being sued

[beingsued]

A friend was asked to install the trim work in our new house. No verbal or written contract was made. We told him to keep tract of his hours. Upon completion of the job he said he worked 115 hours and wanted 25 dollars an hour. (He does not have his own business) We said he was over charging us and we paid him for 46 hours at 25 dollars an hour. We've had professional contractors give us quotes fot the job he did reinforcing that the work he did should have easily taken 46 hours. He never cashed the check we gave him, hired a lawyer, and is suing us. Do we have enough proof by the contrator bids that we won't lose, or does he really have a case? (The state is Pennsylvania)

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Okay, now you know never to cut corners and ask "friends" to do work for you like this. Especially un-licensed friends.

See, you had a verbal agreement ==> he would keep track of his hours and tell you and the amount charged would be open.


Now, he won't win for two reasons:

he is unlicensed and working on your home --> he can't win. what he did was illegal and thus cannot collect for working while an obviously unlicensed contractor.

Second, the price was left open. In contract law, that is the one thing that MUST be set.