Mitchell v. Moore
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
729 A.2d 1200 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999)
Relevant factsFree
Thomas Mitchell (plaintiff) moved into William Moore, III's (defendant) farmhouse in 1981 after the two began a romantic relationship, living there rent-free for 13 years while helping maintain the house and farm, including tending the animals; when the couple broke up in 1994, Mitchell moved out and sued for restitution for his years of farm work, while Moore counterclaimed for back rent. The trial court ruled for Mitchell on both his claim and Moore's counterclaim, and Moore appealed.
IssueFree
Whether, where a claimant has become part of the opposing party's family, a presumption arises that any services rendered by the claimant were gratuitous.