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Home Court filings Profiles, Inc. v. Bank of America Corporation Class Action Complaint — Profiles v. Bank of America

Court filing

Class Action Complaint — Profiles v. Bank of America

Filed April 3, 2020 in Profiles v. Bofa; one of 3 filings from this case.

Record facts

CourtU.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Northern Division)
Filed2020-04-03

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Northern Division) · No. 1:20-cv-00894-SAG · Doc. 1 · 2020-04-03 · Docket on CourtListener

Full text

IN THE 
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT  
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND 
(Northern District) 
 
PROFILES, INC., 
* 
3000 Chestnut Avenue 
* 
Suite 201 
* 
Baltimore, Maryland 21211, on behalf of 
* 
itself and all others similarly situated, 
* 
 
* 
                         PLAINTIFF, 
* 
 
* 
v. 
*    CIVIL ACTION NO.                                               
 
 
*    
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, 
*    CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT 
100 North Tryon Street 
* 
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 
*     
 
 
* 
    Serve on:  
* 
    The Corporation Trust, Inc. 
* 
    160 Mine Lake Ct., Suite 200 
* 
    Raleigh, NC 27615-6417 
* 
 
 
* 
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., 
* 
100 North Tryon Street 
* 
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 
*     
 
 
* 
    Serve on:  
* 
    The Corporation Trust, Inc. 
* 
    2405 York Road, Suite 201 
* 
    Lutherville Timonium, Maryland 21093-2264 * 
 
 
* 
 
DEFENDANTS. 
* 
 
 
* 
*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT 
 
I. 
INTRODUCTION 
 
1. 
At a time of severe national need, Defendants Bank of America Corporation (“Bank 
of America”) and Bank of America, N.A. (“BNA”) (collectively, “Defendants” or “BOA”) instead 
privileged discriminatory policies of corporate greed over the needs of America’s small businesses. 
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2. 
Authorized by Congress and the President under the Coronavirus  Aid,  Relief,  and  
Economic Security Act, H.R. 748 (“CARES Act”) and its loan programs to administer billions of 
dollars in federal funding to small businesses in a fair, equitable and uniform manner, Defendants 
implemented a loan process that unlawfully prioritized their existing borrowing clients and barred 
their depository clients and other small businesses from even applying for funds from the 
governmental loan programs.  Nothing in the CARES Act authorizes or permits Defendants to pick 
and choose who would gain access to or benefit from the federally backed lending program.  And, 
the priority of access to these limited funds is material – the demand is overwhelming as America 
responds to the economic tsunami of COVID-19 upon small businesses.  There is no justification 
for requiring depository clients and other small businesses to go to the end of the line.   
3. 
Named Plaintiff Profiles, Inc. (“Named Plaintiff” or “Profiles”) brings this action, 
on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, against BOA for violations of the CARES Act”, 
violations of the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 7(A) loan program, 15 U.S.C. § 636(a), 
a declaratory judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201, and a preliminary and permanent injunction 
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2202. 
4. 
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which is part of the $2 trillion stimulus 
package created by the CARES Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was signed in to 
law on March 27, 2020, empowers lenders to make available as much as $349 billion in 
government-guaranteed loans to cover eight weeks of payroll and other expenses. 
5. 
BOA – creating an improper and unlawful restriction on PPP loans – is refusing to 
accept PPP loan applications unless the small business is an active borrower with BOA.  BOA is 
thus unlawfully prioritizing existing customers who are active borrowers as of February 2020. 
6. 
Indeed, BOA has denied access to the PPP program to small businesses that do not 
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have a “lending” relationship with BOA.  Profiles, which has a depository relationship with BOA, 
was prohibited by BOA from even applying for a PPP loan with BOA, despite meeting the 
statutory requirements for a PPP loan. 
7. 
The purpose and motivation behind BOA’s discriminatory practice is transparent – 
it is prioritizing its balance sheet by supporting preexisting loans issued by BOA through the PPP 
program at the expense of small business customers who do not have a lending relationship with 
BOA.   
8. 
Senators Marco Rubio (R.-Fla.) and Ben Cardin (D.-Md.) have already chastised 
BOA for imposing criteria not found in the law and selectively choosing who can apply. 
9. 
BOA’s discriminatory practices are abhorrent and in violation of federal law.  In 
this time of national need, BOA’s discriminatory practices can only be described as corporate 
greed.   
II. 
PARTIES 
10. 
Named Plaintiff Profiles is a public relations firm incorporated in Maryland with 
its principal place of business located at 3000 Chestnut Avenue, Suite 201, Baltimore, Maryland 
21211.  Profiles is a small business that qualifies as an eligible applicant for a PPP loan under the 
CARES Act.  
11. 
Defendant Bank of America is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, 
with its principal place of business in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a diversified global financial 
services company and a bank holding company. It has transacted business in this district. 
12. 
Defendant BNA is a national banking association headquartered in Charlotte, North 
Carolina. It has transacted business in this district. 
13. 
Defendant Bank of America, as the corporate parent of BNA, which was involved 
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in the wrongful activities alleged herein, had the practical ability to direct and control the actions 
and operations of BNA and, in fact, did so through a variety of centralized policy and functions, 
and coordinated practices. 
III. 
 JURISDICTION AND VENUE 
14. 
The subject matter jurisdiction of this Court is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 
1331 and 1332(d).  There are members of the Class who are citizens of states other than the states 
of citizenship of Defendants, and the amount in controversy exceeds five million ($5,000,000) 
dollars exclusive of interest and costs. 
15. 
Venue lies in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 (a) and (c), as BOA 
conducts a continuous course of business in the State of Maryland.    
IV. 
FACTS 
 
