Re the A/C failure. The normal mode of failure is the system develops a small leak, this is usually brought on by NOT using your A/C during the winter for a few minutes each month. Once the refrigerant has leaked out moisture gets in and starts to corrode the internals in particular the compressor. Some compressors fail pretty soon after a regass because the guy doing the work may well have topped up the refrigerant but did NOT a, remove the moisture and b, add the correct amount (or even any) oil. The system needs both to work correctly, the gas to pull the heat from the inside of the car and the oil to lubricate the compressor. I rarely see this happen here where the A/C guys will do the job thoroughly, which means vacuuming the sytstem to remove any moisture and then pressure testing followed by oil and gas in the correct quantities. Whilst I would not suggest this is what happened to your compressor the mode of failure fit's the order of usual events.
regards
Dave
regards
Dave