My question involves court procedures for the state of: Iowa.
My girlfriend had been living with two of her friends (a girl and her boyfriend) over a year ago. They got a house together and the three of them signed the lease. At the time the two she was living with could not afford the down payment and the first months rent. The other girl she was living with had her dad (who was both of their employers at the time) write up a contract that said they would pay her back and they all signed it. It has been over year and they haven't paid anything, furthermore she paid for a few other months of rent because they again could not afford it, they said they would pay her back but did not create the written agreement. She has contacted them since moving out and they have acknowledged that they would pay not only the signed contract but the other months rent that she covered for them, but they of course have still not paid anything and haven't spoken to her since.
I assume the way to handle it is to go through small claims court and file a claim against them for the amount owed. My question is how much should she file it for, would she be able to get the extra months rent that she paid even though there is no written contract for it? Also, when filing a claim do you add court costs into it, or is that added later or is that even possible to get (given the judge sides with you). My final question is there anyway to get anything else from it since the contract was breached and its been so long? If not its not a big deal but she's been wanting to buy a car for a long time but hasn't had the money, because of this she's been walking about a mile to work each day (because I am already at work when she is scheduled to go in, so I am unable to), and in Iowa's unpredictable weather that is never a good thing.
I didn't know if this was the right area to post this either so if there is a better place for it please redirect me. Thanks in advance for your responses.

