Orange County, California -I will give additional details if needed.

LL sent SD back, envelope was postmarked 01/22/08 and I signed for it on 1/23/08 upon delivery, 21 days was on 01/21/08. LL deducted $300 for a 15 + year old refrigerator and $70 for a new sliding screen door. I threw out the 15 + year old screen door last year since it was falling apart. I didn't tell the LL since she is very difficult to talk to and she had neglected to repair ripped seams in the carpet in several areas when I told her 2 years ago so I assumed she would not take care of something so little...and she got mad when I told her about the carpet and she said I was lucky to have such low rent.


I have sent her a demand letter with the help of OC Fair Housing and have not had any response. I did give LL a deadline. The letter informed her if I had received the security deposit within the 21 days she could deduct for the remaining life of the door and the fridge, but since I did not get the security deposit until 01/23/08 she owes me the entire amount deducted. Also she did not include any receipts for the $300 refrigerator deduction.


I am going to file a claim in Small Claims Court. I have read there is a penalty of twice the deposit if the LL does not abide by the law. In the area on form SC-100 page 2 of 5 that states, "The Plaintiff claims the Defendant owes $," should I put the amount of twice the security deposit + the amount of the bad faith deductions? Or just the amount of the bad faith deductions? Can I include in the total my filing fees?