Incan Designs Rips Off It's Employees!

On December 2, 1999, I was still employed as Office Manager for Rene Balderas, D.B.A.Incan Designs, Ltd. As usual on Thursdays, I made out the payroll and took the checks to Rene to sign off on. In that payroll was my check for $500. After work I took the check to my bank, cashed it, and went Christmas shopping. The next day, Rene and I had an arguement that resulted in my quitting my job. Nothing further was heard from Rene UNTIL December 20, 1999 when my bank informed me that Rene had stopped payment on my last paycheck and that they were now holding me responsible for these funds. Contact to the local police has proved unsuccessful because Michigan State law does not support the bank's decision to accept a "stop payment" on a check that old - the police say that once a check has been cashed for a few days, it's pretty much considerd a "DONE DEAL". However, the bank has every right to make a decision to accept a "stop payment" on a check. Since the amount of the check is so small, my only recourse it to take Mr. Balderas to Small Claims Court. My petition will be heard in April of this year. My bank is still holding me responsible for their loss since Mr. Balderas does not responde to either letters or phone calls. This has now gone down on my credit report and is affecting my credit rating. I certainly cannot conduct any business at my bank because of this. I want anybody who is considering doing business with Incan Designs to know that the owner does not pay his employees.