Opinion
4:23-CV-234-DMB-JMV
03-14-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAINTIFF v. SANDRA SPEARMAN DEFENDANT
ORDER
DEBRA M. BROWN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
On December 11, 2023, the United States of America filed a complaint against Sandra Spearman in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi seeking “to recover treble damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act (‘FCA'), ... and ... money for common law or equitable causes of action for payment by mistake and unjust enrichment based upon [ Spearman]'s receipt of Pay check Protection Program funds to which she was not entitled.” Doc. #1 at PagelD 1. The complaint alleges that Spearman, through misrepresentations, received Paycheck Protection Program loan proceeds of $17,160.00 (for which the Small Business Administration paid approximately $2,500.00 in processing fees to the financial institution involved) and that based on Spearman's false statements, the financial institution involved was “reimbursed by the SB A.” Id. at PagelD 6, 7.
On March 5, 2024, a “Joint Motion for Entry of Consent Judgment” was filed in which the parties represent that they “have agreed to resolve [this] litigation” and “to the entry of a consent judgment on the terms provided [in the proposed consent judgment].” Doc. #5 at PagelD 17. Both the joint motion and the proposed consent judgment are signed by an Assistant United States Attorney and by Spearman who appears pro se. Id.
Generally, before entering a consent judgment, also called a consent decree, courts must decide whether it represents a reasonable factual and legal determination based on the facts of record, whether established by evidence, affidavit, or
stipulation. Courts must also ascertain that the settlement is fair and that it does not violate the Constitution, statutes, or jurisprudence. In assessing the propriety of giving judicial imprimatur to the consent decree, the court must also consider the nature of the litigation and the purposes to be served by the decree.Jones v. Gusman, 296 F.R.D. 416, 428-29 (E.D. La. 2013) (cleaned up).
The Court reviewed the proposed consent judgment-which requires Spearman to pay $20,095.37 plus interest and a $402.00 filing fee-and finds that it represents a fair and reasonable factual and legal determination based on the facts of record. The Court also concludes that the proposed consent judgment does not violate the Constitution, statutes, or jurisprudence. Finally, the proposed consent judgment is consistent with the nature of this litigation. Accordingly, the “Joint Motion for Entry of Consent Judgment” [5] is GRANTED. The proposed consent judgment will be signed and entered by the Court.
SO ORDERED