tenants personal items

Hi I'm new here and is seeking some legal advice.
My tenants moved out of my place on 3/09/2007 and left some trash behind, well there was a third row seats left behind out of her car. I guess they took it out so they can move. Now she called me wanting it back but it has been disposed. She was suppose to move out on 3/02/2007 so technicly she has already been past her 15 days. I lived in California. My problem is that I lost the 30 days notice she gave to me but I could remember when it was delivered to me. Also she has been late every single month on her rent and I never seen a dime of late fees accept for one time; she also used her security deposit for the last months rent. She still owes me for carpet cleaning and lawn maintance. These items was in bad shape so I dispose it and now she wants me to pay her for it, but in the mean time she owes me over $500 IN Late fees and final cleaning of the property... So do I have a case if she takes me to small claims court. Keep in mind that she was a friend and we did alot of vebal communicating , not a whole lot of written anything.............

Are you considering the row of seats from her car trash? Or are you talking about trash (in a trash bag).

There is a specific way you must dispose of tenants property in CA.

Are the late fees specified in the contract? Every month she was late did you write her a letter explaining that she owes you x amount of dollars for the late fee. Some judges might just throw this out as you never tried to collect.

She would owe you for clean up etc. Take photos and keep receipts of how much you paid to get the place rentable again.