Did the Judge made a mistake?

I rented a house with 2 year lease--$1345/month, but the tenant lived in the house for one year and two months and then moved out. What is more, he owe me one month and half a month rent, which $2100 including late payment. Today, when I went to the court, the judge made a judgment that I can keep $775 for the property damage but I need to pay rest of the deposit (one month rate deposit $1345) to the tenant. I surprised because I sued the tenant for rental money. But now the judge ignored my my plea and wanted me to pay the tenant money. I thought I at least can keep the tenant deposit till he pay me the rent but now the thing turned around and ending up with I lost the money. I asked the judge for the rent and he said I need a lawyer for that. So the question is: Do I have to pay the tenant the rest of deposit? If I find a lawyer, can I get the rental payment $2100. I can hire a lawyer, but I am afraid of the expensive charge, which may over the money I can get. What i am thinking is that I won't give any deposit to the teant, this way I only lose $700. Any better suggestions will be greatly appcirated besides anwering my questions.

所有跟帖： 

• 回複：Did the Judge made a mistake? -casinoeye- ♂ (455 bytes) () 03/16/2009 postreply 20:01:49

• 回複：回複：Did the Judge made a mistake? -xishui1- ♂ (1731 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 07:24:39

• 回複：Did the Judge made a mistake? -selfselfself- ♂ (184 bytes) () 03/16/2009 postreply 21:40:17

• 回複：回複：Did the Judge made a mistake? -xishui1- ♂ (54 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 07:26:16

• did the tenant sue you for the deposit back? -jy101- ♂ (107 bytes) () 03/16/2009 postreply 23:35:15

• 回複：did the tenant sue you for the deposit back? -xishui1- ♂ (267 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 06:57:45

• wow, I goto small claim few times a month for landlord-tenant di -jy101- ♂ (645 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 08:07:18

• You've learnt a lesson from this, to say the least -CyberCat- ♂ (629 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 07:48:01

• 回複：Did the Judge made a mistake? -ne0987- ♀ (326 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 16:28:07

• Are u serious? he didn't get the rent,you tell him to -bluelopez- ♀ (155 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 17:51:34

• the judge ordered him to return part of deposit, not me -ne0987- ♀ (52 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 18:50:12

• i know. appeal! -bluelopez- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/17/2009 postreply 19:42:03