Landlord & deposits

My situation is very different; I moved into a 3 bedroom house and rented one of the master suites (California) the other 2 were occupied. I made note of the "damages" that already existed to my room only!

A week later one woman that occupied a bedroom moved out and weeks later another signed her lease and moved into that room.

Let me make this very clear; we all (3) have different leases signed on different days and inform us of our own rents (as they are different amounts) and are due on various dates.

The landlord had the filthy carpets cleaned as the 3rd new woman moved in (the entire house including the new persons). When I moved in the carpets were filthy and the walls were so-so nothing unusual in the common areas.

Eleven months later 2 people remained and we were given a 30 day notice because a 3rd person could not be found. I moved and requested a pre-inspection and low-and-behold I didn't get the message that the date had been changed....yeah! So we forgo a pre-inspection and clean up very well including the frig, stove carpets cleaned (the the stairs) and removed all garbage from property.

But of course she advises me 21 days later that I was not getting any part of my deposit back because of a $2800 paint job to paint ALL walls (including those I had no control over) and the painting of the garage. Cleaning the floor boards, grout, carpets again and 2 toilets that were broken and a tub that was broken.

If we all had out own leases and were individuals then it is my thinking that you can only charge me for 1/3 of the things AND the rooms that I had control or legally had possession of. I never went into my roommates bedroom so I couldn't know that their bathrooms were faulty!

We didn't know each other when I moved in and I answered a craig's list ad to rent a room 3 unrelated people rent a room with common areas at the very least should we ALL be responsible for the common areas and each person their own rooms???

I have filed small claims and am just waiting for my court date! I'm suing for $2250 and my deposit was 750 (we can sue for twice the amount in Cali.) Is my thinking faulty please share with me! I left that house better than when I moved in and I want my money back!!


Thanks