threw out all my stuff

[plasticcat123]

hello
im a 20 year old female and live in the city of pacomia in the state of california

I am on a month to month lease renting a room in a apartment/condo and i was 100 dollars short on my Feb. rent i paid 450 of a 550 dollar rent and during the last 2 weeks of FEB. my boyfriend came down with a heart condition and i stayed at his house for thoese 2 weeks, during witch time my landlord/roommate called me and left a message on my phone that i did not receive untill 2 days after her deadline stating she was throwing all my stuff out in 5 days if i didn't come and get it. But due to the fact i was busy with work and tending to my boyfriends illness by the time i checked all my old messages on my cell phone and came across that one it was 2 days too late and she had all my stuff picked up and donated/thrown out except my tv and a box of papers.

Currently i am adding up the value of everything and it may far exceed small cliams statue of $5000 due to a box of jewlery and collectables witch i have receipts for. Infact, mostly everything that has any real money value i have receipts for due to the fact my mother saved almost all my receipts. I have filed a police report for grand theft and now wanting to persue a civil case.

my questions are
1. she was definitely in the wrong in throwing my stuff out in such a short amount of time especially over 100 dollars.
2. what exactly should i start doing right now as i am only 20 and uneducated in the legal system and would greatly appreciate any help

[sunlover]

Your already doing it. You itemize the items and their cost. Do not expect cost for "new" items. You will get their "worth" now. YOu may indeed exceed max for small claims. If so then consult an Attorney about a larger suit. Save all contact before and after event if you still have them. In other words phone messages, texts, emails, letters etc.

Remember you must claim the depreciated value of those belongings. (They don't retain the same value as the day you bought them.) And check out CA Civil Code 1965, and 1980-19991 for information on what she should have done. These laws explain abandonment, how long she must give you, and what has to be done with posessions. She did not follow the law. You can always go to a different court (civil court) to claim more than the small claims court limit.