Is There a Time Limit to Dispute Landlord's Itemized Deduction of Security Deposit

[Jimmy99]

State of Virginia:

Our landlord is not returning any of our security deposit and even contends that we owe him more. The itemized list of things he deducted from our security deposit aren't even listed on our final walk-thru paperwork. We plan on disputing this and have even hired a lawyer to write a letter demanding our security deposit in full. When this letter goes out, it will have been a month since receiving this itemized list. Is there a time limit for us to dispute this without forfeiting that right? If he doesn't respond or disagrees, we plan on taking him to small claims court.
Thank you

[Mr. Knowitall]

I don't see any deadline for the tenant's response to the landlord's itemized list, although the statute of limitations would apply (not within the space of a couple of months, though). Your lawyer should be able to reassure you.