Getting Paid on Construction Projects: A Guide to Utilizing California’s Mechanic’s Lien, Payment Bond and Stop Notice Remedies

The mechanic’s lien law in California is remedial in character and should be liberally construed in its entirety with a view to affect its objects and to promote justice.

I. PRIVATE PROJECTS – MECHANIC’S LIENS.

A. Introduction. 

1. Purpose. 

California mechanic’s lien statutesprovide lien rights to the following suppliers of labors or materials: 

Mechanics, materialmen, contractors, subcontractors, lessors of equipment, artisans, architects, registered engineers, licensed land surveyors, machinists, builders, teamsters, and draymen, and all persons and laborers of every class performing labor upon or bestowing skill or other necessary services on, or furnishing materials or leasing equipment to be used or consumed in or furnishing appliances, teams, or power, contributing to a work of improvement. . . 

The lien of those who furnish labor or material on a parcel of land covers the land as well as the buildings and other structures on that land. The mechanic’s lien law in California is remedial in character and should be liberally construed in its entirety with a view to affect its objects and to promote justice. 

A mechanic’s lien is a claim against the real property on which the claimant has bestowed labor or furnished material for the value of the labor done and material furnished. One statues states that the lien attaches “to the work of improvement and the land on which it is situated together with a convenient space about the same or so much as may be required for the convenient use and occupation thereof.” The lien therefore is primarily attached to the structure, and not the land. 

2. Rationale. 

Mechanic’s liensarise only because a statute provides for them. One statue states that “[f]or the purposes of this chapter, every contractor, subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, architect, builder, or other person having charge of a work of improvement a portion thereof shall be held to be the agent of the owner.” Because of the statutorily imposed agency relationship, the owner is responsible for the reasonable value of labor and materials furnished to his agents. In short, a claimant who furnished labor and materials at the instance of any of these is entitled to mechanic’s lien rights. A claimant who has not dealt with any of these statutory agents must have dealt with the owner or the owner’s common law agents to assert a lien claim. 

B. Who May Lien.

Any person who furnishes labor or materials to a project to construct the work of improvement on real property is entitled to a mechanic’s lien (unless he or she comes within a statutory or case law exception). 

1. Who Is A Materialman? 

California statue defines the term “materialman” as “any person who furnishes materials and supplies to be used or consumed in any work of improvement.” An exception to this definition is materialman’s materialman, who do not have lien rights. 

A subcontractor confers lien rights on his or her subcontractors, material suppliers, and employees, but a materialman does not, because he or she is not designated a statutory agent under the statute. A claimant will be held to be a sub contractor, and not a materialman, if he or she furnishes a definite, substantial part of the work of improvement that was specially fabricated to comply with the plans and specifications of the prime contract. 

A claimant is entitled to a mechanic’s lien for furnishing material or leasing equipment “to be used or consumed” in a work of improvement. In other words, a material supplier must prove not only that the material was actually used in the particular construction project, but also that it was furnished with that purpose in mind. A material supplier who sells to a contractor without the intent that the goods be used on a particular construction project has no right to a lien on that project. A materialman, therefore, must show both use and consumption of materials along with some proof of delivery to establish the requisite intent that the material was used on a particular project. 

Improvements must be also permanent in order for mechanic’s lien rights to arise. A permanent improvement, or a “fixture”, is determined on an objective basis and does not depend on the subjective intent of the owner of the property. 

2. Who Is The Laborer? 

A “laborer” is “any person who, acting as an employee, performs labor upon or bestows skill or other necessary services on any work of improvement. To be entitled to mechanic’s lien rights, a laborer’s labor, whether physical or mental, must have been used directly in the work of improvement. In other words, the term “laborer” can be applied to those who toil with their brains as well as those who work with their hands. 

What can be liened?

C. What May Be Liened? 

The California Constitutionguarantees “a lien upon the property upon which [mechanic’s and others] have bestowed labor or furnished material.” Under California’s mechanic’s lien law, the lien attaches “to the work of improvement, and the land on which it is situated, together with a convenient space about the same or so much as may be required for the convenient use and occupation thereof.” 

D. What Type of Notice is Required? 

1. The Preliminary Twenty-Day Notice.

a. Purpose.

For most claimants who furnish labor, services, equipment, or materials to a private work of improvement, service of a preliminary twenty-day notice is a prerequisite to the enforcement of both mechanic’s lien and stop notice rights. The primary purpose of twenty-day notice is to protect the non-contracting property owner from the claims of those not in a direct contractual relationship with him or her, such as subcontractors or material suppliers. 

b. Who Must Give The Notice? 

Under California statute, the following potential claimants either are exempt from the notice requirement or must serve a preliminary twenty-day noticeas a prerequisite to pursuing a claim: 

  1. The prime contractor need not give a preliminary twenty-day notice; 
  2. Anyone performing actual labor for wages need not give a preliminary twenty-day notice; 
  3. An express trust fund described in CC §3111 need not give a preliminary twenty-day notice; 
  4. A person furnishing labor, service, equipment, or materials under direct contract with the owner except those persons in sections (1) through (3) above, must serve a preliminary twenty-day notice on the construction lender or the reputed construction lender as a prerequisite to enforcing mechanic’s lien or stop notice rights;
  5. Anyone else furnishing labor, services, equipment, or materials for which a lien could otherwise be claimed or a stop notice given under the mechanic’s lien law must serve a preliminary twenty-day notice on the owner or reputed owner, the original contractor or reputed contractor, and the construction lender or reputed construction lender as a prerequisite to enforcement of mechanic’s lien or stop notice rights. In other words, those not under direct contract with the owner and not falling within (1) – (3) above. 

c. When the Notice Must Be Served. 

The preliminary twenty-day notice for private works must be served within twenty days after the claimant has first furnished to the job site the labor, services, equipment, or materials for which a mechanic’s lien claim is to be made. Failure to serve the notice within twenty days does not invalidate the entire claim. If service is late, however, the claimant is limited to claiming a lien or stop notice only for labor, services, equipment, or materials furnished within twenty days of service of the notice, and continuing through until completion of the work. 

d. What The Notice Must Contain and How it Must Be Served. 

The preliminary twenty-day notice must contain five different types of information. First, there must be a general description of labor, services, equipment and materials furnished or to be furnished, and a price “estimate”. The statute gives no guidance on the effect of a discrepancy between the estimate and the price ultimately charged. The California Legislature probably used the word “estimate” deliberately, recognizing that discrepancies in price estimates are frequent and sometimes substantial, with an intent that the notice be valid despite later deviations from an estimate made in good faith. 

Second, the notice must contain the name and address of the person furnishing the labor, services, equipment, and materials. Third, the notice must contain the name of the person who contracted for the purchase of the labor, services, equipment and materials. 

Fourth, the notice must contain a description of the job site sufficient for identification. A legal description of the job site or any other description sufficient for identification will meet this requirement. 

The fifth element of the preliminary notice requirement is the statement listed in Appendix A. As is the case in Arizona, an invoice may, under certain circumstances be construed as a preliminary notice as long as it contains all the required information to be contained in the preliminary notice and proof of service can be shown. 

If the person to be given notice resides in California, the preliminary notice may be (1) served personally on the person to be notified; (2) left at his or her residence or place of business with some responsible person; or (3) mailed by first class certified or first class registered mail (but not ordinary first class mail), postage prepaid, and addressed to the person at his or her residence or place of business, the address shown by the building permit on file with the authority issuing the building permit for the work, or at an address recorded under in the county recorder’s office. 

