Lehighton, PA asked in Employment Discrimination, Employment Law and Landlord - Tenant for Pennsylvania

Q: Can my former employer keep my last paycheck because I owe him rent

My former employer offered to rent me a room but it wasn't ready. Due to an hour travel to and from work he offered to let me stay in a room close by free of charge until my room was ready. I stayed in that room for a week and a half and ended up in the hospital. During my hospital stay, he terminated me, and disposed of all my belongings. I had called him from the hospital because I did not receive my check from the week prior. He told me he would take care of it. After 8 days in the hospital I was released, and I went to the job site to talk to him about my pay and my belongings. He ignored me for 2 weeks and finally texted my mom who was also an employee of his and told her that he threw my stuff out to stop trying to reach out. 3 months later I filed a complaint about lost wages. He made a counterclaim stating I owe him 650 in rent. Can he do this?

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