16. 
 The CARES Act is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history and will allocate 
$2.2 trillion in support to individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic and 
economic downturn. 
17. 
As part of the relief provided, the CARES Act expands the eligibility criteria for 
borrowers to qualify for loans that are available through the SBA by adding the PPP to the SBA’s 
gamut of loan programs.  
18. 
The PPP provides federally-guaranteed loans up to a maximum amount of $10 
million to eligible businesses, which can be conditionally forgivable, to encourage businesses to 
retain employees through the COVID-19 crisis by assisting in the payment of certain operational 
costs.  To accommodate for this SBA expansion, the CARES Act has authorized commitments to 
the SBA 7(a) loan program, as modified by the CARES Act, in the amount of $349 billion. 
19. 
Eligible individuals and entities under the PPP include small businesses and eligible 
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nonprofit organization, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small 
Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors who 
meet program size standards. 
20. 
The SBA’s interim final rule on the PPP provides the following information as to 
who is eligible for a PPP loan: 
You are eligible for a PPP loan if you have 500 or fewer employees 
whose principal place of residence is in the United States, or are a 
business that operates in a certain industry and meet the applicable 
SBA employee-based size standards for that industry, and:  
 
i.  You are: 
 
A. 
A small business concern as defined in section 3 of the Small 
Business Act (15 USC 632), and subject to SBA’s affiliation rules 
under 13 CFR121.301(f) unless specifically waived in the Act;    
 
B. 
A tax-exempt nonprofit organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), a tax-exemptveterans 
organization described in section 501(c)(19) of the IRC, Tribal 
business concern described in section 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small 
Business Act, or any other business; and    
 
ii.  You were in operation on February 15, 2020 and either had 
employees for whom you paid salaries and payroll taxes or paid 
independent contractors, as reported on a Form 1099-MISC.  You 
are also eligible for a PPP loan if you are an individual who operates 
under a sole proprietorship or as an independent contractor or 
eligible self-employed individual, you were in operation on 
February 15, 2020.  You must also submit such documentation as is 
necessary to establish eligibility such as payroll processor records, 
payroll tax filings, or Form 1099-MISC, or income and expenses 
from a sole proprietorship.  For borrowers that do not have any such 
documentation, the borrower must provide other supporting 
documentation, such as bank records, sufficient to demonstrate the 
qualifying payroll amount.    
  
13 CFR Part 120, pp. 5-6.  
21. 
The “General Eligibility” section of the PPP loan lender application form lists only 
two requirements for a PPP loan to be approved: 
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• The Applicant has certified to the Lender that (1) it was in operation on February 
15, 2020 and had employees for whom the Applicant paid salaries and payroll taxes 
or paid independent contractors, as reported on Form(s) 1099-MISC, (2) current 
economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing 
operations of the Applicant, (3) the funds will be used to retain workers and 
maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility 
payments, and (4) the Applicant has not received another Paycheck Protection 
Program loan. 
 
