deadbeat owes me money

[scottjames]

In January of this year my band played a party for a freinds son. We went back and forth with the freind about compensation, and it ended up with her insisting she pay us $ 1000 for the show. Being starving musicians we agreed and played the party as planned. At the end of the night, we were given an envelope with $400 in cash and a check for $600. Up until now, we had no reason to suspect the check wouldnt be any good so we deposited it and waited. Well, lo and behold the check didnt clear. And we were charged $20 for depositing the bad check. Emails and phone calls have gone unanswered and we are at our wits end. What legal remedy would we have ?
We had a verbal agreement, and I dont know what that does to our chances, all we want is the six hundred we are owed and the twenty for the NSF fee we had to pay.
is this a small claims matter ? since the check bounced, are there any other remedies we may have ?
if anyone could advise me what I can or should do, I would be forever grateful. We live in Michigan by the way, if there are any state specific solutions to this.
Thank you !
scott

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: What legal remedy would we have ?

A: Sue the bad people in small claims court. Also, go to the prosecutor's office and see if you can file a bad check charge.

 

[JohnMacek]

in ca the drawer is liable for treble damages (up to $1500) for an nsf check. advise the debtor that you intention is to file suit. research the applicable statutes and send a demand letter certified to the debtor, as per statute. i don't foresee any problem if the show performed as agreed. be sure to name all persons or entities that may have been unjustly enrichment as a result of your performance, and state so in your complaint. good luck.