Federal PPP loan lawsuit against Van Bortel dismissed without prejudice

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A federal lawsuit accusing Mary Catherine “Kitty” Van Bortel and her automobile dealerships of defrauding government COVID-era loan programs has been dismissed. The lawsuit filed in July by PPP Eligibility Experts LLC claimed Van Bortel fraudulently obtained PPP loans totaling around $7.4 million. Earlier this month, PPP Eligibility moved for a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York said the dismissal wouldn t go into effect until the U.S. and the court consent. A qui tam action may be dismissed only if the court and the Attorney General give written consentto the dismissal and their reasons consenting, court documents said. The U.S. District Court and the Attorney General then agreed to dismiss the case without prejudice. The United States hereby notifies the Court that the Attorney General consents to the dismissal of this action without prejudice to the rights of the United States, base