AG sues hockey equipment supplier
WEST CHESTER >> An East Coventry man and the hockey equipment sales company of which he is president allegedly entered into contracts with consumers to sell hockey equipment through a website but failed to deliver products and refund consumers’ money, according to a lawsuit filed by state officials.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection filed the suit against Monster Hockey Inc. and its president Jeffrey Laum, of the 200 block of South Savanna Drive in East Coventry.
The suit, filed in Chester County Court this week, was brought under the state’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
“Everyone has the right to make a profit but every company also has the responsibility to treat customers fairly,” state Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a prepared statement. “With this lawsuit, we are lighting the lamp for the people who visited this company’s website and got more excuses than merchandise; more frustration than satisfaction.”
The lawsuit asks a judge to order Laum and the company to pay restitution to all people and businesses who have suffered losses as a result of the alleged conduct and to be permanently enjoined from doing business as a seller of goods or ser
vices in Pennsylvania or to Pennsylvania residents and businesses.
The suit also seeks civil penalties of $1,000 for each alleged violation of the Consumer Protection Law and $3,000 for each violation involving a consumer 60 or older.
Attempts to reach Laum for comment about the suit on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
According to the suit, Monster Hockey Inc. advertised and sold hockey pads and helmets and related merchandise to consumers online from the website www.monsterhockeyinc.com the domain name of which Laum has been the registered owner. The suit maintained Monster Hockey previously was operated from an address along East High Street in Pottstown but in June 2018 moved out and began operating from Laum’s home.
During a typical transaction, a consumer would view available products on the online catalogue, complete an online order form and make an electronic payment, according to court documents. Monster Hockey would send an email to the consumer confirming that the order had been processed however, the website provided no estimated date for delivery for the orders, the lawsuit alleged.
“In certain instances, defendants failed to provide refunds to the consumers who paid in full but failed to receive their ordered products or who were delivered defective products,” state Deputy Attorney General James S. Wise alleged in the lawsuit. “Despite defendants’ consistent and repeated inability to deliver goods for which consumers paid in full, defendants continued to solicit orders and accept payment from consumers via its website.”
Despite being more than a year-and-a-half behind on filling consumers’ orders, the lawsuit contends Monster Hockey and Laum have continued to accept orders and collect money from consumers via the website, as recently as Sept. 11.
“In certain instances, when consumers contacted defendants to inquire as to the status of their orders, defendants made excuses and blamed external factors involving suppliers and manufacturers,” the suit alleged. “When consumers asked for dates by which their orders would be delivered, defendants either failed to provide a date or ceased responding entirely.”
Laum and Monster Hockey failed to adequately communicate to consumers that goods were not being delivered within a reasonably expected period of time, the lawsuit alleged.
“In at least one instance, a consumer received a defective item from defendants and immediately notified defendants but, despite defendants representing that it would send the consumer a replacement product, the consumer never received a replacement,” Wise alleged in the lawsuit.
State officials received “a number” of complaints” against the company from consumers from as far away as Illinois, Wisconsin and Canada, court documents alleged. Other consumers filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau and some formed a Facebook group titled “Monster Hockey Victims” that has been joined by more than 400 members, according to the suit.
When one consumer posted a complaint on the company’s Facebook page, rather than address the consumer’s issue, the company quickly deleted the comment, according to court papers.
The lawsuit contends the defendants eventually began to tell consumers they would receive refunds by June 2019. Those refunds, however, never came.
“I was a repeat customer because my previous purchase was handled in a timely fashion and the communication was good. I am also a veteran and I like supporting fellow veterans and their businesses that have a good product,” said Russell Handy, a consumer who allegedly paid for $130 worth of hockey gear from Monster Hockey but never received the merchandise. “I’m hoping this lawsuit means no one else is going to get scammed, and I’m hoping to get my money back.”
In the lawsuit, state officials alleged there “may be additional consumers who have not submitted complaints” to the state and who also have been harmed by the defendants.
Shapiro said anyone who feels they were victimized by Monster Hockey is encouraged to file a complaint at www.attorneygeneral. gov or contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
“With this lawsuit, we are lighting the lamp for the people who visited this company’s website and got more excuses than merchandise; more frustration than satisfaction.”
- Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro