Lawyer Landlord Attempting to Teach Litigation Lessons (Los Angeles: hardwood floors, apartment)

[Tatiana75]

What do I do about a landlord who is a lawyer who first withheld money from security deposit for painting ($500), then agreed to return more money since I had paid someone to paint one room plus two walls before I left, then stopped payment on the check he did return - causing me to be charged for a bounced deposit, then agreed to deduct what I paid a painter before I left apartment but didn't, said nothing about any damage to apartment at walkthrough and is now suing me in civil court for damage to hardwood floors amounting to more than three times the security deposit! The explanation is that he needed to teach me a lesson about litigation since I included a page detailing my rights, which to him meant I was attempting to be a lawyer, when I asked him to return more of my security deposit. And I was warned by him not to take him to small claims court. Where can I go near Los Angeles area for help? Thank you for your time and suggestions.