First, I agree 100% with Moritz... The best you can do now is forget all about this company as quickly as possible and look for another job. I think that good programmers are seriously needed about anywhere so that shouldn't be too much a problem.

Today I received a notice from the state of Maryland unemployment office, that my former employee has a 'claimant dispute'- and we will settle this over the phone on Wednesday.

I didn't grasp this one. Whom does your former employee have a dispute with? On what subject?

BTW, nice art, excellent drawings. Kudos :)