Valid claim?

To shorten a very long story, I had filed FMLA paperwork with my employer. The condition I have sometimes makes it not possible for me to call in by a certain time EVERY day to report my absence for that day. I was harrassed and wrote up for almost every instance I used the FMLA leave (intermittent, as needed leave). I had been suspended once and the DOL intervened, the company paid me for the days off. The second time they attempted to suspend me, after I called in late but within less than an hour of my scheduled start of shift, I was already so stressed by their actions that I refused to sign the paperwork and resigned. I did call my DOL rep, who said that unless I was willing to return to that employer she couldn't do anything further for me. This still bothers me a lot, as so many of these places get away with violating the laws and nothing ever gets done! Why bother to have a law and pay government agencies to oversee them if there is no penalty for violations?

In a nutshell, do I have a valid claim for retaliation and FMLA violation against them? I left there in December 2001, my last paycheck from them was from January 2002 for accrued vacation time.

I was also required to use my PTO leave and exhaust it before being allowed non-paid days. I have since found that this is not legal either?