Abusive Ex Suing Me

i am 22 ex is 51 (I obviously did not make the best decisions two years ago). He is suing me for: Count I (Defamation / Libel per se), Count II (Conversion), Count III (Trespass to Chattels), Count IV: Unjust Enrichment, Count V: Civil Identity Theft, Count VI: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Count VII: Injunctive Relief. Filed in the District Court with his lawyer asking jury demand.

His claims are $418 for his debit card he let me use while we were dating (which he falsely said were unauthorized), but he is asking $5,000 or triple actual damages??

What I found wrong with the lawsuit: Lying about timelines of our relationship to make it look like the purchase was unauthorized, lying about ANY contact with him, and claiming I made posts about him on facebook. During our two-year romantic relationship, he gave me permission me to use his card for purchases. I did not make purchases when our relationship ended.

Towards the end our relationship, he was arrested for domestic abuse/assault against the state (strangling me), which left me with ongoing PTSD. It was not officially classified as domestic violence due to us not being married I guess.

After I left him, he harassed me and I obtained a restraining order against him. He violated that restraining order a few months later, and was arrested again.

Following seven months of complete no-contact, local police contacted me because he was claiming I was driving by his house. I was not doing so; I moved away precisely to maintain distance, and I am the one holding a restraining order against him.

I am a full-time college student and broke. I have had no legal counsel throughout the past year of these proceedings and don’t have a lawyer to help me navigate this new lawsuit right now.I’m unsure of how to properly navigate this. If he was asking for the $400 I could easily pay that. But $5,000+?? this is big retaliation and I don’t know how to navigate this.

Location: Iowa