I am a software engineer who was actually brought to US California by agency from India. I signed an employment contract with agency firm for 18 months. According to the contract i need to pay $667 / Month if i quit early before completion of 18 months.
He subcontracted me to another middleman. Middlemen placed me at an big firm.
I worked as contractor to the top firm for 10 months. Top firm was interested in recruiting me . I informed this to middlemen and agency company who was running my payroll. To Authorize my hire Agency company asked the middlemen to compensate him by 50 % of the Joining commission.
Middlemen authorized my hire to the Top firm agreeing to agency and i joined the top firm .
The agency company did not pay my Last month salary and Leave salary for the 10 months i worked with him.
I have all the Timesheets for the last month salary that i was not paid. Leave days accrued is shown in my pay slip.
I was requesting the agency company to settle my salary daily . Response was that the Accounting managers are on vacation.
After 6 months of my joining with big firm this agency company has filed a lawsuite claiming 14000 Dollars without any basis.
On checking with Middlemen he states that i have not shared the joining commission with agency.
Please note that no training was provided by this agency company and i had my post graduation and all professional certifications before hand to take a job.
Please advise me on this situation.
Note : I also worked for the agency company in India and he promised me orally while recruiting that i will be sent to US immediately. But i was sent to US Only after two years. I have promisory note mail from the company manager about this.
This agency Indian company was also holding my passport and degree certificates for the whole two years.
Still the employees at this company are working on the bond basis . They forcefully ask employees to enter in to contract for 3 years for green card processing.
Place of contract : California
My questions are:
1. How to respond to law suite. Should i cross complaint both middlemen and agency.
2. I also like to bring to attention to US Court about the Agency company holding my passports and degree certificates.
3. I have mail proofs as communication that speaks about authorization of my hire from middlemen and agreement to settle.
Please let me know how to react in this case.

