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Home Source documents Court filing — No. 2:25-cv-16211 (Dkt. 5, D.N.J.)

Court filing — No. 2:25-cv-16211 (Dkt. 5, D.N.J.)

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       Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF        Document 5        Filed 02/27/26   Page 1 of 12 PageID: 75

                                               U.S. Department of Justice

                                               Un ited S tates Attorney's Office
                                               District of N ew Jersey


                                               970 Broad Street, 7,h Fl.            Main: 973-645-2700
                                               Newarh, New Jersey 07102             Direct: 973-645-2736
                                                                           David. Sim wwuich@usdoj.gov


                           FILED UNDER SEAL & EX PARTE

                                               February 27, 2026

Via Hand Delivery
Melissa E. Rhoads, Esq.
Clerk of the Court                                                                         0
United States District Court                                                               ~~
                                                                                           _i :/1
Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse                                              - ,0
50 Walnut Street                                                                            ' I) ......
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Newark, NJ 07102                                                                               .)
                                                                                           - ___:n,

                                                                                           - ---;
                                                                                           -.
      Re:    United States ex rel. [UNDER SEAL] v. [UNDER SEAL],                           -U

             Civil Action No. 25-16211 (BRM)

Dear Ms. Rhoads:

      I enclose for filing ex parte and under seal in the above-referenced case copies
each of the following documents:

      1.     The United States' notice of election to intervene for purposes of
             effectuating settlement;
      2.     Proposed order; and
      3.     Certificate of service.

      We would greatly appreciate receivmg a copy of the signed order m the
enclosed envelope.
        Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF       Document 5      Filed 02/27/26   Page 2 of 12 PageID: 76




                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               TODD BLANCHE
                                               U.S. Deputy Attorney General
                                               PHILIP LAMPARELLO
                                               Senior Counsel

                                               Isl David V. Simunovich
                                      By:      David V. Simunovich
                                               Assistant U.S. Attorney

Encl.

cc: Amy Gregory, Esq. - Relator's counsel (via email)




                                        -2 -
         Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF        Document 5      Filed 02/27/26   Page 3 of 12 PageID: 77




TODD BLANCHE
U.S . Deputy Attorney General
PHILIP LAMPARELLO
Senior Counsel
DAVID V. SIMUNOVICH
Assistant United States Attorney
970 Broad Street, Suite 700
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel. (973) 645-2736
da vid.sim unovich@usdoj.gov

                       UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                          DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY


  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel.
  VERITY INVESTIGATIONS, LLC,
                                               HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
                      Plaintiffs,
                                               Civil Action No. 25-16211
                V.
                                              FILED UNDER SEAL & EX PARTE
  LYNRED USA INC. ,

                       Defendant.

   THE UNITED STATES' NOTICE OF ELECTION TO INTERVENE FOR
           PURPOSES OF EFFECTUATING SETTLEMENT

       The United States, Relater Verity Investigations, LLC, and Defendant

Lynred USA Inc. ("Lynred"), have reached a settlement agreement t o resolve the

claims brought on behalf of the United States in this action. In light of this

agreement, and for the purpose of effectuating and formalizing that resolution,

pursuant to the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3730(b)(2) and (4), the United States

respectfully advises the Court of its decision to intervene for the purposes of

settlement.
       Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF          Document 5      Filed 02/27/26   Page 4 of 12 PageID: 78




      Specifically, the United States intervenes in this action with respect to civil

claims predicated upon the following factual allegations (the "Covered Conduct"):

            1.   The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act

                 was a federal law enacted in or about March 2020 designed to

                 provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans

                 suffering economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One

                 source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of

                 forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain

                 other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck

                 Protection Program ("PPP"). PPP loans were guaranteed by the

                 SBA and, if the loan proceeds were used for eligible expenses, the

                 SBA would forgive the loan balance and accrued interest.

          11.    To obtain a PPP loan, a qualifying business had to submit a PPP

                 loan application to an authorized lender. The PPP loan application

                 required the business, through its authorized representative, to

                 acknowledge the PPP rules and make certain affirmative

                 certifications that the applicant was eligible to obtain a PPP loan.

         111.    On or about February 18, 2021, Lynred applied for a PPP loan (the

                 "Second Draw PPP Loan"). At the time of its application, Defendant

                 employed approximately 18 people in the United States. In

                 addition, Lynred's two corporate affiliates, (i.e., Lynred S.A.S. and




                                           2
Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF         Document 5       Filed 02/27/26    Page 5 of 12 PageID: 79




         Lynred Asia-Pacific), employed more than 300 employees outside of

         the United States (though not in China).

  1v.   At the time Lynred submitted its application for the Second Draw

        PPP Loan, businesses with more than 300 employees were not

        eligible for PPP loans. Applicants were instructed that the 300-

        employee limit was inclusive of the applicant's affiliates. Under the

        rules in effect at the time of Lynred's application, applicants were

        required to count both U.S. and foreign affiliates' employees when

        evaluating their eligibility.

  v.    In its application, Lynred certified that it was eligible for its loan

        and that it employed no more than 300 employees. Lynred was not

        eligible for its loan because, inclusive of its foreign affiliates, it had

        more than 300 employees.

 vi.    Based on Lynred's certification of eligibility in its loan application,

        a lender approved the Second Draw PPP Loan application and

        issued a loan in the amount of $342,085. In addition, pursuant to

        the PPP, the SBA paid the lender a $17,104 processing fee in

        connection with the lender's issuance of the Second Draw PPP

        Loan.

