[Bungleau]

I'm no lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. That said, the bottom line for me is simple: the face in the mirror. If I can look at that guy without flinching or worrying about my actions being brought to the light of day, I'm doing good.

That guy, you see, knows the truth... no matter how I'd like the truth to be, he knows what it actually is. I haven't been able to pull anything over on him for years... if ever.

So... ask the guy in the mirror. Did you do it, whatever it is? If you didn't, then you should defend yourself. If you did, then 'fess up to it, accept the consequences, and move on.

Years ago (not quite as many as Zebodog, but up there), my employer gave me a $2000 advance for some travel expenses. I didn't spend all of it on travel, and needed to reimburse the company. They didn't ask, I didn't tell, and eventually planned to pay.

We got a new controller two years later and he came to ask me about an outstanding advance of just a couple hundred.... no mention of the two grand. With a heavy sigh, I told him that I thought there was more than that. He checked, and sure enough, there was. I paid it off over the next three or four months... and my conscience is clear to this day.

On the other side, when moving out of an apartment around that same time, the leasing company sent me a notice for the final rent. I looked at it, and was *pretty* sure they'd missed a month of rent... no, I *KNEW* they were owed two months, and were asking for just one.

Heavy sigh... I went to talk to them to explain that I thought I owed more. The person I talked to said that their computers said that I didn't, so they saw no need to go any further. So I didn't.

Again, I got out with a clear conscience, and can still look that guy in the mirror in the morning without a problem. That's worth a whole lot more than the $2k I owed, or the $600 that the leasing company forgot about.

Your call. Hard though it might be, it could cost a whole lot more later.

Good luck, amigo...

PS If one judge *does* buy in to the "no one by that name" argument, they'll simply refile with the corrected name, and you'll be in the same position, but with a pissed-off judge...