If the person to be notified resides outside California, service may be attempted by any of the above mentioned methods. If none of these methods is successful, notice may be given by first class certified or registered mail, address to the construction lender or the original contractor. When notice is given by mail, service is considered complete when the notice is deposited in the mail. 

A proof of service of the preliminary twenty-day notice should be prepared by the person mailing the Preliminary Notice. This affidavit also includes a return receipt of registered or certified mail, a photocopy of the post office’s record of delivery and receipt, or in case of non-delivery, the return envelope itself. When the preliminary notice is served, the claimant may file the preliminary notice (presumably a copy thereof) with a County Recorder. If the claimant does so, the Recorder must mail notification to the claimant if a notice of completion or cessation is recorded on the work of improvement. The Recorder’s failure to mail the required notification, however, or the claimant’s failure to receive it, does not affect the time within which a claim of lien must be recorded. 

2.What Is A Notice Of Completion? 

A notice of completion is a document which the owner or his agent must record in the office of the County Recorder in the county in which the work site is located within ten days after such completion. The purpose of Lien notice is to shorten the period of time during which a lien may be filed. The notice is signed and verified by the owner or his agent and contains the following information about the owner: 

  1. Date of completion. 
  2. The name and address of the owner. 
  3. The nature of the interest or estate of the owner. 
  4. A legal description of the job site, as well as its street address. 
  5. The name of the original contractor, if any. 

Generally, a mechanic’s recorded by a claimant other than the original contractor is premature if recorded before the claimant has ceased furnishing labor, services, equipment, or materials. The lien must be recorded within ninety days after completion of the work of improvement if no valid notice of completion or cessation has been recorded, and within thirty days after recordation of a valid notice of completion or cessation. 

If the project is owned by more than one person, but only one owner signed the notice, the names and addresses of all owners must be listed on the notice. If the owner’s successor in interest signs the notice, he must identify and list the addresses of all transferors. The general contractor and all persons who gave a twenty-day preliminary notice are entitled to receive a copy of the notice of completion from the owner by certified or registered mail. 

“Completion” means the earliest of the following events: 

  1. The occupation or use of a work of improvement by the owner, or his agent, accompanied by cessation of labor thereon. 
  2. The acceptance by the owner, or his agent, of the work of improvement. 
  3. After the commencement of a work of improvement, a cessation of labor thereon for a continuous period of sixty days, or a cessation of labor thereon for a continuous period of thirty days or more, if the owner files for record a notice of cessation. 

Taking these sections together, the original contractor has ninety days after completion, and 150 days after cessation of work within which to record a claim of lien. 

If the work of improvement is constructed under two or more original contracts, each covering a portion of the work, and if the owner, within ten days after completion of any one contract, records a notice of completion, a claimant other than the original contractor must record his or her claim of lien within thirty days after recordation of the notice of completion. Recording one claim of lien does not bar the claimant from recording additional claims during the statutory period. 

The thirty day period after recordation of a notice of completion or cessation runs only from recordation of a valid notice. If the notice is invalid, it is not effective to trigger the thirty day filing period, and the longer ninety day period from the date of completion applies. A notice of completion may be invalid if additional work is done under the contract after it has been recorded. 

3.What Is A Notice Of Cessation? 

A “notice of cessation” is a written notice, signed and verified by the owner or his agent, containing all of the following: 

  1. Date on or about when the cessation of labor commenced. 
  2. A statement that such cessation has continued until the recording of the 
  3. notice of cessation. 
  4. The name and address of the owner. 
  5. The nature of the interest or estate of the owner. 
  6. A legal description of the job site, as well as a street address. 
  7. The name of the original contractor, if any. 

The rules pertaining to a notice of completion also apply with a notice of cessation.

4.What is a Stop Notice? 

A stop notice is a remedy to reach unexpended construction funds in the hands of the owner or lender and is available on both private and public works. It is similar to a garnishment of the funds otherwise available to pay the original contractor. As with mechanic’s liens, a stop notice must be preceded by a preliminary twenty-day notice. 

A “stop notice” is a written notice, signed and verified by the claimant or his or her agent, stating in general terms all of the following: 

  1. The kind of labor, services, equipment, or materials furnished or agreed to be furnished by such claimant. 
  2. The name of the person to or for whom the same was done or furnished. 
  3. The amount in value, as near as may be, of that already done or furnished and of the whole agreed to be done or furnished. 
  4. The name and address of the claimant. 

A stop notice must be filed within thirty days after recordation of a valid notice of completion or cessation, or within ninety days after completion of the work of improvement if no notice of completion or cessation was recorded. A stop notice may be filed within the specified time limits even though the date of the final payment due a claimant is beyond those time limits. In other words, the mechanic’s lien law does not prohibit filing the stop notice before the payment’s due date. Also, a stop notice covers only materials, equipment or services furnished, or labor performed to the date it is given, and does not reach work performed after the date it was given. 

5.How do you Serve a Stop Notice? 

A stop notice may be served by registered or certified mail with the same effect as if it had been personally served. If the claimant wishes to serve the owner personally, the stop notice may be delivered to the owner personally, left at the owner’s residence or place of business, or delivered to the owner’s architect. To personally serve a construction lender, the claimant must have the notice delivered to the manager or other responsible officer or person at the office or branch administering or holding the construction funds. 

E. Lien Priority. 

A mechanic’s lien is given statutory priority over “any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance upon the work of improvement and the cite, which attaches subsequent to the work of improvement, and also to any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance of which the claimant had no notice, and which was unrecorded at the time of the commencement of the work of improvement. Thus, the priority of liens on the same property is, “other things being equal, determined according to the time of their creation.” Thus, mechanic’s liens are generally inferior to previously recorded deeds of trust and other previously recorded liens. 

All mechanic’s lien claims have the same priority unless there is a failure to designate among separate parcels of property by a particular lien claimant. Mechanic’s liens relate back to the time the work of improvement commenced. A purchaser of property, who takes title after a work of improvement has begun, takes subject to potential mechanic’s lien claims. 

F. The Surety Bond Discharge Option. 

After a lien is perfected, an owner, contractor, or subcontractor, has the option of obtaining a surety bond. Once the bond is recorded, the lien is discharged. The bond may be recorded either before or after the foreclosure action is commenced. The bond is for the sole protection of the lien claimant and payment on the bond is conditioned upon a judgment in favor of the claimant. 

In this manner, an owner is allowed to replace the claimant’s lien security for the debt with a surety bond. 

Once the bond is recorded, the claimant must receive a copy of it within a reasonable time. If a foreclosure action is pending, the claimant has 90 days after the copy of the bond is received to add the surety and the principal as parties to the lien foreclosure action. The “principal” is the party to the bond who is seeking to discharge the lien. If the principal and surety are not added within 90 days, the bond is discharged and the claimant loses the security for his debt. If the principal never serves the claimant with a copy of the bond, the claimant has six months from the date he finds out about the bond during which to file an action against the bond. An action cannot be commenced, however, if six months have passed since the bond was recorded. All bonds must be recorded with the county recorder. 

G. How To Foreclose a Mechanic’s Lien. 

Mechanics’ lien claimants must bring an action to foreclose on the lien within ninety days after the lien is recorded. This ninety day period is extended, however, if credit is given and notice of that fact and the terms of credit are recorded after the claim of lien has been recorded and before the ninety days has expired. The liens affected period is extended until 90 days after the credit expires, but no longer than one year after completion of the work of improvement. 

The court has discretion to dismiss the action if it is not brought to trial within two years after the complaint was filed. Dismissal of the action, or a judgment that no lien exists, is equivalent to cancellation of the lien. 

