Ohio Sues Bernard Haldane Affiliate

February 17, 2006

Bernard Haldane • Consumer complaints --- News • Ohio Sues Haldane • Illinois Sues Haldane • Minnesota Sues Haldane

The state of Ohio has sued two businesses for selling but not providing career counseling services to job-seekers in Ohio, an unfair and deceptive business practice in violation of the state's consumer protection laws.

"The defendants accepted thousands of dollars from Ohio consumers for the promise of employment but misrepresented both their services and their potential outcomes,� Attorney General Jim Petro said. "It is particularly unconscionable to mislead job-seekers when times are tough.�

Petro filed legal papers in Franklin County Common Pleas Court naming Geoff Coy Management Group, Inc., formerly of Cincinnati, and MCSMG, Ltd., based in Dayton, as defendants in the suit.

The companies have sold purported career counseling services throughout the state, according to the Attorney General's suit. The companies have also done business in Ohio under the fictitious business names Bernard Haldane and Associates, BH Careers International, and The Michaels Group, according to the suit.

The state's suit seeks a declaratory judgment and injunction against the companies, restitution for economic losses the companies caused to 11 Ohio consumers, and civil penalties of $25,000 per violation under the state Consumer Sales Practices Act. The average consumer loss in the case is about $4,500.

Petro said the companies violated sections of Ohio law prohibiting exclusions and limitations in advertising, false and misleading representations, bait advertising, failure to deliver services, unconscionable contract terms, unconscionable settlement and release terms, and failure to register all fictitious names.

The companies advertise their career counseling services online and in the employment or classified sections of the newspaper, where they solicit resumes from prospective customers.

Petro's suit alleges the companies misrepresented their services to induce customers to pay advance fees as high as $7,500, did not provide the services they promised, and placed illegal restrictions on customers in their contracts with them.

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