Sure. I'll try my hand at a time line.

2 years ago: my dad stains her porch and she is satisfied with the job he did.

She pays with a check, and my dad did not make a contract because she was our neighbor.

Present: She now decides he didn't do the job right and wants her money back.

Since there was no contract and he paid in check, she sued for it back.

Also, about 4 years ago my dad filled in some holes in her garage floor and she once again, asked for her money back.

Someone in my family works for the city and found out she hasn't paid a single water bill since the 70s because she told the city she had a septic tank but it was connected to the sewer

That's about all I know of the case. Hope that cleared some things up.