Cox Engineering performs cement core tests in its laboratory. The following standards have been set for each core test performed: Std. Hours or Quantity Std. Price or Rate Direct materials 3 pounds $0.75 per pound Direct labor 0.4 hours $12 per hour During March the laboratory performed 2,000 core tests. The following events occurred during March: 8,600 pounds of sand were purchased at a cost of $7,310. 7,200 pounds of sand were used for core tests. 840 actual direct labor hours were worked at a cost of $8,610. The direct material usage variance for March is:

Richardson hired j.c. flood company, a plumbing contractor, to correct a stoppage in the sewer line of her house. the plumbing company's 'snake' device, used to clear the line leading to the main sewer, became caught in the underground line. to release it, the company excavated a portion of the sewer line in richardson's backyard. in the process, the company discovered numerous leaks in a rusty, defective water pipe that ran parallel with the sewer line. to meet public regulations, the water pipe, of a type no longer approved for such service, had to be replaced either then or later, when the yard would have to be excavated again. the plumbing company proceeded to repair the water pipe. though richardson inspected the company's work daily and did not express any objection to the extra work involved in replacing the water pipe, she refused to pay any part of the total bill after the company completed the entire operation. j.c. flood company then sued richardson for the costs of labor and material it had furnished. (c) for what, if anything, should richardson be liable? explain."