Can a Lawyer read this and give me some advice?

Question

I am in a bit of a situation right now. So here's the story.

I have a friend that owns a clothing store and I worked there for about 2 years. We had an agreement that I would pay him $2,500 each month as lodge money. So the day I quit he took $15,000 from me as lodge money that I was suppose to get back.

The reason I quit was that the owners wife and him were fighting because the store was moving. One day the wife got angry at me for pointless reasons. After the incident they kept pushing me to quit. After a while I just couldn't take it. I quit the job. Now the owner and his wife is going around town telling people LIES. They say I stole from the store and threatened to kill them. They filed an emergency order of protection on me. Because the store was moving I worked overtime without any overtime pay. before they filed the emergency order of protection the owners wife told me to return the store keys or she would call the police. I went to return the keys and I asked her for my pay and my $15,000. Then like a fox she said "What Money?"

Now I need a Lawyers help... What should I do?

Answer 1

Hello ma'am maybe my answer can help. First and foremost did you have a contract or promissory note stating you get the money back? If not how can you prove the money was supposed to be paid back? Also did she not give you the pay that you earned? That would fall under the Employment Law. Finally, did the "lies" you speak of damage your reputation? Did it make you not get hired for a job? If so then that is Defamation of Character. At any point did you ever feel endangered at your work area? If the husband and wife were fighting did you ever get involved? If so you could be compensated for Hostile Law 101 (hostile work environment). Common examples of a hostile work environment would be where the employer permits the pervasive use of language or non-verbal expression that is hostile to persons of certain protected classifications. Such conduct often forms the basis for a claim of Sexual Harassment or Title VII Discrimination).

so you mean that the 2500 was supposed to add up to 15000?