If you sue a landlord in small claims court to get some more deposit back can the landlord sue you for additional items?

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Yes, of course. The landlord's claim for damages under the deposit is an administrative claim not a judicial claim. If you force a judicial claim by suing the landlord, they are certainly within their rights to counterclaim for everything bad you have ever done to them.

Some of the answers below refer to whether they MUST counterclaim and some of the process for going to small claims court.

The short answer is "Yes". Anyone can sue for anything but it doesn't mean they will win. Although the rules of court governing small claims matter vary by State, and are generally more relaxed than in larger civil matters, there are certain common threads that run through most of them.

The concept of a "compulsory counterclaim" means one that arises from the same transaction or occurrence as the main claim. Typically, counterclaims of this type must be brought by the defendant within the context of the main claim (that is, within the same suit) or they will be waived. The reason usually given is that of judicial economy so that all claims arising between the parties for the same matter can be adjudicated together.

The concept of a "permissive counterclaim" means one that arises between the same parties to the underlying suit, but it can stem from a different circumstance or occurrence. As such, it does not have to be asserted as a counterclaim and can be maintained as a separate suit. Keep in mind, though, that it has to be brought within the applicable Statute of Limitations, or it will be time-barred

The applicable rules of court are generally available at the county courthouse, and frequently online. Basic forms of pleading are often furnished as well.