( CNN ) -- A California bounty hunter says he will sue Casey Anthony and her defense attorney Jose Baez for misleading him when he helped search for her young daughter Caylee . Leonard Padilla said he is seeking $ 200,000 . Padilla said Anthony 's attorney allowed him to fly to Florida in 2008 and help search for Anthony 's then-missing 2-year-old daughter . Anthony left jail Sunday after being acquitted of murder charges in connection with the death of her daughter . Padilla says when he heard Baez 's opening statement during Anthony 's murder trial he felt conned . `` It turns out she knew where the child was all along , '' Padilla said . `` They misled me , and it is definitely fraud . '' At one point during the highly-publicized search for Caylee , Padilla offered a $ 25,000 reward for the girl 's return . He also says he spent $ 50,000 to bond out Anthony when she was initially jailed . He said he also brought in people to help provide security . He said he talked to Anthony on many occasions during that time and that she never said she knew where Caylee was . `` She told me the babysitter stole the baby , '' Padilla said . `` They were both feeding us that line . And now we know it was never true . We lost a lot of money . '' Padilla says it may take a few weeks to get his lawsuit together . Johnny Griffin , a California legal expert , told CNN affiliate KCRA that Padilla 's lawsuit may have legal merit . But he may need to do some work to prove his case , Griffin said . `` Casey Anthony never testified at trial . So he needs to prove that she lied to him , '' Griffin told the affiliate . Baez can also claim that Padilla made more money becoming part of the Casey Anthony story than it cost him to be part of the search , Griffin said . When the lawsuit is filed , Padilla may have to get in line behind the others seeking money from Anthony . Florida officials are asking that Anthony repay the state for the enormous cost of investigating the case . In a motion filed earlier this month , the state called for a hearing so it can tally up costs and slap Anthony with the bill . `` The efforts and costs of the investigation were extensive and not immediately available and accordingly , the State of Florida respectfully requests this Court to set a hearing within 60 days to determine total costs , '' the motion says . The motion cites a Florida law that allows the state to fine defendants in criminal cases to recoup money spent . Texas EquuSearch , a firm that helped search for Anthony 's daughter , also wants its money back . The company said it used 4,200 searchers and spent $ 112,000 looking for Caylee in Florida after the girl was reported missing in July 2008 . Tim Miller , the head of company , has said he is suing because he believes Caylee never was missing . Anthony also faces a lawsuit from a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez . At the time of Caylee 's disappearance , Anthony told family members and police that the little girl was with a nanny named Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez . That account resulted in one of Anthony 's lying convictions . Anthony also claimed Gonzalez had kidnapped the toddler . Authorities never found a nanny by that name who cared for Caylee . They did , however , find a woman named Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez , who denied ever meeting Anthony . Gonzalez then filed the defamation lawsuit . The judge handling the defamation lawsuit set Anthony 's deposition for October 8 . CNN 's Greg Morrison contributed to this report . Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m . ET on HLN . For the latest from Nancy Grace click here .
Leonard Padilla says he is seeking $ 200,000 . Padilla helped in the search for Caylee and bonded Casey Anthony out of jail . Padilla says he feels conned after watching Antony 's trial . `` They misled me , and it is definitely fraud , '' Padilla says .