The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 76-1416, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 14 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Nebraska generally caps the deposit at 1 month's rent without pets or 1.25 months' rent with pets, and the landlord usually has 14 days after termination and receipt of the forwarding address to send the refund and itemized deductions.
This dispute type
Once the Nebraska deadline passes, the dispute stops being only about the deductions and becomes a deadline-compliance problem too. A landlord may still argue damage existed, but Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 sets the clock for returning the balance and explaining any amount withheld.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: Landlord forfeits the right to retain any portion; willful bad faith adds liquidated damages equal to one month's rent or two times the deposit, whichever is less