• The Applicant has certified to the Lender that it (1) is an independent contractor, 
eligible self-employed individual, or sole proprietor or (2) employs no more than 
the greater of 500 or employees or, if applicable, meets the size standard in number 
of employees established by the SBA in 13 C.F.R. 121.201 for the Applicant’s 
industry. 
 
SBA Form 2484. 
 
22. 
At 8:42 am on Friday, April 3, 2020 – the opening day of PPP loans – Treasury 
Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted that community banks “have already processed over 700 loans” 
for a total of $2.5 million. Hugh Son & Dawn Giel, Bank of America’s Small Business Loan Portal 
is Up, But Most Banks are having Trouble, CNBC (Apr. 3, 2020) [hereinafter “Hugh Son”], 
available at https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/03/bank-of-americas-small-business-loan-portal-is-
up-making-it-the-first-bank-to-accept-applications.html (last accessed Apr. 3, 2020). 
23. 
BOA announced on the morning of April 3, 2020, that it was accepting online 
applications for the Government’s $349 billion PPP, becoming the first major bank to do so.  See 
Hugh Son.   
24. 
That same morning, BOA Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan appeared on CNBC 
to tout BOA’s participation in the program and BOA’s claimed concern and interest for the welfare 
of small businesses in America.  In fact, on BOA’s website, under the banner “We Are Here For 
Our Small Business Clients”, BOA proclaims that “Our Small Business Clients who may be 
eligible for financial relief through the federal Paycheck Protection Program can now apply 
online.” 
 
https://about.bankofamerica.com/promo/assistance/latest-updates-from-bank-of-
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america-coronavirus/small-business-assistance?cm_sp=SBC-_-PPP-Thread-Redirect-_-PPP-
Thread-Redirect (last accessed Apr. 3, 2020). 
25. 
BOA’s PPP loan portal went live at about 9 am ET Friday. See Hugh Son.  Within 
an hour, the bank had 10,000 applications for loans.  Id. 
26. 
Profiles is a “small business” as defined under the SBA guidelines, and qualifies as 
an eligible applicant for a PPP loan. 
27. 
Profiles is a private banking client of BOA, maintaining a depository relationship 
with BOA, including Profiles’ primary checking account and other operational accounts. 
28. 
Profiles is not a current borrower of funds from BOA. 
29. 
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current financial climate, Profiles 
attempted to apply for a PPP loan from BOA. 
30. 
However, when Profiles tried to apply for a PPP loan from BOA on the morning of 
April 3, 2020, Profiles was electronically denied access to an application.  The denial flagged the 
fact that Profiles did not have a preexisting lending relationship with BOA.   
31. 
Confused and distraught, Amy Elias (“Ms. Elias”), owner of Profiles, immediately 
contacted Marie Conley (“Ms. Conley”), Vice President, Bank of America, Preferred & Small 
Business Banking, Baltimore Metro Market, via email about BOA refusing to even allow her to 
apply for a PPP loan.   
32. 
Ms. Conley responded, “Amy, I’m so sorry!!!!! I just got the news today on my 
conference call.  I can imagine how devasted you must be.  I’m trying to find out where else you 
can go to get money.  Get back to you later.” 
33. 
Ms. Elias responded, “Are you serious? They are not going to make an exception 
for all of this!?”, to which Ms. Conley replied, “I asked a few minutes ago, thinking of you 
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specifically, and they said no.” 
34. 
In disbelief, Ms. Elias wrote back, “I can not [sic] believe this.”  Ms. Conley replied, 
“I know. . . . I’m very disappointed too.” 
35. 
Nothing in the PPP federal law allows for the differentiation of a small business 
loan under the federal program between a bank’s depository clients and their lending clients.  And, 
nothing in PPP federal law allows for BOA to determine who can participate in the federal program 
based on that improper criteria.   
36. 
The purpose and motivation behind BOA’s discriminatory practice is transparent.  
In light of the fact that PPP is a limited funding program, BOA has decided to prioritize its balance 
sheet by supporting preexisting loans issued by BOA through the PPP program at the expense of 
small businesses that do not have a lending relationship with BOA.  Had Congress intended to 
allow banks, like BOA, to limit access to the PPP funding program to only those small businesses 
that had a borrowing relationship with the bank, Congress would have said so.  The purpose, 
however, of the PPP law is to assist all small business who qualify under the SBA rules and to 
provide equal access to those funds. 
37. 
Nevertheless, BOA states on its website: 
Small Business clients with a business lending and a business 
deposit relationship at Bank of America are eligible to apply for a 
Paycheck Protection Program through our bank. A client’s pre-
existing lending relationship with us may include small business, 
commercial or corporate credit cards, conventional business loan or 
lease, business lines of credit, business auto loans, practice solutions 
loans, trade and asset-based loans.  
 
