I’m wondering if you could help me with my little problem. I’ll be filing with the Small Claims Court of Virginia and need to get statements from those I corresponded with while working for Girls Going Out. Would you look over this email and let me know if you think it is too long, too much information, or missing anything. The problem is that Tom thinks I should be short and to the point, “Please write a statement saying that you once heard from me.” While I think that I wouldn’t respond to such an email. I would want to know why. So, if you wouldn’t mind letting me know what I think (like I could go to hell, that’s fine).
Oh, and Tom also thinks that the last graph makes it sound like I want to cause problems with GGO and Wo! Seeing as this is a real emotional subject for me (money!) I may be missing my true intent (I really do NOT think I have any REAL ill will toward the company). Thanks.
Hi.
My name is [Delilah], and you may remember my writing to you as the Assistant Editor for Wo! Magazine in October of 2003. I am now writing for your help in a legal matter concerning Wo!. It would require only a statement on your part and no other involvement will be necessary (from what I understand of the Virginia Small Claims Court).
If you are not interested I would appreciate a reply, simply stating that you are not interested.
Over the weeks I was with Wo! I was not paid. Ms. Ashline has failed to return my calls, even after promising to do so. I have attempted to contact other employees of the magazine, but have never received a response.
Because I never heard back from any representative of Wo! Magazine, through a telephone call, email, or otherwise, I will be filing a charge with Virginia’s small claims court as soon as I have adequate documentation, including statements from those I contacted and, in some cases, met at a writer’s conference (where Ms. Ashline claimed she would make me the next editor) signed and saying to the effect that I had contacted you as a representative of the company or that Farrah had introduced me as her employee.
Going into this, I did not want to make any trouble for Girls Going Out, Wo! Magazine, or Ms. Ashline. I had looked forward to the position and was intrigued by the company. I am not asking you to boycott GGO or Wo! or to stop writing for them. I am asking for my money back, and I am asking that Ms. Ashline not be allowed to treat me, and those who follow after, this way.
I thank you in advance for your response, and hope that you are not forced into a similar situation in your careers.
Sincerely,
[Delilah]
