers with loans under
$150,000 who qualify to use the new Form 3508S may not need to
submit any supporting documentation,” but continuing to demand
thousands of customers with loans under this threshold continue
submitting unnecessary documentation.86;
• Representing on its website that only the following information was
needed for loan forgiveness application, yet repeatedly requesting
unnecessary documentation not included on that list, nor included in
SBA regulations, from borrowers when they actually began the loan
forgiveness application process:
85
KABBAGE, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/ (last accessed March 23,
2022).
86
KABBAGE, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, available
at https://www.kservicing.com/ppp-loan-forgiveness/ (last accessed March 23,
2022).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 79 of 84
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Source: KABBAGE87
• Defendant edited and sent DocuSign versions of loan forgiveness
applications to Plaintiffs and Class Members, with “$0.00” reported
as “Requested Loan Forgiveness Amount,” in an effort to induce
Plaintiffs and Class Members into attesting to false information
87
KABBAGE, How to Calculate PPP Loan Forgiveness and Apply, available at
https://www.kservicing.com/resources/how-to-calculate-ppp-loan-forgiveness-and-
apply/ (last accessed March 23, 2022).
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 80 of 84
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about the amount of loan forgiveness they were seeking and entitled
to.
298. K Servicing’s representations and omissions were material because
they were likely to deceive reasonable consumers about the adequacy and
competency of K Servicing’s PPP Loan processing capabilities.
299. Plaintiffs LeMaster and 365 Sun LLC and the Florida Sub-Class
members acted reasonably in relying on K Servicing’s misrepresentations and
omissions, the truth of which they could not have discovered.
300. As a direct and proximate result of the K Servicing’ unconscionable,
unfair and deceptive acts and practices, Plaintiffs LeMaster and 365 Sun LLC and the
Florida Sub-Class Members have suffered and will continue to suffer injuries.
301. Plaintiffs LeMaster and 365 Sun LLC and the Florida Sub-Class
members seek all monetary and non-monetary relief allowed by law, including actual
or nominal damages under Fla. Stat. § 501.211, declaratory and injunctive relief,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs under Fla. Stat. § 501.2105(1) and any other
relief that is just and proper.
EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Violation of O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11
(On behalf of Plaintiffs & the Nationwide Class)
302. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference every prior and subsequent
allegation of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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303. Defendant through its actions alleged and described herein acted in bad
faith, was stubbornly litigious, or caused Plaintiffs unnecessary trouble and expense
with respect to the transaction or events underlying this litigation.
304. As further described above, Plaintiffs and the Class have been injured
and suffered losses directly attributable to Defendant’s actions.
305. Plaintiffs therefore request that their claim for recovery of expenses of
litigation and attorneys’ fees be submitted to the jury, and that the Court enter a
Judgment awarding their expenses of litigation and attorneys’ fees pursuant to
O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs Jason Carr, Vicki LeMaster, Edward Ford
Services LLC, Carlton Morgan¸ 365 Sun LLC and Candice Worthy and the Class
Members respectfully request that this Court enter an order:
a)
Certifying the proposed Classes;
b)
Appointing Plaintiffs as Class Representatives for the respective
classes;
c)
Appointing Plaintiffs’ attorneys below as Class Counsel for the classes
and Sub-Classes;
d)
For an order finding in favor of Plaintiff and the Classes on all counts
asserted herein;
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 82 of 84
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e)
For damages in an amount to be determined by the trier of fact;
f)
For an order of restitution and all other forms of equitable, declaratory
and injunctive relief as described herein;
g)
Awarding Plaintiffs reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses
pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11 and as otherwise allowed by law;
h)
Awarding Plaintiffs pre- and post-judgment interest on any amounts
awarded; and
i)
Granting such other and further relief as this Court deems just and
proper.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiffs respectfully demand a trial by jury for all claims that may be so
tried.
Dated: March 30, 2022
By:/s/ MaryBeth V. Gibson
MaryBeth V. Gibson, Esq.
Georgia Bar No. 725843
The Finley Firm, P.C.
Piedmont Center
3535 Piedmont Rd.
Building 14, Suite 230
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 978-6971
MGibson@thefinleyfirm.com
Shane R. Heskin, Esq. (pro hac vice
admission forthcoming)
Case 1:22-cv-01249-VMC Document 1 Filed 03/30/22 Page 83 of 84
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Justin E. Proper, Esq. (Georgia Bar #
141782)
WHITE & WILLIAMS, LLP
1650 Market Street, Suite 1800
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 864-6329
heskins@whiteandwilliams.com
Attorneys for Plaintiffs & the Putative
Classes
LOCAL RULE 7.1 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certify that the foregoing pleading filed with the Clerk of Court has
been prepared in 14-point Times New Roman font in accordance with Local Rule
5.1(C).
Dated: March 30, 2022.
/s/ MaryBeth V. Gibson
MARYBETH V. GIBSON
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