By: Michael W. Ross and Jacob D. Alderdice

The implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under Title I of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) amidst the COVID-19 economic downturn has spawned a growing cottage industry of litigation, including several waves of cases against different defendants—primarily bank and non-bank lenders, and the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).  The nature of the cases has varied.  In the first cases filed, borrowers excluded from PPP sued banks for imposing additional restrictions on their applications, and for prioritizing bigger, institutional clients.  The second wave of lawsuits saw different categories of borrowers, such as companies owned by borrowers with criminal records, companies in bankruptcy, and others, suing the SBA for excluding them from the program entirely.  Finally, the latest round of cases involve financial services firms, accountants, and other borrowers’ agents initiating class actions against lenders for the failure to pay agent fees to those parties.  These three “waves” encompass the bulk of PPP litigation to date, but there have been some lawsuits of other varieties as well, including at least one civil enforcement action by the Federal Trade Commission alleging unfair and deceptive practices.[1]

In a prior update, we described one of the first court rulings in the PPP cases, in which on April 13, a federal district court in Maryland denied relief to a borrower who had sued Bank of America for imposing its own eligibility requirements on PPP borrowers.  See Profiles, Inc. v. Bank of Am. Corp., No. CV SAG-20-0894, 2020 WL 1849710, at *1 (D. Md. Apr. 13, 2020).  The court held that the CARES Act did not authorize a private right of action for borrowers to sue private lenders, and that the Act permitted banks to impose their own lending restrictions.  Soon after, a California federal court denied relief in a similar suit, denying a temporary restraining order for borrowers alleging that JPMorgan Chase and other large banks improperly accepted PPP applications from only existing customers.  Legendary Transp., LLC v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., No. 220CV03636ODWGJSX, 2020 WL 1975366, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2020).  Although no court has yet ruled in favor of borrowers in this type of lawsuit, similar lawsuits have continued to be filed and remain pending, alleging violations of state laws.[2]

By: Neil M. Barofsky, Michael W. Ross and Ali M. Arain

On June 8, 2020—shortly after announcing the program was set to launch—the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (Federal Reserve) announced material changes to some of the key terms for the “Main Street” lending program.^[1]  As of June 15, 2020, months after it was first announced, the program is finally operational.

As described in our prior alert, the Main Street lending program will provide up to $600 billion in loans to small- and medium-sized businesses in order to ease the economic dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell has underscored in several recent remarks that one key goal of the program is to ensure companies can continue to support the country’s workforce.  

Since the initial roll out of the program, the Federal Reserve has continued to announce changes, new details, and clarifying FAQs, that provide important guidance to potential participants.  These include significant changes made to the program on May 27, 2020, and then again on June 8, 2020, on the eve of the program’s launch.  Understanding the changes and clarifications to the program since its launch will be crucial for companies considering submitting an application for funds.

This client alert builds on our prior alert and provides a summary of the key features of the Main Street program, highlighting changes since its initial announcement and how those changes may affect the businesses that are considering seeking relief through this program.  We encourage you to follow up with any questions or concerns.  Jenner & Block offers a wide array of resources and lawyers with experience necessary to help our clients navigate the implications of these important new programs, led by our COVID-19 Response Team.  The firm is well positioned to help our clients manage the challenging issues related to the current crisis, from applications for funds, to managing workforce concerns, to the Congressional oversight and government investigations that may accompany any such financial assistance.

To read the full alert, please click here.

Additional Contributors: Marc B. Hankin, Anna Meresidis, Edward L. Prokop, Jacob D. Alderdice and William R. Erlain