{"id":2388522,"date":"2025-01-09T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T23:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-former-company-sued-by-florida-over-5-million-overpayment-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T18:33:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T23:33:18","slug":"democrats-former-company-sued-by-florida-over-5-million-overpayment-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-former-company-sued-by-florida-over-5-million-overpayment-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat&#8217;s former company sued by Florida over $5 million overpayment &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-former-company-sued-by-florida-over-5-million-overpayment-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2388522&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A healthcare\u2062 company formerly run by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) is facing a lawsuit\u2063 from the state of\u2062 Florida for over $5\u200d million in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-inch-closer-to-debt-level-breaking-point-as-household-borrowing-tops-17-trillion\/\" title=\"US Household Debt Reaches  Trillion, Nearing Breaking Point\">loan \u200cpayments<\/a>. \u2064The loans were issued during\u2064 the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021\u200d by Florida&#8217;s Division of Emergency Management,\u200d intended\u2064 to support the registration of \u200dindividuals for COVID-19 \u2064vaccinations at south\u200d Florida&#8217;s Trinity \u200cHealth \u200bCare Services. The\u2064 lawsuit arises from\u2062 claims that the company was overpaid \u2062for its services.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House Democrat&rsquo;s former company sued by Florida over $5 million payment error<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1931669\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A healthcare company formerly led by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) is being sued by the state of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida<\/a> after the government overpaid the company more than $5 million in loans during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">COVID-19<\/a> pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In 2021, Florida&rsquo;s Division of Emergency Management loaned money to South Florida&rsquo;s Trinity Health Care Services to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations. According to the lawsuit, the state meant to pay the amount of $50,578.50. Due to a decimal error, however, the state instead paid $5,057,850.00 to Trinity, $5 million more than the company was slated to be given.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Trinity took advantage of the state of emergency the entire country was encountering due to the COVID-19 pandemic and knowingly processed an invoice more than 100 times its typical invoice size,&rdquo; the state&rsquo;s lawsuit reads.<\/p>\n<p>The CEO of the company at the time of the contract was Cherfilus-McCormick, who is now a member of Congress and currently the subject of an <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5064275-congressional-watchdog-allegations-campaign\/#:~:text=In%20a%20separate,with%20her%20businesses.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">unrelated<\/a> House ethics complaint. <\/p>\n<p>According to the invoices attached to the lawsuit, many invoices were submitted and paid in 2021 totaling over $5.7 million given to the company from the state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Part of the responsibilities of doing business with the State of Florida is the requirement to return any monies received in error,&rdquo; Stephanie Houp, FDEM&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-walks-back-regulation-protecting-single-sex-homeless-shelters\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Walks Back Regulation Protecting Single-Sex Homeless Shelters\">deputy executive director<\/a> and general counsel, wrote in that letter.<\/p>\n<p>The state argues that Trinity, as a contractor, &ldquo;was required to return any overpayments of invoices for work not actually performed and money not actually owed.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The state of Florida is suing the company for damages, interest, attorneys&rsquo; fees, costs, and other relief.<\/p>\n<p>After the death of former Rep. Alcee Hastings, Cherfilus-McCormick ran for office in a 2022 special election, which she won. Her campaign was largely self-funded.<\/p>\n<p>According to campaign finance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/committee\/C00677492\/?cycle=2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">records<\/a>, she donated over $6 million to her own campaign for both the special election and regular election between the years of 2021 to 2022. For the special election, she far outspent other Democrats in the race, loaning her <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-9a1d761dbdfad759df240d5ff0a569a3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">campaign<\/a> more than $3.7 million. Of the $6,779,418.80 she raised over two years, $6,236,493.50 of that came from herself.<\/p>\n<p>During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/2024-gop-contenders-should-cue-struggling-americans-in-on-their-intended-nominees-for-the-fed\/\" title=\"2024 GOP Contenders Should Cue Struggling Americans In On Their Intended Nominees For The Fed\">2024 campaign cycle<\/a>, she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/committee\/C00677492\/?cycle=2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">loaned<\/a> just $5,000 to her own campaign.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The House Ethics complaint that she is facing alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick <a href=\"https:\/\/ethics.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/OCE-Report-and-Findings.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">made <\/a>&ldquo;impermissible payments&rdquo;&nbsp;to a state PAC that then paid various vendors and her unofficial campaign manager, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/secret-service-scandal-follows-years-of-failures\/\" title=\"Secret Service Scandal Follows Years of Failures\">allegedly &#038;ldquo<\/a>;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">heavily involved&#038;rdquo<\/a>; in communications from her congressional office but was not paid with official funds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Cherfilus-McCormick for comment but did not receive a response.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1931669\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1931669\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida sues ex-Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick&#8217;s company over $5M error<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2388523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sheila-Cherfilus-McCormick.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4912,5113,4585],"class_list":["post-2388522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrat","tag-florida","tag-lawsuit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sheila-Cherfilus-McCormick.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2388522"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2388526,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388522\/revisions\/2388526"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2388523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2388522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2388522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2388522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}