VIL     Lynred applied for and received forgiveness of the Second Draw

        PPP Loan, thereby extinguishing its liability for the $342,085

        principal loan amount, as well as $2,338 in accrued interest.


                                   3
        Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF        Document 5     Filed 02/27/26      Page 6 of 12 PageID: 80




       Under the terms of the settlement agreement among the parties, following

Lynred's payment of the settlement amount, the United States and the Relator will

file a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal with respect to all claims brought on behalf of

the United States against Lynred.

       In light of the settlement agreement reached among the parties, the United

States does not presently intend to file a complaint in intervention but reserves the

right to seek leave to file such a complaint in the event that Lynred does not pay the

full settlement amount consistent with the terms of the settlement agreement.

       Finally, the United States hereby requests that the Court unseal the

Relator's Complaint, this Notice of Intervention for Purposes of Effectuating

Settlement, and all subsequent filings following this Notice of Election.

      The United States further requests that all other papers on file in this action

remain under seal because in discussing the content and extent of the United

States' investigation, such papers are provided by law to the Court alone for the sole

purpose of evaluating whether the seal and the time for making an election to

intervene should be extended.




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         Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF    Document 5    Filed 02/27/26   Page 7 of 12 PageID: 81




      A proposed order accompanies this Notice.

Dated:   Newark, New Jersey
         February 27, 2026

                                           Respectfully submitted,

                                           TODD BLANCHE
                                           U.S. Deputy Attorney General

                                           PHILIP LAMPARELLO
                                           Senior Counsel

                                     By:    / s I David V Simunovich
                                           DAVID V. SIMUNOVICH
                                           Assistant United States Attorney
                                           970 Broad Street, Suite 700
                                           Newark, NJ 07102
                                           Tel. (973) 645-2736
                                           david.sim unovich@usdoj.gov
                                           Attorneys for the United States




                                      5
         Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF         Document 5       Filed 02/27/26    Page 8 of 12 PageID: 82




                         UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                            DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY


   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel.
   VERITY INVESTIGATIONS, LLC,
                                                  HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
                         Plaintiffs,
                                                  Civil Action No. 25-16211
                    V.
                                                  FILED UNDER SEAL & EX PARTE
  LYNRED USA INC. ,

                         Defendant.

                                       [PROPOSED]
                                         ORDER

       The United States, pursuant to the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3730(b)(2)

and (4), having intervened in the above-captioned matter for purposes of settlement

in this action, it is hereby:

       ORDERED that the Relator's Complaint, the United States' Notice of

Intervention for Purposes of Effectuating Settlement, and this Order be unsealed;

and it is further

       ORDERED the seal shall be lifted on all matters occurring in this action

after the date of this Order; and it is further

       ORDERED that all other papers or Orders on file in this matter shall

remain under seal; and it is further

      ORDERED the Clerk of the Court shall provide an executed copy of this

Order to counsel for the Government and counsel for the Relator.
 Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF   Document 5   Filed 02/27/26    Page 9 of 12 PageID: 83




IT IS SO ORDERED, this _ _ day of _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ , 2026.




                             HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
                             United States District Judge




                              2
        Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF        Document 5     Filed 02/27/26     Page 10 of 12 PageID: 84




TODD BLANCHE
U.S. Deputy Attorney General
PHILIP LAMPARELLO
Senior Counsel
DAVID V. SIMUNOVICH
Assistant United States Attorney
970 Broad Street, Suite 700
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel. (973) 645-2736
da vid. sim unovich@usdoj.gov

                       UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                          DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY


  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel.
  VERITY INVESTIGATIONS, LLC,
                                              HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
                      Plaintiffs,
                                              Civil Action No. 25-16211
                V.
                                              FILED UNDER SEAL & EX PAilTE
  LYNRED USA INC. ,

                      Defendant.

                           CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I, Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich, hereby certify that on

February 27, 2026, I caused copies of the Notice of Election to Intervene for

Purposes of Effectuating Settlement and a Proposed Order to be filed with the

Court via U.S. mail, with an electronic courtesy copy, and sent to Relator Verity

Investigations, LLC, through its counsel, Amy Gregory, Esq. , via email.




                                          1
          Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF      Document 5     Filed 02/27/26   Page 11 of 12 PageID: 85




         I swear that the foregoing statements are true and correct to the best of my

knowledge. I am aware that I am subject to penalty for any willful misstatement

herein.

Dated:     Newark, New Jersey
           February 27, 2026


                                                Is I David V Simunovich
                                               DAVID V. SIMUNOVICH
                                               Assistant United States Attorney




                                           2
                                Case 2:25-cv-16211-BRM-CF   Document 5   Filed 02/27/26   Page 12 of 12 PageID: 86




U.S. Department of Justice
United
D . • States Attorney's Offiice
  zstrzct of New Jersey
970 Broad Street, Suite 700
Newark, New Jersey 07102-2535                                                                                        SEALED
Official Business




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