OP this is what you do... Lawyer up and get them to throw paper. This is outrageous, and they are going to respond with "we took care of it" and that letter is

OP this is what you do... Lawyer up and get them to throw paper. This is outrageous, and they are going to respond with "we took care of it" and that letter is now GOLD. I also want to back up what the above poster said about being a consultant and folks badmouthing you. It is much less meaningful than you suspect or think, and in some cases it can be a good thing.