Vcat Small Claims Guidance

a small claim in the goods and services section of vcat, i am the applicant filing for a refund and compensation against a dental clinic who abandoned my clear aligner treatment before completion, leading to total relapse and stained bonded composite attachments on my teeeth. I paid in full $*. When requesting completion or a refund I was told their aligner supplier went bankrupt and they stopped the service, and they would not give me a refund and say I owe them $*, despite admitting that an ex employee at the time who took my payment was investigated for embezzling money from patients such as myself. Ive given them adequate evidence of payment to which they stedfastly refuse. they counterclaim for $* and $*,* in a defamation claim under the same vcat counterclaim. hearing is set for next wednesday.