I moved from california to texas in february of this year(06). I was living with a roomate there. My old roomate continued to live in california and occupied the apartment. Our lease ended when I moved out and my roommate went on a month to month basis with the complex.
The apartment owners refuse to give me my half of the security deposit stating that they only release the deposit when the apartment has been fully vacated and since my old roommate remains as the only tenant that I would have to get it through him. I attempted to get it through him but his check keeps bouncing.

Now we are in August and I contacted the complex and found out that my old roomate has got a new roomate and a new lease. I said that I want my deposit and they told me that I would have to do a final walk through to have it released.

I found out that the california civil code requires a landlord to pay the deposit back to the tenant within 21 days of moveout. it has been 6 months. Should I even bother with the walk through? and do i have a good case to pursue legal action against the landlord?

Update: while i was writing this thread I got a phone call from my old roomate. aparently he had been asked permission to do a walkthrough by the landlord. He offered to send me a cashiers check for the amount of the deposit and I said that I better have the check with in 3 days and have the check cleared by next week other wise Im going to do the walk through.