Problems with a check

[tator72764]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas
I own a small business. I pay my employees with company checks that are hand written. An employee of mine defaulted on his car payment, and a judgement was issued against him. I was sent information requesting 25% of his earnings as garnishment for the default payment. Each time I wrote a check to the employee for wages, I deducted the owed garnishment. I then wrote a separate check for the amount of garnishment. The employee was altering the checks to show him as the payee. I was unaware of this until I received a call from the finance company stating they hadn't received any payment in a couple months. I then looked closely at my cancelled checks, and could see what was going on. I would like to give the employee a chance to make this right, and not pursue legal charges against him. He is a good employee and has ran into multiple hardships lately. I know it's not an excuse.... Can the finance company pursue legal charges against him or me? I am not really sure what my options are.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas
I own a small business. I pay my employees with company checks that are hand written. An employee of mine defaulted on his car payment, and a judgement was issued against him. I was sent information requesting 25% of his earnings as garnishment for the default payment. Each time I wrote a check to the employee for wages, I deducted the owed garnishment. I then wrote a separate check for the amount of garnishment. The employee was altering the checks to show him as the payee. I was unaware of this until I received a call from the finance company stating they hadn't received any payment in a couple months. I then looked closely at my cancelled checks, and could see what was going on. I would like to give the employee a chance to make this right, and not pursue legal charges against him. He is a good employee and has ran into multiple hardships lately. I know it's not an excuse.... Can the finance company pursue legal charges against him or me? I am not really sure what my options are.

As it appears right now, you have defied a court order. They already have a judgement against him, they can now seek relief from you.

Fire the criminal.

 

[divona2000]

...Each time I wrote a check to the employee for wages, I deducted the owed garnishment. I then wrote a separate check for the amount of garnishment. The employee was altering the checks to show him as the payee...

Why were you giving the garnishment checks to the employee?

 

[AdivceGiver]

Why were you giving the garnishment checks to the employee?

So the employee could do exactly what he did of course.