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of the May 7, 2024, Settlement Agreement entered into by the United States of America, Relator

Date
2024-05-07

Summary

A Joint Stipulation of Partial Dismissal as to Kabbage, Inc., Only, Document 30, filed June 11, 2024 in United States of America ex rel. Paul Pietschner v. Kabbage, Inc., Kathryn Petralia, Robert Frohwein and Spencer Robinson, Civil Action No.: 4:21-cv-110-SDJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The United States and the relator submit it under Rule 41(a) and the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733, following a May 7, 2024 Settlement Agreement. It asks for an order dismissing claims against Kabbage, Inc. only, with prejudice as to the Covered Conduct and the relator's claims and without prejudice as to other claims brought for the United States. The relator agrees not to challenge the settlement under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c)(2)(B). The United States asks the court to unseal this stipulation and the proposed order while other papers stay sealed.

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Case 4:21-cv-00110-SDJ           Document 30      Filed 06/11/24      Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 233




                       IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                        FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                                SHERMAN DIVISION

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA         §
 ex rel. PAUL PIETSCHNER,         §
                                  §
           Plaintiff,             §
                                  §                      Civil Action No.: 4:21-cv-110-SDJ
 v.                               §
                                  §                      FILED UNDER SEAL
 KABBAGE, INC.; KATHRYN PETRALIA; §                      (Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b))
 ROBERT FROHWEIN and SPENCER      §
 ROBINSON,                        §
                                  §
           Defendants.            §

  JOINT STIPULATION OF PARTIAL DISMISSAL AS TO KABBAGE, INC., ONLY

       Pursuant to Rule 41(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the qui tam provisions

of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733, and in accordance with the terms and conditions

of the May 7, 2024, Settlement Agreement entered into by the United States of America, Relator

Paul Pietschner (“Relator”), and KServicing Wind Down Corporation and the bankruptcy estates

of Defendant Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a Kservicing (“Defendant” or “Kabbage, Inc.”) (collectively

referred to as “the Parties”), the United States and Relator submit this Joint Stipulation of Partial

Dismissal as to Kabbage, Inc., Only.

       I.      Claims on behalf of the United States

       1.      On May 7, 2024, the United States of America (“United States”) filed its Notice of

Partial Intervention for Settlement Purposes in this action as to Kabbage, Inc. only. Docket #28.

       2.       Pursuant to a Settlement Agreement executed by and amongst the United States,

Relator, and Defendant on May 7, 2024 (“Settlement Agreement”), the United States and Relator,

by and through their respective attorneys, hereby jointly stipulate and agree, pursuant to Rule 41(a)

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, 31



JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL                                                        Page 1
Case 4:21-cv-00110-SDJ           Document 30      Filed 06/11/24      Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 234




U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733, to entry of an Order: (1) as to the United States, dismissing with prejudice

all claims asserted in this action on behalf of the United States against Kabbage, Inc. concerning

the Covered Conduct as defined in Recital Paragraph L of the Settlement Agreement, to the extent

that the Complaint in this action contains such claims; (2) as to the United States, dismissing

without prejudice any other claims brought on its behalf by Relator which were asserted against

Kabbage, Inc. only; and (3) as to the Relator, dismissing with prejudice, the claims alleged against

Kabbage, Inc. only. The United States consents, under these terms, to the dismissal of the

Complaint against Kabbage, Inc. only.

       II.     Relator’s Claims

       3.      Relator stipulates that the Allowed Claim set forth in the Settlement Agreement

referenced herein and that the terms and conditions described therein are fair, adequate, and

reasonable under all the circumstances, that Relator will not challenge the Settlement Agreement

pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c)(2)(B), and that Relator expressly waives the opportunity for a

hearing on any objection to the settlement under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c)(2)(B) or applicable state law.

       III.    Request for Partial Lifting of the Seal

       4.      In light of the execution of the Settlement Agreement, the United States requests

that the Court unseal this Joint Stipulation of Partial Dismissal as to Kabbage, Inc., Only and the

proposed and signed Order of Dismissal as to Kabbage, Inc. only, so that the United States may

disclose these documents to Kabbage, Inc. only. The United States respectfully requests that all

other papers on file in this action remain under seal and not be made public (including, but not

limited to, any applications filed by the United States for extensions of the sixty-day investigative

period, any applications for partial lifting of the seal, and any orders previously entered in this

matter) because in discussing the content and extent of the United States’ investigation, such




JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL                                                        Page 2
Case 4:21-cv-00110-SDJ           Document 30    Filed 06/11/24     Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 235




papers are provided by law to the Court alone for the sole purpose of evaluating whether the seal

and time for making an election to intervene should be extended.

       5.     The parties respectfully request that the Court enter the attached proposed Order.

                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                            DAMIEN M. DIGGS
                                            United States Attorney
                                            Eastern District of Texas

                                            /s/ James Gillingham
                                            JAMES G. GILLINGHAM
                                            Texas Bar #24065295
                                            James.Gillingham@usdoj.gov
                                            BETTY S. YOUNG
                                            Texas Bar # 24102498
                                            Betty.Young@usdoj.gov
                                            110 N. College Street; Suite 700
                                            Tyler, Texas 75702
                                            Phone: (903) 590-1400
                                            Facsimile: (903) 590-1436

                                            JAMIE ANN YAVELBERG
                                            COLIN M. HUNTLEY
                                            SARAH E. LOUCKS
                                            Attorneys, Civil Division
                                            United States Department of Justice
                                            P.O. Box 261
                                            Ben Franklin Station
                                            Washington, D.C. 20044
                                            Email: Sarah.E.Loucks@usdoj.gov
                                            (202) 616-2921
                                            ATTORNEYS FOR THE
                                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                            -   AND -

                                            /s/ Julie Bracker
                                            JULIE BRACKER
                                            Bracker & Marcus LLP
                                            3225 Shallowford Road, Suite 1120
                                            Marietta, Georgia 30062
                                            E-Mail: Julie@fcacounsel.com



JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL                                                     Page 3
Case 4:21-cv-00110-SDJ           Document 30   Filed 06/11/24   Page 4 of 4 PageID #: 236




                                           Telephone: 770-988-5035
                                           Facsimile: 678-648-5544

                                           Sarah Frazier
                                           Law Office of Sarah Frazier, PLLC
                                           1919 Decatur Street
                                           Houston, TX 77007
                                           Telephone: (346) 283-9158
                                           E-Mail: sarah@sarahfrazierlaw.com
                                           ATTORNEYS FOR RELATOR




JOINT STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL                                                 Page 4


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