My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: New Jersey
My ex-roommate claims that she paid 1/2 of the security deposit when she moved in. She did not. I paid the complete one month security deposit and the landlord agrees with me on this fact.
The lease was terminated by the landlord and in the letter of termination the landlord noted that any security payment would be returned to me as I was the one who wrote the check. The roommate notified the landlord a few days later that she gave 1/2 of the security. The landlord told me about this but said she knew I gave the security and was not going to respond to the text message.
As an aside, this roommate has a criminal past and is pretty much a con-artist. I actually paid the entire last months rent, final cable bill and electric bill without asking the roommate for anything. I just wanted to get away from the situation.
When we moved in, she gave me a check for her half of the first months rent. But for all following months, she gave me cash for her half of the rent (except the final month). She is now claiming that I owe her half of the security that she never paid. She created a lie saying she gave me a check for the security and cash for the 1st month rent. This is not what happened. She is threatening to go to small claims.
How do I defend against this lie. Should I get a lawyer?

