$request = trim(strtolower($_REQUEST['email']));
$valid = 'true';

//The classic, long way to do it:
$dbServer = "localhost";
$dbUser = "rocke691_bettLan";
$dbPass = "ViVCTT59c371";
$dbName = "rocke691_betterLandlord";

//Connect to the database
$link = mysql_connect($dbServer, $dbUser, $dbPass);
if (!$link) {
    die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
//Select the correct database and table
mysql_select_db($dbName, $link);


//Construct the query to search for the email
      $sql  = "SELECT `email` FROM `users`";
      $sql .= " WHERE `email` LIKE '{$request}'";

      $result = mysql_query($sql);
      $count= count($result);

if(!empty($result)) {
        $valid = '"That\'s already taken"';
        echo $valid;
} else {
echo $result;
}