Latest news with #CoreLife
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Locally owned CoreLife Eatery to pay nearly $8 million in lawsuit over pandemic relief funds
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — North Syracuse-based restaurant CoreLife Eatery, known for its salads and healthy foods, has been ordered to pay almost $8 million for falsely claiming they were eligible for pandemic relief funds. NewsChannel 9 has obtained a copy of the court documents that allege the restaurant lied about the number of restaurants it had in order to get pandemic relief funds. Currently, CoreLife Eatery has 36 locations, with 15 in New York and three in Central New York. According to the lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice, Northern District of New York, they are ordering CoreLife Eatery to pay $7.8 million for falsely certifying its eligibility for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant. Back in March of 2021, Congress moved forward with the American Rescue Plan Act as a continuation of the federal government's efforts to help provide relief to American individuals and businesses who were suffering as a result of the pandemic. According to the filing, the Act allocated $28.6 billion toward an RRF, to be administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), that could grant qualifying restaurants and other 'eligible entities' money awards equal to revenue losses caused by the pandemic. A restaurant was not an 'eligible entity' if, as of March 13, 2020, it (together with its 'affiliated businesses') owned or operated more than 20 locations. On May 3, 2021, CoreLife applied for an RRF grant for the amount of $3,904,686.55, but per the guidelines, they were actually ineligible as at the time, they had 29 locations. A question on the grant's application asked if CoreLife owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020. A managing member responded to that question with 'no.' The filing stated that CoreLife has since admitted to, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the wrongdoings regarding the grant. The chain also has locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CoreLife Eatery to pay $7.8 million for falsely claiming relief funds
ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A local healthy restaurant chain is on the hook for over $7.8 million in restitution after admitting to falsely certifying its eligibility for a restaurant relief fund during the pandemic in 2021, the Department of Justice announced Monday. CoreLife Eatery, LLC, which has locations throughout New York, Pennsylvania and other states, including a Vestal location, will pay $7,809,373 for violating the False Claims Act. In 2021, Congress enacted the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying restaurants would be eligible for grants to subsidize their pandemic-related losses and stay in business. 'Under the program, any restaurant that—together with its affiliated businesses—owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020, was ineligible for RRF funding,' the release said. CoreLife, as part of the settlement for $7.8 million, admitted to owning and operating 29 locations as of the March 13, 2020, deadline. 'The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created to support certain small businesses facing the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic,' said United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. 'By submitting false information about its size to obtain a grant, CoreLife not only diverted funds from eligible recipients but also eroded public trust in critical relief efforts. Our office remains committed to enforcing the False Claims Act and holding accountable those who misrepresent their eligibility for federal funding,' Sarcone III added. The relator in the settlement will receive nearly $1.2 million. President Trump suggests new trade deals could come this week Business of the Week: Warehouse Carpet & Flooring Outlets Police week kicks-off with Binghamton flag raising President Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz Operation Babylift 50 years later: Crash survivor keeps history alive Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Baron & Budd Obtains Record Settlement in Restaurant Revitalization Fraud Lawsuit Against CoreLife Eatery, LLC
A whistleblower, represented by Baron & Budd, came forward with information about the fraudulently obtained grant money. WASHINGTON, May 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the national law firm Baron & Budd announced a record $7.8 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act against CoreLife Eatery, LLC for defrauding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This is the largest RRF settlement under the False Claims Act to date. The RRF was established in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to provide financial assistance to restaurants and other food-service businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, businesses that owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020 were not eligible for the funding. As part of the settlement, CoreLife acknowledged that, on March 13, 2020, CoreLife and its affiliates owned and operated 29 restaurants across five different states. Nevertheless, CoreLife applied for and received an RRF grant for nearly $4 million after certifying that it did not own or operate more than 20 locations. "The RRF was designed to funnel aid to small restaurant businesses that otherwise could not survive the COVID-19 pandemic," said Baron & Budd attorney Noah Rich. "When large restaurant chains and other ineligible applicants received this assistance instead, they kept small businesses from receiving vital relief." The federal government has made the prosecution of these cases a priority and needs whistleblowers to come forward with information about RRF fraud. This type of fraud harmed small business owners struggling to keep their businesses operational during the pandemic. Often, whistleblower suits are the only way in which this fraud is uncovered, investigated, and punished. Whistleblowers who have information about RRF fraud may bring lawsuits under the False Claims Act (FCA). Whistleblowers can receive a monetary award for a successful enforcement action. Under the FCA whistleblower program, whistleblowers are afforded certain confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections. It is important to seek the counsel of a whistleblower attorney in these cases. For more information, visit About Baron & Budd, P.C. Baron & Budd, P.C. is among the largest and most accomplished plaintiffs' law firms in the country. With more than 40 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of public entities and tens of thousands of individuals. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases in areas of litigation as diverse and significant as dangerous and highly addictive pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, wildfires, environmental contamination, fraudulent banking practices, e-cigarettes, motor vehicles, federal whistleblower cases, and other consumer fraud issues. View source version on Contacts Debra Collier, Marketing ManagerBaron & Budd, Noah Rich, AttorneyNRich@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Baron & Budd Obtains Record Settlement in Restaurant Revitalization Fraud Lawsuit Against CoreLife Eatery, LLC
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the national law firm Baron & Budd announced a record $7.8 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act against CoreLife Eatery, LLC for defrauding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This is the largest RRF settlement under the False Claims Act to date. The RRF was established in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to provide financial assistance to restaurants and other food-service businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, businesses that owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020 were not eligible for the funding. As part of the settlement, CoreLife acknowledged that, on March 13, 2020, CoreLife and its affiliates owned and operated 29 restaurants across five different states. Nevertheless, CoreLife applied for and received an RRF grant for nearly $4 million after certifying that it did not own or operate more than 20 locations. 'The RRF was designed to funnel aid to small restaurant businesses that otherwise could not survive the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Baron & Budd attorney Noah Rich. 'When large restaurant chains and other ineligible applicants received this assistance instead, they kept small businesses from receiving vital relief.' The federal government has made the prosecution of these cases a priority and needs whistleblowers to come forward with information about RRF fraud. This type of fraud harmed small business owners struggling to keep their businesses operational during the pandemic. Often, whistleblower suits are the only way in which this fraud is uncovered, investigated, and punished. Whistleblowers who have information about RRF fraud may bring lawsuits under the False Claims Act (FCA). Whistleblowers can receive a monetary award for a successful enforcement action. Under the FCA whistleblower program, whistleblowers are afforded certain confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections. It is important to seek the counsel of a whistleblower attorney in these cases. For more information, visit About Baron & Budd, P.C. Baron & Budd, P.C. is among the largest and most accomplished plaintiffs' law firms in the country. With more than 40 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of public entities and tens of thousands of individuals. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases in areas of litigation as diverse and significant as dangerous and highly addictive pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, wildfires, environmental contamination, fraudulent banking practices, e-cigarettes, motor vehicles, federal whistleblower cases, and other consumer fraud issues.
