Alonzo Vereen and Technical Data Services

FERREN, Associate Judge : The trial court, sitting without a jury, entered judgment for plaintiff-appellee, Verna E. Clayborne,
in the amount of $10,499.59 (representing principal and interest owed), plus $1,574.94 in attorney's fees, on Clayborne's
claim for payment due on a promissory note from defendants-appellants Alonzo Vereen and his company, Technical Data Services,
Inc. (collectively "Vereen"). The court also entered judgment against Vereen on his counterclaims for breach of contract,
quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, and defamation. On appeal, Vereen contends that the evidence shows he performed services
for Clayborne in lieu of paying the balance due on the note and that he accordingly owes her no money. He therefore argues
that the trial court erred in finding that Vereen did not perform any services at Clayborne's New Jersey Avenue property and
that the parties did not have a contract for the performance of services at Clayborne's A Street, N.E., property. 1 Vereen
further contends that even if he did not have valid contractual claims offsetting any balance due on the note, the trial court
erred in rejecting his counterclaim based on quantum meruit and unjust enrichment. Finally, as to his separate counterclaim
for defamation, Vereen contends the trial court erred in finding that Clayborne's statements, while defamatory, were not false.
We reject virtually all Vereen's contentions and affirm the trial court's rulings in all respects save one: we must remand
for further proceedings on Vereen's defamation claim based on one statement by Clayborne which Vereen did prove was both defamatory
and false. I.