Each title search constitues a separate agreement unless you have a contract (oral or written) that provides to the contrary. If there is no such contract, and they have not suffered damages, they have no right to deny payment for the non-problematic searches.
It seems rather odd that they would complain about rejection of deeds not being returned. In Connecticut the deed is usually returned to the interested party by the recorder (town clerk) provided that his name and address is written on the reverse side. The recorder generally accepts or rejects a recording on the spot if it is insufficient. Furthermore, the sufficiency of the deed is the responsibility of the drafter...not the abstractor. If you have a receipt showing that you returned the deed, this is prima facie evidence sufficient to shift the burden of proof to the client to show that there was compliance. I n Connecticut there is a rebuttable presumption that once an item has been properly addressed and properly posted (proper postage and placed in the mail) that it has been received by the recipient.
It has been my experience that when clients will not come to the phone to talk to there vendors about resolving payment problems, the problem is that the client has cash flow problems. If the court in your state has jurisdiction....SUE 'EM.
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