Wrongfully Withholding Security Deposit

[mglueck]

I was renting an apartment in New Orleans, LA. for 2.5 months. I put down a security deposit of $590. My landlord is claiming that I rotted the floor in the bathroom by allowing shower water to leak out when I was showering and he will not refund the deposit because he is claiming it will cost him more than $590 to replace the floor. My question is is it possible for me to rot a floor in a 2.5 month span of time with some shower water that has leaked out while using a shower curtain? He is claiming that I should have used two shower curtains because it is a claw foot bath tub and not attached to the wall, but when I moved in there was only one shower curtain there and he never told me to use two. Further, the bathroom is sinking and on a slant and any excess water will all flow to this one corner of the bathroom. He is claiming that he has to replace the entire fllor because of this one corner. Does that sound accurate? Do I have a case against getting my deposit back?
Thank you for your help.

 

[JETX]

Though it would be unusual to cause that much damage in that short a time, it is possible.

However, without seeing all the evidence (pictures of move-in and move-out conditions, etc. - you do have those don't you???), we really can't decide how valid the damage claim is.

Your best hope is to go to small claims where the landlord should have to prove their claims to your deposit.