Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Wisconsin
Cleaning Services
I agreed (verbally) to do a spring clean for a woman for a set price. When I got to the house to clean, there were things she wanted me to do that were not talked about earlier, and I realized that I could not do this house in the allotted time, nor was it a one-person job. I was there for 2 hours cleaning (she had left), when I realized I couldn't do it. I left her a note explaining why I could not longer do the job, and told her there was no charge for the 2+ hours of cleaning I did. She called me this morning and left a message (I saved it) threatening to A: call the BBB, B: Call my references and slander my name, C. Hire someone else to clean the house and sure me in small claims court to have me pay for the new person who cleans. Does she have a leg to stand on to sue me? And can she legally slander my name with my references?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Withdrawn Estimate for Cleaning Services--Slander
Truth is a defense in a lawsuit for slander. Therefore, your unhappy customer is legally entitled to publish anything about your business relationship which is true without slandering you. If the statements are untrue, however, it could be slander in some circumstances.