Small Business owners who do not have a business lending and 
business deposit relationship with us should contact their current 
business loan provider as soon as possible, if they plan to apply for 
the federal Paycheck Protection Program. This is the best and fastest 
method for applying for federal relief, based on the U.S. Treasury 
requirements and guidance. 
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See 
https://about.bankofamerica.com/promo/assistance/latest-updates-from-bank-of-america-
coronavirus/small-business-assistance?cm_sp=SBC-_-SBC-Link-_-SBC-Carousel (last accessed 
Apr. 3, 2020). 
38. 
Indeed, Senator Marco Rubio criticized BOA for its decision, saying via Tweeter, 
“The requirement that a #SmallBusiness not just have a business account but also a loan or credit 
card is NOT in the law we wrote & passed or in the regulations.”  See Hugh Son: 
                              
 
39. 
Likewise, Senator Ben Cardin issued the following Statement on Launch of 
Paycheck Protection Program: 
I am deeply troubled by reports of financial institutions turning away 
small businesses that desperately need capital through the Paycheck 
Protection Program. The small business provisions in the CARES 
Act were written to get funds into the hands of American small 
business owners as quickly as possible so they can keep employees 
on payroll and avoid financial ruin while we work to combat 
COVID-19. Creating artificial barriers that block businesses from 
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much-needed capital is redlining by another name. I will continue 
working with the administration to ensure that small businesses in 
every community have access to the programs created by the 
CARES Act, including the emergency EIDL grant program and the 
Paycheck Protection Program. 
                                                