The enforcement of a mechanic’s lien is not an exclusive remedy. A claimant has a breach of contract action against anyone who engages his or her services or purchases his or her materials and fails to pay. This remedy depends on contractual privity. In other words, an owner is not liable in contract to subcontractors, laborers, or material suppliers with whom he or she has not contracted. California statues allow a claimant to file one lawsuit to enforce a contractual remedy and another to foreclose a mechanic’s lien. 

H. Attorneys’ Fees. 

If the complaint includes a request for attorneys’ fees, a lien claimant is not entitled to attorneys’ fees from the owner of improved property unless the cause of action is based on a contract that provides for those fees. Although a lien claimant might have a contractual right to attorneys’ fees, such fees may not be included in the mechanic’s lien. 


I. Mandatory Lien Waiver Forms. 

In California, an agreement to waive a third party’s mechanic’s lien rights must be with the written consent of the third party. This statute includes four lien waiver forms: (1) Conditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress Payment; (2) Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress Payment; (3) Conditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment; and (4) Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment. 

The first form, Conditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress Payment, covers situations where you first have to sign a waiver prior to receiving payment. The waiver form specifically indicates that the waiver does not become effective until you have been paid by the bank on which your payment check has been drawn. The second form, Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress Payment, covers situations where you have already been paid. Both the first and second lien waiver forms specifically indicate that you are only waiving your rights through to the specific date that you fill in on the form. Both forms also state that the waiver does not cover “any retention, pending modifications and changes or items furnished” after that date. 

The third form, Conditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment, covers situations where you have to sign a lien waiver, in order to receive your final payment. This waiver does not become effective until you have been paid by the bank on which your payment check has been drawn. The fourth form, Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment, specifically asserts that you have already been paid in full “for all labor, services, equipment, or material furnished to the job site,” and that you are waiving your right to file a lien or bond claim. Both the third and fourth forms, however, specifically have a provision allowing you to fill in “disputed claims for extra work” in a specific amount on the forms. This will allow you to receive final payment on your contract, but at the same time pursue disputed claims for additional work. 

Finally, California statutes specifically indicates that any lien waiver given by any supplier or subcontractor is unenforceable unless it substantially follows these four published forms. No oral or written statement purporting to waive or release a lien or bond claim is enforceable unless it is made pursuant to a waiver, as prescribed by this statute. 

II. PRIVATE PROJECTS – CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE BONDS

A. Introduction. 

Under California law, every contractor is required to be licensed with the state. Failure to have a proper license in effect at the time work is performed will preclude a contractor from filing a lawsuit to collect money owedin connection with the work, including a suit to foreclose a mechanics’ lien. Because subcontractors and specialty contractors are included in the definition contractor, they must also be licensed. 

B.Who is a Contractor? 

California’s definition of “original contractor” is very broad. An “original contractor” is any contractor who has a direct contractual relationship with the owner. 

A materialman who merely furnishes material to a project but does not install or attach such material is not considered a contractor and does not need to be licensed. Renters of equipment are considered material suppliers for licensing purposes and do not require a license to bring an action to recover compensation. A manufacturer who furnishes finished products, materials, or articles of merchandise and does not install a contract for their installation, is also exempt from licensing requirements. 

III.FEDERAL PROJECTS – THE MILLER ACT PAYMENT BOND. A. Introduction. 

1. Purpose. 

Because by law mechanics’ liens cannot attach to federally owned property or projects (or as we shall see later, state or other publicly owned property), those who supply labor or materials to a general contractor or a subcontract or on a federal project are in need of an alternative remedy. The federal law which provides this alternative remedy is known as the “Miller Act.” The Miller Act is intended to protect those who furnish labor and materials for federal projects and to insure payment in full. 

2. Application. 

The Miller Act applies to contracts “for the construction, alteration or repair of any public building or public work of the United States . . .” “Public work” is not a technical concept. It includes most any work in which the United States is interested, done for the public good, and for which the United States is authorized to and does expend funds. A project may be a public work even though it incidentally promotes private interest. The Miller Act does not, however, apply to projects which are merely federally assisted 

3. Exclusiveness of Remedy. 

As a general rule, an unpaid subcontractor or supplier must take advantage of his rights under the Miller Act or forego payment. Because subcontractors and suppliers are not in direct contract with the United States, they cannot assert any contract claims against the federal government. If a subcontractor or supplier is not paid by the party with whom it has a contract, his only remedy is a suit under the Miller Act. In other words, the Miller Act is the least complex and very likely the only means of achieving full satisfaction of an unpaid claim. 

B.The Required Bonds. 

A contract which exceeds $100,000.00 can be awarded to a general contractor until it furnishes the United States with a payment and a performance bond. The contracting officer also has the authority to insist upon a performance and payment bond, even though the bid is below $25,000.00. The amount of the performance bond is determined by the officer awarding the contract. The performance bond must specifically provide coverage for federal taxes which are collected, deducted, or withheld from wages paid by the general contractor to those working on the project. 

Because the government’s liability to subcontractors and suppliers is nonexistent, those providing services or materials to federal projects must verify that a payment bond has been procured before labor or materials are supplied to a federal project. This can be done by contacting the general contractor to confirm that a payment bond has been procured. When this is done, the identity of the surety that issued the bond should be determined so that a subcontractor or supplier can determine whether the surety is financially sound. The government is not obligated to provide copies of the bond to claimants until payment has become overdue. Any person who submits an affidavit that he has not been paid for the labor or materials he has supplied, or that he is being sued on the bond may receive a certified copy of the bond and the contract from the contracting department, secretary or agency head. 

C.The Protected Parties. 

“Every person who has furnished labor or material in the prosecution of the work provided for” in the prime contract and who has not been paid in full has the right to sue on the payment bond. Not all persons are protected, however, since the Miller Act limits the scope of its protection to the following: 

  1. Those who have a contractual relationship with the general contractor,  (i.e.’ subcontractor); and
  2. Those who have a contractual relationship with a subcontractor, second tier subcontractors or suppliers.*

1. Who is a subcontractor? 

Generally speaking, a subcontractor includes anyone who has a contract to furnish labor or material to the general contractor. The Miller Act uses the more technical meaning of subcontractor. Thus, the test of whether one is a subcontractor within the meaning of the Miller Act is his relationship with the prime contractor. Rich, supra. If a person takes responsibility for a large indefinable part of the project, he may qualify as a subcontractor even though he did not install the products supplied or do any on-site work. 

On the other hand, one who contracts with the general contractor to furnish miscellaneous items is a supplier, not a subcontractor. In summary, a contractual tie to the prime contractor is necessary but not determinative proof that a person is a Miller Act subcontractor. 

2. Who Are Laborer and Suppliers? 

A laborer is one who performs manual labor. As a general rule, professionals such as architects and engineers must actually superintend or inspect the job in progress before they can be classified as laborers. 

Suppliers are those who supply a subcontractor with construction materials or rental equipment. At this point, care should be given to distinguish between the sale of construction equipment and the rental of construction equipment. In the case the former, the sale of construction equipment for use on a particular project is not covered by the protections afforded by the Miller Act. 

Only the rental of construction equipment is therefore protected under the Miller Act. As a further caution in this regard, the use of rental contracts with an option to purchase at the end of the rental contract should be avoided, since most courts view such arrangements as predominantly contracts of sale rather than contracts of rental and accordingly deny coverage under the Miller Act for not only the final purchase option price, but also the rental amounts due prior to the exercise of the purchase option. Those who furnish materials or rental equipment to another supplier are considered “too remote” for the Miller Act’s protection, and therefore have no right to make claims against a payment bond. 

