Full recovery of the amount claimed in a U.S. security deposit dispute

After a lease ended, the landlord failed to return the security deposit. Representing the tenant, we demanded return of the deposit and statutory damages.

The main issue was whether the landlord would be held liable for failing, after the lease ended and the premises were returned, to return the deposit or provide an itemized statement of deductions within the statutory deadline.

In particular, the question was whether additional damages and statutory penalties could be claimed for bad-faith refusal to return the deposit.

Attorney Jaehoon Lee analyzed the landlord's obligation to return the deposit and the legal liability for bad-faith refusal to return it.

On that basis, he sent a formal demand letter seeking payment of the deposit, statutory damages and other amounts, and negotiated directly with the other side.

We resolved the dispute before filing suit by recovering the full amount claimed through negotiation with the other side.

Related U.S. practices: Business & Commercial Disputes