If you know the date, place and approximate time you purchased fuel, you could call the truck stop where you purchased it and they should be able to make a copy of the receipt for you. That would be the least expensive and least hassle of anything else you could do. You can subpoena his records as well as those from Comdata. You can file a "Motion to Produce" for the documents you need. You can also file for discovery. Unless you are familiar with how to word things and the court system, you would do better to have a lawyer handle this for you. The problem you have is that the amount of his claim isn't that high. It could cost you about as much to fight it as it would to pay it.

If your ex-employer wants to play games, then I would counter-sue him for the cost of the tool box. Go on the offensive. Might be enough to make him think you're not going to be a push over.

I would write my labour board in your area, this should be free of charge. Most likely your pay can't be garnished by the employer ,unless you agrees to, as for your last pay ask them how long can they hold on to it before they must release it.

let them do the work that is there job, paid by your taxes. Don't waist your money on a lawyer.

If there is a law school nearby, you might be able to get counsel through them. Many schools have such organization to give students courtroom experience. Probably depends on state law- Emory Law School in Atlanta does such and it is always pro-bono.

This is not a complicated case- you- can represent yourself. Sit down and right a narrative of the events with as much detail as possible. Times dates and locations are important. This document becomes your "notes" and you may be able to refer to them in court.

The clerk of courts, I'm sure, would help you answer the petition and make a counter complaint. From the amounts involved, I believe you are in a lower court- small claims?. These judges are used to working with "self representation" and will be flexible if you break the rules in court.

I'm not a lawyer just spent time in court and have won a few small claims.

Good luck

Rick