I had recently moved and found what seemed to be a decent roommate online. Signed the lease so that both of our names were on it, the arrangement was that I'd pay half and he'd pay half. Several months later the apartment offices call me looking for my roommate saying that he's behind on the rent. This is the first that I hear of any issues, so when my roommate comes home I drag him down to the offices and he and the administration sort things out. A month later I get home from a week-long trip out of state and the next day answer the door and with no warning get served an eviction notice. I go to the office to speak to them and they tell me that they had spoken to my roommate previously to let him know that I could come down with him and sign my name off of the lease so that I wouldn't be held accountable because I was up to date on my half of the rent. Obviously my roommate wasn't the responsible type and never passed this information on to me. The court decides that we end up owing close to $3,000 to the apartment for the money that my roommate never paid. At the time I told him to take care of the money and never contact me again.

Today I received a writ of garnishment from my company saying that close to $10,000 are going to be taken from my paychecks. Is there any way for me to fix this issue without paying $10,000 or if I do get stuck with the bill is there any way for me to receive compensation from my ex-roommate? The only thing I feel like I have going for me is a signed letter from the apartment administrators saying that I kept up on my half of the rent.

Thank you.