On March 28, 2018, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a consumer protection lawsuit against a Jason M. McCoy, operating under the name M.J. McCoy Electric, accused of failing to deliver home improvement services to consumers in northeast Ohio. The charges were brought thanks to IBEW Local 540 inquiries and ACT Ohio’s research.
According to the lawsuit, McCoy advertised a variety of home improvement services, including electrical work, new construction, and remodeling. After taking large deposits from consumers, he failed to provide the promised work. McCoy has also allegedly operated under the business names, including Hunny Do Construction, Honey Do, and HunnyDo LLC.
As of this writing, nine consumers have filed complaints with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or Better Business Bureau reporting approximately $55,000 in total losses.
In 2017, IBEW Local 540 Organizer Jon Hall realized some the electrical work for his church’s renovation would need redone due to quality and safety concerns. When Hall inquired about the work, he was told the church has hired M.J. McCoy for the job. Because of his close connection to the church, Hall made an inquiry at the Stark County Building Department.
“It turns out that McCoy has pulled only one permit for one outlet on one wall,” he said. After an investigation, Stark County eventually revoked McCoy’s permit.
The church, which was renovating its facility to train missionaries, had already paid McCoy over $12,000 and was running into construction delays and requests for additional funds from McCoy.
“We are a small church and this money was not easily come by,” said Pastor Nicholas Strange. “As a group, we have sacrificed and given that money to Mr. McCoy with extremely little to show for it.”
Hall brought his concerns to the ACT Ohio legal department in late 2017, and asked for help bringing McCoy to justice.
“At the IBEW, we abide by the rules, and our contractors abide by the rules,” said Hall. “We hate to see the public get taken advantage of by contractors who don’t abide by those same rules.”
“This individual has shown a pattern of taking money and not doing the work he was paid to do,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We’re taking this action to protect consumers.”
The Attorney General’s lawsuit, filed in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, seeks an end to any violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act or Home Solicitation Sales Act and reimbursement for consumers.
This is not ACT Ohio’s first investigation of M.J. McCoy Electric. In 2016, IBEW 246 in Steubenville brought it to the organization’s attention that McCoy was operating in Ohio without a license.
