[JXC]

This takes placed in NJ, Hackensack. My wife worked for a company that her mother ran, she did not own it. She was only there (short term) for a few months since she was only 17 years old.

Apparently, there was a lawyer that had a problem with the company and her mother for the sum of $3,504. Since 04/2001 there has been a judgment for this amount on my Wife's credit report. It appears that the lawyer had access to payroll information for the company. Since my Wife's Name and her Mother's name are very similar it appears the Lawyer chose the wrong person to file the judgment against.

My Wife has since contacted the Lawyer and explained that she was only 17 years old at the time and he had the wrong person's name and it was actually here mother that should have received the judgment. The lawyers response was "to bad, I want my money". Her mother has also written an email explaining that she would like the judgment adjusted to her name and she has never received an answer.

Is this easy to get resolved? What steps can we take get this judgement removed, would a notarized letter be sufficient? Do I need a lawyer? Can we sue for damaging her integrity on credit reports intentionally?

[ScottGem]

Go to the court that issued the judgement and file a motion to Vacate the judgement. Assuming you can prove the facts as you state them, there shouldn't be a problem in doing this. The lawyer is then going to have to refile. Hopefully he will get it right the next time.

[Fr_Chuck]

Please understand the people who do collections get lied to all the time, they just don't believe you, and you should have received notice of the judgement hearing before they got a judgement. In that then was the time to appear and make them prove you were not that person.

But as Scott said, now you have to take them back to court and prove you are not that person. Also normally even the manager of a business, can not be held personally liable for a companies debt unless they were responsible.