The materials supplied do not actually have to be used in the prosecution of the work so long as the supplier has a reasonable good faith belief that the subcontractor to whom they are sold intends the materials for use on a government job. Neither must the claimant prove that he delivered materials to the job site, though actual delivery to the subcontractor must be established. If the materialman can show that he, in good faith, reasonably believed that the materials were intended for a federal project, the fact that the subcontractor diverted the materials to another job site will not destroy the materialman’s Miller Act claim. Therefore, prior to selling materials or renting equipment to a subcontractor, the supplier should require the subcontractor, preferably in writing, to confirm to the supplier where the materials or equipment will be used. 

D.The Required Notice. 

1. Who Must Give Notice? 

Those who do not have a direct contractual relationship with the general contractor must give the notice. Those who have a direct contractual relationship with the general contractor need not give notice. The purpose of the notice is to establish a time when the general contractor can pay his subcontractors without exposing himself to subsequent claims of laborers and materialmen. The Miller Act is not intended to impose liability in situations where it is difficult or impossible for the general contractor to protect himself. Because the general contractor’s protection is of utmost importance, the notice is a vital element of a Miller Act claim. One who fails to give a notice will lose his claim against the bond even though he can prove that the general contractor knew that he was involved with the project. 

2. When the Notice Must Be Given. 

Those who are required to give notice must do so within 90 days from the date on which they last performed the labor or last supplied the material on rental equipment which is the subject of the claim. This 90-day notice must not only be given within 90 days, it must be received by the general contractor within the 90 day period. Only a 90-day notice is required by the Miller Act; a preliminary 20-day notice is not required. The 90-day time limitation is strictly enforced. 

Rental equipment supplied to a subcontractor provides a considerable problem where defaulting subcontractors are concerned. The notice period commences when the subcontractor abandons the work and no longer uses or has the equipment in the prosecution of work. Equipment rental companies would then be wise to set a 60-day maximum leasing period which allows for periodic extensions. If the equipment remains at the job site more than 90 days after the lessor abandons the project, the equipment company loses its ability to assert a Miller Act claim. 

3. What the Notice Must Contain.

The 90-day notice must state, with substantial accuracy, the amount claimed and the name of the party to whom the material or rental equipment was furnished or for whom the labor was performed. Both timeliness and sufficiency of content are principal components of the Miller Act’s notice provisions. Thus, failure to accurately state the amount owed and the correct identity of the party who requested the labor or material renders the notice defective. 

The 90-day notice must also advise the prime contractor that the party giving the notice will look to the prime contractor to pay the debt in question if the subcontractor which owes the debt fails to make payment. 

4. Delivery of the Notice. 

The 90-day notice must be served by registered mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the contractor at any place he maintains an office or conducts his business, or his residence, or in any manner that the United States Marshall of the district in which the public improvement is situated, is authorized by law to serve summons. Failure to send notice by registered mail does not deny right of Suit when the required notice is otherwise properly given and received. Technical rules otherwise protecting sureties from liability will not be applied in a Miller Act proceeding. 

E.When Suit Must Be Brought. 

Suit on a Miller Act payment bond must be filed within one year of the date that labor was last performed or materials were last supplied by the party bringing the suit. A Miller Act suit may also be premature. One who has contracted with the prime contractor must wait until 90 days after he last supplied materials or performed labor have passed before he can bring suit. One who has contracted with a subcontractor must give the 90-day notice in addition to waiting 90 days before bringing suit. If an action is filed before the materialman furnishes the last of its materials, it is untimely and does not afford him the right of recovery. Amended or supplemental complaints filed more than one year after the date of final performance are not fatal to recovery where a timely complaint was earlier filed. 

F.Recovery of Prejudgment Interest and Attorneys’ Fees in Miller Act Proceedings. 

The Miller Act does not explicitly provide for the recovery of either prejudgment interest or attorney’s fees by claimants in a Miller Act proceeding. Therefore, subcontractors and suppliers 

should make certain that the contracts pursuant to which they perform labor and supply materials includes specific provisions for the recovery of prejudgment interest at a specific rate (usually 1 112% or 2% per month), as well as a provision that explicitly provides that if suit is commenced to recover amounts due and owing, a subcontractor or supplier as a prevailing party will be entitled to collect its reasonable attorney’s fees as part of the judgment. Absent provisions of this sort, there is absolutely no chance of recovering prejudgment interest or attorney’s fees in proceedings involving only Miller Act claims. 

IV. STATE PROJECTS-STOP NOTICE AND PAYMENT BOND CLAIMS.

A.Introduction. 

1. Application.

The remedies available in California on public works are stop notices and actions on public works payment bonds. Under the principle of sovereign immunity, the mechanic’s lien law does not provide for mechanic’s liens on government projects. 

Anyone who would be entitled to a claim of lien on a private work of improvement, other than an original contractor, may also serve a stop notice on the public entity responsible for the public work involved. The stop notice served on the public entity holding or disbursing construction funds on public works need not be bonded in order to compel the entity to withhold the funds from the original contractor. Until a stop notice is given, a public entity owes no duty to a claimant to withhold payment to the contractor. 

Other remedies exist for the claimant, including an action on the payment bond and on the contractor’s statutory license bond. There is also the possibility of an action on what used to be termed the “common law bond,” which was sometimes given by a subcontractor to the general contractor or a sub-subcontractor to a subcontractor. These bonds ordinarily are for the benefit of all those supplying labor, materials and supplies to that portion of the work contracted for by the sub or sub-subcontractor. 

2. Purpose.

Mechanics’ liens in favor of subcontractors and suppliers do not attach to state or other publicly owned buildings or improvements. Thus, an alternative means of securing the claims of subcontractors and suppliers is necessary. The security available to those who labor on, or supply materials to, a state public works project is accomplished by statutorily requiring the posting by the general contractor on the contract in question of a payment bond. In addition, the state secures its own claims against the general contractor by insisting upon a performance bond. While a payment bond “looks down” because it is for the protection of subcontractors, laborers and materialmen, a performance bond “looks up” because it protects the state from losses caused by the contractor. 

B.The Type of Notice That Must Be Given. 

Payment bond claimants of public works projects must serve a preliminary notice of the work they have contracted to perform on the project “not later than twenty days after the claimant has first furnished labor, services, equipment, or materials to the job site.” In order to be able to enforce their stop notice rights on public works. Failure to provide a preliminary notice on a public work acts as a total bar to enforcement of the stop notice. 

The preliminary notice must be given by any person who does not have a direct contract with the contractor unless he or she is a wage laborer. This requirement is designed “to protect the contractors from so-called ‘secret liens’ . . .” As respects these exceptions, the Legislature apparently felt there existed no need for such preliminary notification either because the ·owner [contractor] would already have cognizance of such potential claims or for other reasons.” 

Service must be made on both the contractor and the public agency. It is recommended that claimants serve the preliminary notice on the public agency actually disbursing public funds because a stop notice must later be served on a disbursing agency. Commonly used preliminary notice forms can be filled out by administrative personnel and served by mail. When the stop notice itself is served, the same administrative personnel who usually refers to the preliminary notice can obtain the address for service of the stop notice. 

Unlike preliminary twenty day notices on private works, which can be served by mail, notices on public works may not be served by mailing the notice to the contractor at the job site. Service must be made on the contractor personally or by “first class mail, registered mail, or certified mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the contractor at any place he maintains an office or conducts his business, or his residence.” As to public works, the courts strictly construe the way in which notice is sent. To be on the safe side, the claimant should always serve the public entity with a preliminary notice. 

C.The Stop Notice.

