Stowe v. Town of Cheshire

**What Happened** Employee Stowe sued Columbia Care Inc. claiming the company broke an oral agreement to pay him a finder's fee. Stowe alleged that the company promised to compensate him for helping them find or secure some type of business opportunity, but then failed to pay what was promised. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed Stowe's case without allowing it to proceed to trial. The judge ruled that under New York's "statute of frauds" law, certain types of agreements - including promises to pay finder's fees - must be written down to be legally enforceable. Since Stowe's agreement with Columbia Care was only verbal, the court found it couldn't be enforced in court, even if the company did make such a promise. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling highlights an important protection gap for workers. If your employer promises to pay you a bonus, commission, or finder's fee for bringing in business or opportunities, make sure to get that agreement in writing. Verbal promises for these types of payments may not hold up in court, even if witnesses heard the conversation. Always request written confirmation of any special compensation agreements to protect yourself legally.