COVID-19 Relief Fraud Investigations and Litigation: Areas of Focus and Risk Mitigation Strategies
The CARES Act and other legislation providing trillions of dollars in emergency loans and spending to combat COVID-19 has laid the groundwork for increased fraud investigations and enforcement actions related to COVID-19 stimulus, including False Claims Act investigations and qui tam whistleblower litigation, that may implicate companies in various industries.
In this webinar, Perkins Coie attorneys provide an overview of the government's tools and authorities to combat fraud in COVID-19 relief spending and the anticipated areas of focus for the U.S. Department of Justice as well as other new and existing investigative entities. The webinar also highlights strategies that recipients of federal funding can take to identify enforcement risks and reduce their potential exposure to allegations of fraud against the government.
Among other things, the speakers address the following:
- The Department of Justice, Civil Division's recently announced plans to use the False Claims Act to address fraudulent or false claims associated with COVID-19 relief spending, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans
- Legal theories of liability under the False Claims Act implicated by the CARES Act and other relief spending, and analogous precedent in prior periods of national crisis
- Specific risk areas for borrowers under the $659 billion PPP program, including issues arising from certifications related to loan eligibility and size status, as well as the implications of "safe harbors" for certain borrowers
- Other DOJ criminal and civil enforcement areas of focus associated with COVID-19, such as collusive activity and price gouging
- The investigative and oversight roles of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, and Congress, as well as agency offices of inspectors general
Speakers include:
- Alexander Canizares
Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie - Barak Cohen
Partner, Perkins Coie