A stop notice does not itself result in payment of the claims. The stop notice does constitute a lien on the property of the contractor held by the public agency. When the notice is filed, the claimant has a right against those earnings held by the agency. In effect, filing a stop notice imposes a trust obligation on the agency. 

The practical effect of the stop notice is that the public entity withholds funds, otherwise payable to the contractor or those claiming under the contractor. The public entity will then pay the claimant when the claimant has obtained judgment against the contractor and the entity or has made a settlement and received an assignment of the funds from the contractor. 

All stop notices, private and public, must state (1) the kind of labor, services, equipment, or materials furnished or agreed to be furnished; (2) the name of the person to or for whom the work or items were done or furnished; and (3) the value of that work already done or items furnished and of the whole agreed to be done or furnished. A stop notice is not invalid because of defects in form, if it is sufficient t0 inform the owners substantially of the information required. The stop notice must be written, signed and verified by the claimant or the claimant’s agent. This statute has been recently updated to require that a stop notice contain the address of the claimant. Since the stop notice causes the withholding of funds otherwise due a contractor, the courts strictly apply the requirements of the stop notice statutes. 

The stop notice remedy is available to most persons, other than the prime or general contractor, who furnish work or supplies to a public works project. A material supplier whose property has been wrongfully incorporated into a public work of improvement may waive their tort claim and sue on the implied contract.

If a notice of completion or a notice of cessation has been recorded, the stop notice must be served within thirty days after the recording. If not notice of completion or cessation is recorded, service must be made within ninety days after completion or cessation. It is important to note, however, the claimant is not necessarily protected by serving a stop notice within the time limit, because the stop notice affects only funds still in the hands of the public agency. Even if the claimant gives timely notice, prior disbursements under the contract, if properly made, escape the operation of the stop notice. 

The basic period for filing a stop notice action on a public works project begins after ten days from the date the stop notice was filed and ends ninety days after the expiration of the period during which stop notices could be filed. 

D.The Withhold. 

A public entity, on receipt of a stop notice on a public work of improvement, must withhold from the original contractor or from any person acting under its authority, money or bonds due or to become due to the contractor in an amount sufficient to answer the claim, plus the reasonable costs of any litigation to enforce the stop notice. The entity’s duty to withhold funds under a stop notice on public works applies both to funds due when the stop notice is served and to funds becoming due thereafter, beginning with the first funds available. 

The amounts the public entity must withhold from the original contractor or any person acting under the contractor’s authority includes (1) an amount sufficient tc answer the claim stated in the stop notice; (2) interest; and (3) cost of litigation. The interest to be withheld is “such interest . . . as might be reasonably anticipated in connection with the claims.” As for court costs, the amount that the entity must withhold on receipt of a stop notice on public works must be sufficient “to provide for the reasonable costs of any litigation under the claim. The total to be withheld for all claims must be sufficient for such “court costs as might be reasonably anticipated in connection with the claims 

The claimant who files a stop notice before completion of the subcontract is entitled to claim only the portion of the total subcontract price that reflects the amount of the work accomplished. It is recommended, however, as additional work is completed and the amount of the claim increases, the claimant should consider increasing the amount of the stop notice. 

Preserving the withhold is crucial, given that the withhold is the fund from which the claimant will be paid after having obtained a judgment or settlement. There are two chief threats to preservation of the withhold: the contractor’s efforts to obtain its relief, and the claimant’s failure to take the required procedure to preserve it. The contractor may obtain release of the funds by either (1) getting the public entity’s permission to post a stop notice release bond and posting it, or (2) prevailing at some stage of the summary proceeding for a declaration of rights. 

E.Action on Payment Bond. 

1. Statutory Requirements. 

Every original contractor to whom a public entity awards a contract in excess of $25,000 for any public work must file a payment bond with a public entity that awarded the contract before starting to work. 

If the contractor fails to post a payment bond, the public entity cannot pay the contractor on any claim arising from the prime contract. Other claimants receive payment directly from the public 

entity on their complying with the stop notice procedures of the applicable statutes. The action on the statutory payment bond is cumulative with other remedies, it may be maintained separately, without filing an action against the public entity on the stop notice, or it may be coupled with a stop notice action. 

2. Prerequisites and Limitations. 

To enforce a claim on any statutory payment bond given in connection with public works, claimants must give a ninety day written notice, in writing and state with substantial accuracy the amount claimed in the name of the party to whom the claimant furnished the labor, services, equipment, or materials. This notice must be given within ninety days after the date on which the claimant last furnished the labor, services, equipment, or materials for which the claim is made. Notice must be served by mailing it by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the original contractor at any place he or she maintains an office, conducts business, or resides, or by personal service. Service requirements are given a strict interpretation by the courts. 

An action against a surety on the payment bond may be brought at any time after the claimant last furnished labor or materials, or both; however, the action must be commenced within six months after the period in which stop notices may be filed. An additional thirty days can be added to the six month period because stop notice claimants may file their stop notices at any time within thirty days after acceptance by the public agency. Thus, the total time a claimant has to commence an action is six months plus thirty days. 

Getting Paid on Construction Projects: A Guide to Utilizing Arizona’s Mechanic’s Lien, Payment Bond, Stop Notice and Private Prompt Payment Remedies

A Guide to Utilizing Arizona’s Mechanic’s Lien, Payment Bond, Stop Notice and Private Prompt Payment Remedies


 services

I. INTRODUCTION. 

The Arizona Legislature has developed methods to make certain that material suppliers, rental equipment suppliers, subcontractors, and prime contractors are paid for the labor and material they supply to improve property. The material supplier, rental equipment supplier, subcontractor or general contractor that utilizes these remedies will dramatically increase their chances of collecting on the material, equipment or labor it supplies. This Guide is a summary of the three remedies, as well as an explanation as to how to utilize those remedies. This Guide will also point out pit-falls that can be caused by not using these remedies properly. 

II. THE BASICS OF MECHANIC’S LIENS.

1. Overview. 

A Mechanic’s Lien is an encumbrance that a supplier, subcontractor or general contractor can place upon land when that supplier, subcontractor or general contractor has constructed, altered, repaired or improved a building, structure or parcel of land. 

2. Benefits of Mechanic’s Liens. 

Mechanic’s Liens provide the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor with at least two benefits. First, from a practical standpoint, placing a Mechanic’s Lien upon property will keep the property from being sold. That is, a recorded Mechanic’s Lien will usually keep title from passing to a buyer until the Mechanic’s Lien has been released. Normally, title companies will not close upon properties encumbered by a Mechanic’s Lien because the title company must insure to the buyer that clear title will pass at the time the property is transferred. If a lien is recorded and is encumbering the property, clear title cannot pass to the buyer. 

The second benefit of a Mechanic’s Lien is that the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor can foreclose upon a Mechanic’s Lien and, in the long run, own the property. Of course, in the overwhelming majority of cases, Mechanic’s Liens never are fully foreclosed upon; the lien claimant is paid beforehand or the lien is otherwise released prior to foreclosure. 

3. Prerequisites to Recording Mechanic’s Lien. 

In order to take advantage of the Mechanic’s Lien laws, the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor must serve a Preliminary 20-day Notice* upon the following: 

  1. The owner or reputed owner; 
  2. The prime contractor or reputed prime contractor; and 
  3. The construction lender or reputed construction lender. 

The most important portion of the Preliminary 20-day Notice is the name of the owner. If the name of the owner is wrong, the Mechanic’s Lien (as well as a Payment Bondunder the Little Miller Act and a Stop Notice) will not be valid. In order to ascertain the correct owner name, a title search is most appropriate. 

