Golf club repays pandemic loan after lawsuit challenges eligibility
RICHLAND, Mich. (AP) — A golf club in southwestern Michigan has agreed to pay $440,000 to settle allegations that it wrongly obtained a loan through a federal program during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said Monday.
Gull Lake Country Club, near Richland in Kalamazoo County, was not eligible for a loan, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said.
A whistleblower filed a lawsuit against the club, and the federal government joined the case. The lawsuit names other Michigan golf clubs. Most documents in the case are sealed in federal court in Grand Rapids.
Under the Paycheck Protection Program, certain businesses could receive forgivable loans to help them during the pandemic.
A phone message seeking comment from the Gull Lake club wasn't immediately returned.
"Today's resolution demonstrates our continued commitment to protect taxpayer dollars and investigate allegations of fraud on critical government programs," Totten said.
The lawsuit was filed by Wade Riner, who will get a share of the settlement. He has filed similar lawsuits in other states.
Gull Lake Country Club, near Richland in Kalamazoo County, was not eligible for a loan, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said.
A whistleblower filed a lawsuit against the club, and the federal government joined the case. The lawsuit names other Michigan golf clubs. Most documents in the case are sealed in federal court in Grand Rapids.
Under the Paycheck Protection Program, certain businesses could receive forgivable loans to help them during the pandemic.
A phone message seeking comment from the Gull Lake club wasn't immediately returned.
"Today's resolution demonstrates our continued commitment to protect taxpayer dollars and investigate allegations of fraud on critical government programs," Totten said.
The lawsuit was filed by Wade Riner, who will get a share of the settlement. He has filed similar lawsuits in other states.
Law school to present lecture on climate and energy politics Sept. 3
Wayne State University Law School will present “Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship” by David B. Spence on Tuesday, September 3. from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at Wayne Law, DJK 2242, 471 W. Palmer Ave. in Detroit.
“Climate of Contempt” offers a voter-centric, bottom-up explanation of national climate and energy politics, one that pinpoints bitter partisanship as the key impediment to transitioning to a net zero carbon future. Providing a timely and incisive understanding of the politics of the energy transition, “Climate of Contempt” suggests new paths forward and offers hope for a net-zero future.
Spence is the Rex G. Baker Chair in Natural Resources Law in the School of Law and professor of business, government, and society in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches courses in energy and environmental regulation. He is a coauthor of a leading casebook, “Energy, Economics, and the Environment.”
There is no cost to attend the in-person lecture.
“Climate of Contempt” offers a voter-centric, bottom-up explanation of national climate and energy politics, one that pinpoints bitter partisanship as the key impediment to transitioning to a net zero carbon future. Providing a timely and incisive understanding of the politics of the energy transition, “Climate of Contempt” suggests new paths forward and offers hope for a net-zero future.
Spence is the Rex G. Baker Chair in Natural Resources Law in the School of Law and professor of business, government, and society in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches courses in energy and environmental regulation. He is a coauthor of a leading casebook, “Energy, Economics, and the Environment.”
There is no cost to attend the in-person lecture.
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