Q: Getting sued for civil theft, cyber security infringement, cyber theft, blackmail, scamming, extortion
Hello everyone, I was hired as a marketing manager and for some administrative work by an individual who owns a small business. However, after one or two weeks, she began giving me tasks related to building her website, which falls under web development and not marketing or administrative work at all. This was not part of our agreed-upon contract or messages. When I asked for additional payment for the website work I was doing, she refused to pay me. I then stopped all work until I heard from her. I attempted to contact her to resolve the issue, but she did not respond.
In an effort to get her attention, I deleted some content from the website I had built and sent her a notice stating that I would only provide her with the content if she agreed to pay. She responded by threatening me with legal action, claiming that I had committed civil theft, cyber security infringement, cyber theft, blackmail, scamming, extortion, and other offenses. I am a college student and have never dealt with
A: It's not clear whether you were an employee or an independent contractor. But in any case, it appears that you did the website work for her. If so, the content was hers, and you had no right to delete the content. So, I suggest that you offer to restore it to how it was before you quit. Make the offer in writing and, when you are done, give her all passwords, source codes, etc. Suggest that she change the passwords. Make the offer contingent upon her releasing you from liability.
Peter J. Weinman agrees with this answer
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