V. 
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS 
40. 
Named Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in the preceding 
paragraphs by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
41. 
Named Plaintiff, in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3), 
bring this action on behalf of themselves and as members of the Class defined below. 
42. 
The Class consists of (a) all individuals or entities who qualify for a loan under the 
PPP and (b) who were prevented from even applying for a PPP loan by BOA solely because they 
do not have a pre-existing debt relationship with BOA. 
43. 
The Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable.  See Fed. R. 
Civ. P. 23(a)(1).  The Class consists of individuals and companies, throughout the country. 
44. 
There are questions of law and fact common to the Class.  See Fed. R. Civ. P. 
23(a)(2).  These common questions include, but are not limited to:  
A. 
Whether Defendants wrongly imposed additional requirements for PPP 
loans for the purpose of protecting themselves for financial purposes; thereby, penalizing 
small businesses that the Government intended to benefit from PPP loans for not having a 
debt relationship with Defendants; 
B. 
Whether Defendants wrongly denied qualifying small businesses from 
applying to BOA for PPP loans; 
C. 
Whether the claims alleged herein can be stated against Defendants by this 
Class based on the facts alleged in this complaint;  
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45. 
The claims of Named Plaintiff, which arise out of BOA’s prohibition of qualifying 
small businesses to apply for PPP loans with BOA, are typical of the claims of the Class members.  
Likewise, Defendants’ defenses to the Named Plaintiff’s claims – both the myriad of legal defenses 
that can be anticipated, together with the factual defenses – are typical of the defenses to the Class 
claims.  See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(3). 
46. 
The Named Plaintiff will fairly and adequately represent and protect the interests 
of the Class.  See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4).  The Named Plaintiff is articulate and knowledgeable 
about its claims, and fully able to describe them.  There are no conflicts of interest between the 
Named Plaintiff with respect to the interests of the Class members.  The Named Plaintiff, like the 
Class members, have suffered financial loss as a result of Defendants’ acts.  Named Plaintiff has 
sufficient financial resources to litigate this case and further the interests of the Class without 
compromising them. 
47. 
Counsel for the Named Plaintiff are well-suited to represent their interests and the 
interests of the Class at large.  Counsel include M. Celeste Bruce, Esq., Alan M. Rifkin, Esq., 
Charles S. Fax, Esq., Liesel J. Schopler, Esq. and Barry L. Gogel, Esq. (Rifkin Weiner Livingston 
LLC).  The combined experience and areas of professional concentration of these attorneys are 
well-suited to representation of the interests of the Class.  All these lawyers practice complex civil 
litigation and are experienced in class action litigation.         
48. 
Class certification is appropriate pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(1).  Prosecuting 
separate actions would create a risk of adjudications with respect to individual Class members that, 
as a practical matter, would be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the 
individual adjudications or would substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their 
interests.   
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49. 
Class certification is appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2).  BOA will continue 
to commit the violations alleged, and the members of the Classes and the general public will 
continue to be unfairly denied access to critical relief that they are entitled to under the CARES 
Act’s PPP.  BOA has acted and refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the Class so that 
final injunctive relief and corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the Class as a 
whole.   
50. 
Class certification is also appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3).  The questions 
of law or fact common to the members of the Class, described above, predominate over any 
questions affecting only individual members.   
51. 
Due to the individual amount at issue as to each Class member, as well as the cost 
and difficulty in litigating each case separately, the Class members have insufficient interest in 
individually controlling the prosecution of separate actions.  See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3)(A). 
52. 
The Class has not previously litigated the claims asserted in this complaint.  See 
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3)(B).   
53. 
This Court is an appropriate forum for the litigation of the Class claims.   
54. 
Any difficulties that might be incurred in the management of this class action are 
insubstantial.  See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3)(D). 
COUNT I 
Violations of the CARES Act, H.R. 748 
(Against All Defendants)  
 
55. 
Named Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in the preceding 
paragraphs by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
56. 
The CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic that was signed in to law on March 27, 2020, includes the PPP, which empowers lenders 
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to make available as much as $349 billion in government-guaranteed loans to cover eight weeks 
of payroll and other expenses. 
57. 
There is an implied cause of action arising under the CARES Act. 
58. 
The CARES Act, along with the SBA’s interim final rule on the PPP, provides the 
sole eligibility requirements to apply for a PPP loan. 
59. 
The purpose of the CARES Act’s PPP is to assist all entities and individuals who 
qualify and to provide equal access to those funds. 
60. 
In flagrant disregard for law, BOA has decided to protect itself through the PPP 
program – rather than intended entities and individuals – by creating an unnecessary requirement 
to apply for a PPP loan from it – a lending relationship with BOA.  
61. 
Profiles met the eligibility requirements for a PPP loan.  Nevertheless, BOA refused 
to allow Profiles to apply for a PPP loan because it did not have a lending relationship with BOA.  
62. 
As a direct and proximate result of BOA’s wrongful actions, Profiles and Class 
members have suffered damages up to $10 million each due their inability to apply for a PPP loan 
with BOA despite being eligible therefor.  
COUNT II 
Violations of the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Program, 15 U.S.C. 636(a) 
(Against All Defendants)  
 
63. 
Named Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in the preceding 
paragraphs by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
64. 
The SBA’s 7(a) loan program is designed to help start-up and existing small 
businesses obtain financing when they might not otherwise be eligible for business loans.  Under 
the program, a participating lender executes the loan with the borrower according to specific SBA 
requirements. 
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65. 
The PPP is part of the SBA’s 7(a) loan program.   
66. 
There is an implied cause of action arising under the SBA’s 7(a) loan program. 
67. 
In flagrant disregard for law, BOA has decided to protect itself through the SBA’s 
7(a) PPP program – rather than intended entities and individuals – by creating an unnecessary 
requirement to apply for a PPP loan from it – a lending relationship with BOA.  
68. 
Profiles met the eligibility requirements for a PPP loan.  Nevertheless, BOA refused 
to allow Profiles to apply for a PPP loan because it did not have a lending relationship with BOA.  
69. 
As a direct and proximate result of BOA’s wrongful actions, Profiles and Class 
members have suffered damages up to $10 million each due their inability to apply for a PPP loan 
with BOA despite being eligible therefor. 
COUNT III 
Declaratory Judgment and Preliminary and Permanent Injunction  
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201  and 2202 
(Against All Defendants)  
 
