Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania
partnershjp vs employment
I had a verbal agreement with a friend to go into business together. All the legal paperwork was completed under her name. After 16 months of building a business, very successfully, she has decided that she is the sole owner. I never received a paycheck and work over 50 hours a week. I did the majority of the sales and marketing. What if any legal claim do I have? She has changed the locks and sent correspondence to clients that I am no longer with the company. Can I get back wages?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: partnershjp vs employment
If you let her do all the ownership/business paperwork in her name, then it would be very hard to show there was an agreement for you to be a part owner.
To get back wages, you would have to show that you were an employee of the company, or an independent contractor hired by the company.
However, if you have been working on behalf of the company, you might have a claim against your friend for unjust enrichment.