Former employer is saying I owe him money or file for a custom form I created for his business on my personal CPU/program.
Question Details:
Was fired 2 days ago from a pawnshop I worked for. During the year I worked there I created a custom business form for him to use in his business on my personal computer and programs. I never gave him and he never paid me for this form, it was always printed from my personal laptop. Well today he sends me an email stating I OWE him $300 or the file. He never paid me for the file to begin with and this was all on MY personal property and I created this form personally over many hours! Can he put a price on my work and make me pay him or give him the file?
Business Law Answers
I'd be very interested in hearing Mr. Pawnshop's reasoning, for this demand, it would probably be good for a chuckle. Not a great big belly laugh, probably, but a chuckle.
You are correct, that if you did this all on your own time and your own equipment, he has no claim on your work, since I'm sure there was no written contract in which you promised that anything you developed for his business would be his property. There's no confidential information involved, so I really don't see where he's going with this.
Related Business Questions
- How is a sole proprietorship taxed?
- What is an ‘official policy or custom’ in civil rights law?
- Can my employer prevent me from having a second job?
- Protecting Yourself from Creditors When You Own a Business
- Is my employer permitted to borrow money from my pension plan, as long as the employer pays it back?
Didn't find your answer? Ask.
Top Ranking Attorneys
- Hong Shen206 Answers|Points 10300Gold Contributor
- Joseph Gasparrini46 Answers|Points 2200Bronze Contributor
- Kelly Broadbent81 Answers|Points 4000Silver Contributor
- Russ Pietryga77 Answers|Points 3800Silver Contributor
- Shawn Jackson17 Answers|Points 850Bronze Contributor
- Glenn M. Lyon, Esq.27 Answers|Points 1330Bronze Contributor
- Hong Shen206 Answers|Points 10300Gold Contributor
- Kelly Broadbent81 Answers|Points 4000Silver Contributor
- Russ Pietryga77 Answers|Points 3800Silver Contributor
- Sharon Siegel62 Answers|Points 3090Bronze Contributor
- Michael D. Siegel56 Answers|Points 2750Bronze Contributor
- Paula McGill50 Answers|Points 2500Bronze Contributor
Are you a lawyer?Want to be featured here? Sign up for a free profile and get started today! Click Here
More Questions Like This...
 |