Yes, there are mitigating factors involved such as "did you try hard enough to find work to fill the date" "was the cancellation well in advance" "were you "eye-balling" the waitress too long (I'd rather get cancelled for that one)," and the list goes on.

BUT....when the dust settles, YOU HAVE A LEGAL CONTRACT! By definition, a legal contract is formed when a buyer, of sound mind, engages the seller to purchase his product or his services and there is no fraud involved. The first step is the "oral" contract and that generally leads, where practical, into the "written" contract.

What is important is that NOT ONE PERSON CAN CANCEL THE CONTRACT....neither the oral one or the written one...both parties have to agree on it. If the seller cancels, then the buyer can sue for "failure to deliver." If the buyer cancels, then the seller sues for monetary compensation.

Of course, that's the way it works on paper, but judges always do what they want to do. You can appeal and win (based on the legal definition of contract law) but it would cost a fortune in transcripts.

Don't forget also.....each state has its own set of statutes (which you can find at your local library). I think if more folks would learn to sue, then there'd be less folks jerking us around like this!

Someone said: "is it worth it all?" I'd really have to think now about: "do I want to win the battle but lose the war?