Re:Ask HN: Client refused payment, told us to come back with...
by dragonwriter on Wednesday December 04, 2013 @09:23PM
(#6852272)
> In the United States, a verbal contract is valid up to a contract value of $500.
This depends on both what the payment is for, and which US jurisdiction's law binds. There are circumstances in California, e.g., for which there is a $5,000 limit -- and circumstances for which there is a $100,000 limit.
Which is one reason why you should go to a lawyer.
Re:Ask HN: Client refused payment, told us to come back with...
by amgreg on Thursday December 05, 2013 @11:13PM
(#6859358)
The existence or not of a contract does not entirely determine whether a promise (e.g. to pay you $12,000) is legally enforceable. There may be other legal theories affording recovery. Therefore it is not entirely accurate to say that if you have an invalid contract with someone, "you can't sue [him] and [he] won't deliver." In many if not most cases you can sue and you may be able to recover.
If someone tells you they'll give you a $10,000 to do or say something ridiculous (eat a week old pizza, drink milk through your nose, etc), you can't sue them when they don't deliver; They aren't on the hook for $10,000.