I apologise that this response doesn't answer your question.
However, I feel that it should be pointed out that the Answerbank is a UK-based site. Your reference to 'hundreds of dollars' suggests that you might be in the USA. While we're happy to help anyone, regardless of their location, there aren't going to be many people on this site who understand the intricacies of US employment law.
You might be more likely to get an informed response if you post here
http://www.answerbag.com/
or here
http://answers.yahoo.com/
(If the 'dollars', in your question, are actually Canadian, Australian or from elsewhere, Yahoo Answers has 'local' sites in many parts of the world).
Once again, I apologise that I've not directly helped you but I hope that I might have pointed you in the right direction to find informed advice.
Chris