70. 
Named Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in the preceding 
paragraphs by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
71. 
There is an actual controversy between Defendants and the Class concerning the 
application of the PPP. 
72. 
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 this Court may “declare the rights and legal relations 
of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought.” 
73. 
BOA wrongfully prevented entities and individuals from applying for PPP loans 
from BOA, despite meeting all federally-imposed PPP loan eligibility requirements, for lack of a 
lending relationship with BOA. 
74. 
Accordingly, Profiles and members of the Class seek a declaration that BOA’s 
requirement that applicants have a lending relationship with BOA in order to apply for a PPP loan 
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be declared void, invalid and unenforceable. 
75. 
Named Plaintiff and the Class are likely to succeed on the merits of their causes of 
action set forth in Counts I-III. 
76. 
Named Plaintiff and the Class have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable 
harm in the absence of injunctive relief enjoining BOA from depriving Named Plaintiff and the 
Class from the rights and benefits bestowed by the CARES Act and its regulations, and do not 
have an adequate remedy at law. 
77. 
BOA will suffer no injury if the preliminary injunctive relief sought by the Named 
Plaintiff and the Class is granted. 
78. 
The public interest will be served by the granting preliminary injunctive relief 
sought by the Named Plaintiff and the Class.  
PRAYER FOR RELIEF 
 
WHEREFORE, Named Plaintiff and the Class pray as follows: 
 
A. 
Certify this action as a class action, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23, designate Named 
Plaintiff as the Class representatives, and counsel for Named Plaintiff as Class Counsel; 
B. 
Preliminarily and permanently enjoin BOA from engaging in the wrongful and 
unlawful conduct alleged herein, viz., depriving Named Plaintiff and the Class from the rights and 
benefits bestowed by the CARES Act and its regulations; 
C. 
Direct BOA to make available to Named Plaintiff and the Class all of the rights and 
benefits under the CARES Act and its regulations; 
D. 
Award damages, including compensatory, exemplary, and statutory damages, to 
Named Plaintiff and the Class in an amount to be determined at trial, for the acts complained of 
herein; 
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E. 
Award Named Plaintiff and the Class their expenses and costs of suit, including 
reasonable attorneys’ fees to the extent provided by law;  
F. 
Award Named Plaintiff and the Class pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at 
the highest legal rate to the extent provided by law; and 
G. 
Grant all other and further relief to which Named Plaintiff and the Class are entitled 
by law or in equity as may be determined by the Court to be just, equitable and proper. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 /S/ M. Celeste Bruce 
M. Celeste Bruce, Maryland Federal Bar No. 10710 
Charles S. Fax, Maryland Federal Bar No. 2490 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7979 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 400 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bethesda, Maryland 20814 
Telephone: (301) 951-0150 
Telecopier: (301) 951-0172 
Cell Phone: (410) 274-1453 
Email: cbruce@rwllaw.com; cfax@rwllaw.com 
Alan M. Rifkin, Maryland Federal Bar No. 11562 
Liesel J. Schopler, Maryland Federal Bar No. 17280 
Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
225 Duke of Gloucester Street 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annapolis, Maryland 21401 
Telephone: (410) 269-5066 
Telecopier: (410) 269-1235 
Email: arifkin@rwllaw.com; lschopler@rwlls.com 
 
Barry L. Gogel, Maryland Federal Bar No. 25495 
2002 Clipper Park Road, Suite 108  
Baltimore, Maryland 21211  
Telephone: (410) 769-8080    
Telecopier: (410) 769-8811   
 
 
Email: bgogel@rwllaw.com 
 
April 3, 2020 
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File
gov.uscourts.mdd.480878.1.0.pdf
Size
445,719 bytes
SHA-256
fb59b0a15af5d09cc3bb41f68a427799b5aded16b494f8ef17f645016e57f198
Our copy
gov.uscourts.mdd.480878.1.0.pdf
Original
storage.courtlistener.com
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