I'm a freelancer and i'm being sued!

Business
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So my last client has decided to sue me after both parties agreed to part ways. The issue came up when i invoiced him for $800 dollars of the work i have done and so i can pay my bills and continue to develop. He delayed saying i did not have enough done. I argued this point as the work completed was well over 50% completed including front and back-end code. This was just the beginning of the end honestly. After much more stressful nights of trying to meet his strict deadline and working hours. He finally payed the invoice after i had said i would no longer continue working on his project unless he payed. He payed the invoice and i continued to develop. During this time the client became very impatient and our relationship decade even more. At this point i was loosing alot of money and time and just getting really tired of dealing with this client. So i made a proposal as seeing the client was not happy and nether was I. I asked him if he would like to find another developer he then set gave me 3 options. 1. continue working and finish this off. 2. we both part ways and no money need be re-funded and no more hours billed. 3 we fight this in court. So i chose option 2 he did agree to this and said after he accessed the code and quantity and quality. He replied later stating it was all good and he would write up a formal contract stating we both have decided to go our separate ways. So a month later after hearing no word i get an email from this client asking if i wanted to continue and i stated no. 2 days later i get served.

I have all emails stating and proving the above. And a contract stating that all invoices must be payed promptly. The contract also states that there was a $500 non-refundable deposit needed towards any fees and bills being used towards the development of his project.

The client is requesting all money in his claim.

My questions are does this client have a leg to stand on?. And am i able to still bill for all hours worked?.

I have every email and the contract and by both from who i have asked i was not in the wrong but i want to know if anyone else has gone through this and is there any catch i should be aware of.

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Do you have written confirmation that the client agreed to option ‘2’? i.e. an email where he stated he was happy to part ways, no money refunded?

I don’t know how it works in the US, but $800 would be a small claims court issue in the UK. Is this the case in the US, or has this client gone for full litigation over $800?

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Off Topic:

Just remember that it’s important to speak to a lawyer about this, as you are unlikely to get true legal advice here, friendly though it be. :slight_smile:

4

I assume he is suing you in small claims court. Just go into court with all your documentation of the agreements and emails. Make a time line of what happened when. Testify to this and give the court a copy of the documents. Let the court decide.

You don’t need a lawyer to go into small claims court! I sued a client 2 years ago and won easily because I had all documentation and my client had no excuse as to why he wasn’t complying with the agreements we had.

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Yes i do have all documentation in email format stating that he has agreed to part ways. Yes it is small claims court and no-lawyers allowed. My situation seems very similar to the above “donmarvins”. I think this client is reaching and hoping maybe i won’t fight it. I was just hoping there was no catch that i did not foresee in my initial contract write up.

This is actual email from client stating the contract is over!.

Ok, after assessing, and based on the conclusion from the quantity and quality of the work you sent, I will get back to you with a written agreement that we are both deciding to disolve the contract and that nothing more is needed from either party.

This was the last email he sent before the final email asking if i wanted to continue to work on his project. I replayed no. 2 days later i get served!.

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Don’t worry. Just go into court and present your case very clearly and succinctly, with all supporting documentation. Always keep your cool, especially when plaintiff tries to tell a different story or bad mouth you. Then it’s in the hands of the judge.

I got a letter from People’s Court wanting me to present the case on TV. For whatever reason, that didn’t come about.

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