Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Pennsylvania

First, if these ladies made an oral agreement to share in the costs of the vacation, and dropped out at the last minute, and you are left holding the bag because you advanced the cost, you can certainly sue these ladies in small claims court (in Philadelphia that would be Municipal Court) for your damages. Obviously, it would be good if you had some kind of writing--emails--notes, etc, that back up your story. If they havfe already given you the money, and you cannot cancel the reservations without being penalized, you ccan certainly give them their money back and withhold the amount of the penalty. If they sue you, it would seem that you have a pretty good defense.