Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Bankruptcy StrategistFeaturesBankruptcyLitigation

PPP Loans and Small Business Debtors In Bankruptcy

By Alison D. Bauer
May 01, 2021

A number of legislative modifications were made to the Bankruptcy Code to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on distressed debtors, particularly small business and individual debtors. While a few of these changes expanded protections previously granted to small business debtors pre-pandemic, a major pandemic relief program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was not made available to debtors in bankruptcy proceedings. After Congress established the PPP in The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020, a number of debtors in pending bankruptcy cases applied for PPP loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) opposed PPP loans for debtors, and courts were split as to whether the SBA could block debtors from qualifying for and receiving PPP loans. Two circuit courts, the Eleventh and the Fifth Circuits, ultimately ruled against the debtors. USF Federal Credit Union v. Gateway Radiology Consultants, P.A., No. 20-13462 at 43 (11th Cir. 2020) (holding that the SBA did not exceed its authority in adopting the non-bankruptcy rule for PPP eligibility).

Then Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Act) (Pub. L. No. 116-260) (CAA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. The CAA includes the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (the CARES Act II). The Cares Act II amends the United States Bankruptcy Code to permit Second Draw PPP loans to certain debtors, namely Subchapter V small business debtors, Chapter 12 family farmer debtors, and self-employed Chapter 13 debtors on the condition that the SBA Administrator in its discretion sends a letter to the Director of the Executive Office for United States Trustee, an office of the Department of Justice which serves an administrative function for U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, acquiescing to Second Draw PPP loans to entities in active bankruptcy cases. The SBA has not acquiesced and has reiterated its opposition to extending PPP loans to entities in bankruptcy proceedings.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTs Image

A federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.

Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners Image

Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.

Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits Image

In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.