A 20-day Notice must contain a general description of what was furnished, a price estimate of the material, equipment or labor to be supplied, the name and address of the entity furnishing the material, equipment or labor, the name of the entity that contracted for the material, equipment or labor, a legal or commonly known address for the property and certain language required by statute. The Notice should be served within 20 days of first supplying material, equipment or labor. A failure to timely serve the 20-day Noticedoes not cause the subsequent Lien (or Little Miller Act bond claim or Stop Notice claim) to be invalid. However, the Lien (or Stop Notice) only secures the material, equipment or labor supplied 20 days prior to the service of the Preliminary Notice. 

*20-day Preliminary Notices are also commonly called 20-day notices, prelims, and pre- liens. 

4. Deadline to Record Mechanic’s Liens. 

Deadline to record Mechanic's Liens

The supplier, subcontractor, and general contractor all have the same deadline within which to record a Mechanic’s Lien. The Lien must be recorded within 120 days of completion of the project unless a Notice of Completion is filed. If a Notice of Completion is filed, a Mechanic’s Lien must be recorded 60 days after the project is complete. 

The Arizona lien statutes defines completion as either: 

  1. Thirty (30) days after final inspection; or 
  2. Cessation of labor for 60 days. 

Accordingly, as a practical matter, if no Notice of Completion has been recorded, the supplier, subcontractor and general contractor all have 150 days after final inspection to record the Mechanic’s Lien. 

The Lien must be recorded with the county recorder in which the property is located. The Lien must also be served on the holder of record title within a reasonable time after its recording. 

5. Lien Priorities.

All Mechanic’s Liens recorded on a project have equal footing. That is, regardless of when material, equipment or labor are supplied to a project, the priority of the liens relate back to the commencement of the project. For example, the bulldozer operator performing grading work and the landscape professional planting the landscaping near the end of the project both have the same lien priorities. 

In Arizona, a lender that lends money to another to enable that person or entity to buy property will take back a Deed of Trust on the property. The Deed of Trust is a security device that allows the lender to foreclose upon the property, i.e., take back the property if and when the buyer defaults. Deeds of Trust are afforded their own priority privileges. Deeds of Trust recorded within ten days after commencement of the project have a greater priority than Mechanic’s Liens recorded on the project. 

6. Requirements of Liens.

A Mechanic’s Lien must have: 

  1. The legal description of the subject property; 
  2. The name of the record owner of title; 
  3. A copy of the contract attached; 
  4. A demand for payment; and 
  5. The date of completion of the supplying of material, equipment or labor. 

Because of the necessity of the legal description and name of record owner of title, when preparing a Mechanic’s Lien, a title search is normally required. 

7. Blanket Liens. 

Blanket liens are Mechanic’s Liens that cover more than one unit, building or home. Blanket Mechanic’s Liens are valid. However, under the Mechanic’s Lien laws, residential multi-building projects have separate completion dates. For example, in the case of a condominium project with ten buildings, each building having five condominiums, each separate building has its own date of completion. Accordingly, with each complex having a different date of completion, a Blanket Lien likely could not be used; five different Mechanic’s Liens would likely be necessary, one for each building. 

8. Exceptions to Mechanic’s Lien Laws. 

An owner-occupied dwelling cannot be liened unless the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor has a written contract with the owner-occupant. An owner-occupied dwelling is: 

  1. real property upon which there has been constructed or is to be constructed a building designed for single one-family or single two-family residential purposes;
  2. and title is in the owner-occupant’s name at the commencement of the project. 

An owner-occupant is someone who holds title and intends to reside in the building at least 30 days in the 12-month period following completion of the project. 

Recording a lien on an owner-occupied dwelling without having a contract with the homeowner (or recording any clearly invalid Mechanic’s Lien) will subject the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor to penalties of the greater of $5,000.00 or actual damages plus attorneys’ fees incurred by the homeowner. 

9. Lien Waivers. 

Owners normally will require a lien waiver in exchange for payment. If a supplier, subcontractor or general contractor is asked to sign a lien waiver and that company 1.) has not been paid or 2.) is not being paid by certified funds or cash, that company should only sign a conditional release. 

Alternatively, if a supplier, subcontractor or general contractor is receiving certified funds or cash in exchange for a lien waiver that company should agree to execute an unconditional release. An unconditional release will waive any right to lien or any right to payment even if the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor executing the waiver has not been paid. 

10. Joint Checks. 

A check that is written jointly to two parties, one of whom is a Mechanic’s Lien claimant, acts as a lien waiver (and a waiver of right to payment) up to the amount of the check. 

11. Deadline to Foreclose Lien. 

A Mechanic’s Lien must be foreclosed upon within six months of its recording. Foreclosing upon a Lien means commencing judicial proceedings to ask a judge to order title to the property to be transferred to the unpaid supplier or laborer. A Lien that has not been foreclosed upon after six months must be released. 

III. LIEN DISCHARGE BONDS AND BONDS IN LIEU OF LIEN RIGHTS. 

Mechanic’s Liens can be discharged (that is, removed from the chain of title of the property) by the owner by recording a lien discharge bond. A Lien discharge bond is a private bond in the amount of one and one-half times the amount of the lien. Upon its recording and service upon a lien claimant, the Lien claimant must discharge its lien. 

Prior to the commencement of a project, an owner can obtain a bond in lieu of lien rights. A bond in lieu of lien rights is a private bond for the amount of the project. Recording the bond prevents the property from being liened. Only those persons or entities that would have had valid lien rights can commence an action against the bond in lieu of lien rights. 

IV. LICENSE BONDS. 

Contractors desiring to perform work on commercial projects must have a commercial contractors’ license bond. Parties that can make claims upon the commercial contractors’ license bonds include (1) licensees (that is, one with a contractor’s license) and (2) owners or lessees of non- residential property. The commercial contractors’ license bonds are designed for remedying workmanship complaints. The commercial contractors’ license bond is not available to parties whose sole complaint against the holder of the commercial license is non-payment. 

Contractors performing work on residential units must have a residential contractor’s license bond. Parties that can make a claim on a Residential License Bond include: 

  1. Any person furnishing material, equipment or labor; 
  2. Owners; or 
  3. the Registrar of Contractors. 

As to homeowners, a Preliminary 20-day Notice is required if the supplier, subcontractor or the general contractor is in direct contract with the homeowner. A Preliminary Notice is unnecessary for suppliers and subcontractors that are not in direct contract with the owner. 

V. PAYMENT BONDS: MILLER ACT AND LITTLE MILLER ACT. 

Because state and federal property cannot be liened, statutory schemes have been set up to allow for security for suppliers, subcontractors and general contractors that supply material, equipment or labor on state and federal projects. The statutory scheme devised for federal projects is commonly known as the Miller Act. Arizona has enacted a very similar statutory scheme which is commonly called the Little Miller Act. Under both schemes, subcontractors supplying to general contractors, suppliers supplying to general or subcontractors, and renters of equipment are protected by a payment bond that must be obtained by the general contractor for the benefit of the suppliers and subcontractors. Suppliers to suppliers and sellers of equipment are not protected by the Little Miller Act. 

On Little Miller Act projects, a Preliminary 20-day Notice is required if the claimant is not in direct contract with the bond principal. For example, a supplier contracting with a subcontractor that contracts with a general contractor must serve a Preliminary 20-Day Notice to make a claim upon a bond. The subcontractor in direct contract with the general contractor need not serve a Preliminary 20-Day Notice. However, the better practice is to serve a Preliminary 20-Day Notice and avoid any legal arguments that the Notice was not necessary. 

