Did my roommate's employer break the law?

Question

My roommate recently completed some freelance audio work for a local businessman. They had an oral agreement as to the hourly rate of payment. The work was done during my roommates freetime, because he is also a student. After completion, he brought his log of hours worked with the completed project to his employer. The employer, after accepting the work, decided he will not pay the agreed upon wage. Instead, he is offering much less. The amounts involved are a little under $1,000 so bringing legal action is not of interest. Has the employer done any kind of legal wrong? Is there anything my roommate can do to receive something close to the original rate, and still retain a professional reference?

Answer 1

Legally no. Morally yes. Anyone that does business this way should always have a signed legal contract on paper to prevent things just like this from going bad. I sincerely doubt your roommate has any legal recourse. I would consider this as a lesson well learned. I am sorry your friend got cheated, but these things happen all the time.

Answer 2

Your STATE-board of labor they usual make a few phone calls and the bad guy corrects it because nobody wants the state looking at the books go get that money i hate that crap they have been through many times the are a little particle our side they no who's lying

Answer 3

small claims court