1099-c from landlord?

I received a letter from the Irs stating I had unreported income (1099c) from a landlord in 2008. It stated an amount of 2000.00 with a date of 12/31/2008. I did not receive anything from the landlord, but I did live in the house for 3 months until I was evicted for non payment of rent (legally) in the amount of 700.00. However, I was asked to leave the house and left not owing anything and had put over 1000.00 into the home. The landlord will not return my calls or registered letters. Is this Legal? Can anyone just send an erroneous 1099c to lower their own debt? IRS doesn’t seem to have any answers, just saying that I have to prove that I don’t owe it. Why doesn’t the landlord have to prove that I do? By the way, the landlord is a tax attorney.
The landlord asked me to leave because his “manager” stated she had a family member that needed to move in. She said that if I would leave by the end of the month that she would void my contract. I found out a year later that the landlord filed an eviction for one months’ rent and a judgment to that effect was granted. I was ok with moving because my lease was ending in a few months and I wanted to purchase a home. I left the home in immaculate condition. The 1099c states 2000.00 (?) and he doesn’t have to explain this to anyone?