On both Miller Act and Little Miller Act projects, suppliers, subcontractors and general contractors without a direct contract with the general contractor or the owner must also give a 90-day Notice. The 90-day Notice must be actually received by the owner within 90 days of last supplying material, equipment or labor to the project. 

The Notice must indicate the amount of material, equipment or labor supplied and the entity to which the material, equipment or labor was furnished. The 90-day Notice should be served by certified or registered mail upon the bond principal (i.e., the general contractor). 

The prevailing party in a Little Miller Act case is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees. The prevailing party in a Miller Act case is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees if the parties’ contract has an attorneys’ fees provision. If the parties’ contract does not have an explicit attorneys’ fees provision, an award is discretionary with the judge. 

VI. STOP NOTICE. 

A Stop Notice acts as lien on undisbursed funds. Any person or entity entitled to record a lien, other than the original contractor, may serve a Stop Notice on the project owner. Any person or entity entitled to record a lien, including the original contractor, may serve a Stop Notice on the lender. 

Stop Notices apply to private construction projects, excluding owner-occupied residences. The aggrieved party must have served a Preliminary Notice. The Stop Notice must be served prior to the deadline to record a lien. A Stop Notice can be served by personal service or certified mail. 

A Stop Notice may be bonded or unbonded. A bonded Stop Notice requires a lender or owner to withhold payment. If the owner or lender erroneously releases money after being served with a bonded Stop Notice, that owner or lender will be liable to the entity that filed a Stop Notice for the amount of the claim. If a Stop Notice is unbonded, the Stop Notice is not binding on the lender or the owner. The lender or owner may choose to honor the Stop Notice, but there is no penalty if it does not do so. 

Stop Notices have at least two benefits over Mechanic’s Liens. If the project has no equity, foreclosing on a Mechanic’s Lien will result in the supplier, subcontractor or general contractor owning property with no equity. However, Stop Notices are effective even if the project is upside down, that is, more money is owed on the property than the property is worth. 

Second, in a lien foreclosure action, the entity foreclosing on the property becomes the owner of the property. Being an owner of the property is generally not within the business plan of the Mechanic’s Lien claimant. 

A Stop Notice must contain:

  1. A description of material, equipment or labor;
  2. The name of the person to whom the material, equipment or labor was furnished;
  3. The amount of the material, equipment or labor furnished to date;
  4. The total amount agreed to be furnished;
  5. The name of the owner;
  6. The amount received by the claimant; and
  7. It must be verified under oath. 

A suit on the Stop Notice must be filed after ten days but prior to three months after thedeadline for recording liens.

The general contractor can bond around Stop Notices. That is, the general contractor can record a bond similar to a lien discharge bond which will allow the entity the Stop Notice was served upon to pay out the retained money. 

The Stop Notice statute allows for an award of attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party.

VII. PRIVATE PROMPT PAYMENT. 

On April 12, 2000, Governor Hull signed into law a Private Prompt Payment bill. The law became effective July 18, 2000 as to some projects and July 1, 2001 as to all projects. As to the projects on or after July 18, 2000, it applies to those projects upon which the owner initially distributed any plans, including bid plans and construction plans, specifications or contract documents before the owner and the general/subcontractor entered into a contract. 

1. Owner-Contractor.

A thirty day billing cycle is presumed. If the owner and contractor do not have a thirty day billing cycle, it must explicitly state as such on each page of the bid plans and construction plans. 

A. Billing. 

The billing estimate submitted by the contractor to the owner is deemed approved 14 days after the owner or owner’s agent receives the billing unless before 14 days the owner or owner’s agents produces a written statement detailing those items unapproved. An owner may decline to pay a billing or a portion of the billing for: 

  1. Unsatisfactory job progress; 
  2. Defective construction work or materials not remedied; 
  3. Disappeared work or materials; 
  4. Failure to comply with other materials provisions other construction contract;
  5. Third party claims filed or reasonable evidence that a claim will be filed; 
  6. Failure of the contract or subcontractor to make timely payments for labor, equipment and materials; 
  7. Damage to the owner. 

The owner can only can withhold a reasonable amount to correct the items listed in 1-7 ofthe section above. The owner can extend the time within which the billing is approved beyond 14 days if the contract extends the billing approval time and each page of the construction plans and bid plans state the owner is allowed an extended time. 

B. Payment. 

The owner must pay the general within seven days of approval of the bill. The penalty for not promptly paying is 12 per month interest. Upon written request by a subcontractor, the owner shall notify the subcontractor within five days of progress payment or final payment. If the owner and general are the same entity, the owner must pay the subcontractor or suppliers within 14 days after the billing is certified and approved unless the approval or payment deadlines have been modified. 

Regarding any litigation, attorneys’ fees shall be awarded to the successful party, 

2. Subcontractors. 

If the general does not pay subcontractors or material suppliers within seven days of receipt of payment, the subcontractor or material supplier can complain to the Registrar of Contractors, which may suspend or revoke the license of the non-paying general or subcontractor. However, to file a claim based upon Private Prompt Payment, the claimant must post a cash surety bond of $500.00 or 2 of the amount due, whichever is less. If the Registrar of Contractors determines the Complaint to be frivolous, 2 of the money deposited will go to the Respondent and 2 will go to the State of Arizona general fund. Interest is allowed at 12% per month on late payments (after the general or subcontractor has been paid and seven days has elapsed) 

3. Interruption-Termination of Contract. 

If a general and/or subcontractor must stop work due to a hazardous situation, the general and/or subcontractor is/are entitled to damages. However, under that circumstance, the owner can terminate the general or subcontractor’s contract. 

The general may suspend work if it gave an owner seven days written notice to the owner of not receiving payment and still has not obtained payment. 

The subcontractor may suspend work if the subcontractor is not paid on time. If the general was paid, the subcontractor need only provide a three day notice to the owner and the general that it will walk off the job without getting paid. If the general was paid, the subcontractor must provide a seven day notice to the owner and the general. However, if the owner has a compliant with the work but not with a particular subcontractor’s work, that subcontractor may terminate by serving a seven day notice on the general and the owner. 

If interruption or termination of contract is necessary, and litigation or arbitration ensues, the prevailing party is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees. 

4. Void Provisions Within Private Prompt Payment. 

A construction contractthat purports to be based on the laws of another state or requiring the place of the litigation to occur in another state is void. Additionally, parties cannot contractually agree that a general or subcontractor cannot suspend or terminate if the owner or general fails to make prompt payments. 

Arizona Court Clarifies Manner in Which 20 Day Notices Must be Served on a State Public Project

Seeking Payment as a Subcontractor or Supplier

Subcontractors and material suppliers who perform work or supply materials to a public project and do not get paid can initiate a claim process against the general contractor’s payment bond. The statutory scheme that allows unpaid subcontractors and suppliers to seek payment from the general contractor’s bonding company is called the Little Miller Act.

Bringing a valid bond claim

In order to bring a valid bond claim on a public, non-federal project, the subcontractor or material supplier who does not have a written contract with a supplier must serve 1.) a 20 day notice and 2.) a claim upon the bond within 90 days of last supplying labor or material to the project. The requirement of the 20 day notice has been in effect since 1984. Since its inception, the standard in the construction industry, including the standard of all preliminary notice preparation companies, has been to send all 20 days notices in the same manner. That method has been to serve all 20 day notices via first class mail with a certificate of service, stamped or prepared by the U.S. Post Office at the time of mailing.

With this background, in an opinion called Cemex v. Falcone Bros. & Assoc., Inc. filed April 30, 2015, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that a 20 day notice that is served to perfect a bond claim on a state public project must be sent certified, return receipt requested. This change only affects the manner of service of 20 day notices associated with state public bond claims—it does not affect the manner of service of 20 day notices used to perfect a mechanic’s lien.

In so ruling, the Court acknowledged that it may be undermining bond claims that are pending. The Court also recognized that its ruling will change the manner of service of these types of 20 day notices.

The Court also reiterated that the 90 day notice must be actually received by the general contractor within 90 days of last supplying labor or materials to the project.

Presumably, you utilize a preliminary notice preparation company to prepare preliminary notices. In the event you need to have your preliminary notice preparation company prepare a 20 day notice for a bond claim, you may want to ask them if they are aware of this required change in standard practice.

Using Independent Contractors Can Be Risky Business

Contractors should be cognizant of the Arizona Registrar of Contractor’s Policy Statement regarding hiring independent contractors

Arizona Registrar of Contractors Independent Contractor

The October 5, 2010 hailstorm in Maricopa Countybrought roofing opportunities for roofers who had the ability to handle an onslaught of work. Many roofing companies hired workers as independent contractors to assist with the temporary surge in need. Until now, the Registrar has not weighed in on whether this practice could cause a contractor to be disciplined. The Registrar’s silence has empowered many roofers to hire independents contractors to perform roofing work.

Substantive Policy Statement regarding independent contractors

In response to inquiries after the 2010 hailstorm, in a Substantive Policy Statementissued May 17, 2013, the Registrar has attempted to clarify its position regarding independent contractors. Unfortunately, the policy is unclear and contradictory. However, it appears that the Registrar is saying that contractors may hire independent contractors, and utilize temporary employment agencies, to perform job duties that do not include acts related to a contracting trade. So, contractors are free to utilize clerical workers, accountants, office managers, or other workers for duties that do not include the act of contracting. On the other hand, if a contractor needs an extra worker to perform the skilled labor in which the contractor is licensed, the contractor needs to utilize an independent contractor who is licensed in the trade he is to perform or hire that worker as an employee.

The Policy Statement points out that there is a gray area between a worker who is truly an independent contractor and one who is an employee but being called an independent contractor. In general, the more control the employer has over the worker’s job duties, and how the worker performs his/her job, the more likely that worker will be deemed an independent contractor by a court or the IRS.

In the event a court or government agency determines that a contractor violated laws or regulations, the Registrar can discipline the contractor. The Policy Statement provides examples of such laws and regulations including

  • Failure to comply with social security statutes and rules
  • Failure to provide worker’s compensation coverage or to comply with unemployment benefits coverage
  • Failure to pay income, withholding, or any other required tax
  • Aiding and abetting an unlicensed contractor, or entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor to perform work for which a license is required

The most likely violation that may get the attention of the Registrar would be the aiding and abetting allegation, or entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor.

To date, the Registrar has not actively begun to enforce the thrust of the Policy Statement. It took two and one half years after the hailstorm of 2010 for the Registrar to issue its Policy Statement. However, contractors should be cognizant of the Policy Statement and abide by it now and, particularly, when the next hail storm hits.

Your Warranty May Be Longer Than You Think

workmanship warranty laws Arizona

Many residential roofing contractors have told me that they limit their warranties to two years. They do this to mirror the jurisdiction of the Registrar over defective construction. Contractors can limit their express warrantiesto two years by stating in the contract with the customerthat the warranty lasts for two years.

However, the law implies warranties – that is, warranties that exist because the law says they exists, no because parties to the contract have agreed upon the warranty. Three examples include Lemon Laws (e.g.: if you purchase a defective car that cannot be fixed within four attempts, you can obtain a refund), Warranties of Merchantability (e.g.: the seller of an item warrants the item is worthy of being sold) and Fitness for a Particular Purpose (e.g.: the seller warrants that an item sold will work for a specific use). 

If you never have a workmanship issue, you never install roofs. Warranty issues can be avoided but not eliminated.

As to residential contractors, the law implies warranties of good workmanshipand habitability upon them. The implied warranty of good workmanship and habitability can be claimed by purchasers of new housing as well as subsequent purchasers, the warranty applies to defects that could not have been discovered with a reasonable inspection prior to its purchase. Because a claim based upon this implied warranty is six years from the date of discovery of the defect, your company’s exposure to a lawsuit could be lengthy. The implied warranty of good workmanship and habitability cannot be waived by a contract provision.

For example, assume you re-roof a residence. After the third year, the homeowner alleges that your workmanship was substandard. The homeowner waits five more years, and then files a lawsuit against your company. Because the homeowner filed the lawsuit within six years of the date of discovery of the alleged defect, the lawsuit will be timely.

However, there is a cut off to your liability. Under Arizona law, any lawsuit based upon a claim of poor residential workmanshipor habitability must have been commenced within nine years. As a result, after nine years, your company cannot be sued by your customer for breach of the implied warranty of workmanship or habitability, irrespective of when your customer discovers the allegedly defective work.

If you never have a workmanship issue, you never install roofs. Warranty issues can be avoidedbut not eliminated. If you are notified of a workmanship issue, and your company performed the work within the prior nine years, it is best to listen to your customer and try to do what is necessary to repair the rood. On the other hand, assuming you only have an express warranty of two years in your contract, the customer may not know that his or her implied warranty extends past your explicit two year warranty. In that case, you may find that you can use your customer’s ignorance to your advantage.

Unjust Enrichment Limited in Landlord/Tenant Scenarios

Suppose you act as a subcontractor on a job. Assume in the middle of that project, the general contractor goes out of business, leaving you with unpaid invoices. You want to look for compensation for your labor and materials, and often, the only other entity to look to is the project owner.

unjust enrichment landlord/tenant

Suppose you act as a subcontractor on a job. Assume in the middle of that project, the general contractor goes out of business, leaving you with unpaid invoices. You want to look for compensation for your labor and materials, and often, the only other entity to look to is the project owner. Normally, as a subcontractor, you do not have a contract with the project owner, so you cannot initiate a legal action and allege breach of contract. Traditionally, in these scenarios, unjust enrichment has been a broad remedy the subcontractor could use to collect money from an owner.

Unjust Enrichment

Unjust enrichmentprovides a remedy when one party has benefitted from another and, in good conscience, the benefitted party should compensate the other. It does not apply to cases in which owners have paid general contractors for the subcontractor’s work. It does apply when the owner has not paid the subcontractors. In that case, a court would order the owner to pay the subcontractor. These two broad principles are unchanged.

In August, the Arizona Court of Appealshanded down a court opinion called Wang Electric v. Smoke Tree Resortthat limits the remedy of unjust enrichment when a lease is involved. In that case, the court ruled that subcontractors who contracted with a tenant to improve a building, and who do not get paid by the tenant, cannot sue the owner of the building for unjust enrichment unless the subcontractor shows the owner acted with improper, deceitful or misleading conduct. According to the court, the reason for this is that the owner/landlord should not have to act as an insurer for the tenant’s acts and as a guarantor for the tenant’s payments to subcontractors.

In the end, the court rules the owner could benefit from the improvements and not pay for them because the owner’s retaining the improvements without paying the contractor was not unjust. The court rules that the owner’s actively taking a role in the construction of the project did not make the owner’s retaining the benefits of the improvements, without paying for them, unjust. So, in this case, the owner received an almost-finished commercial restaurant without having to pay for much of it.Many have pointed out that the delineation that the court made is nonsensical and that the results is far from just. Nevertheless, subcontractors should beware when contracting with tenants of buildings. If the tenant files for bankruptcy or simply goes out of business, you may not have an unjust enrichment claim against the owner

Tips for the Competitive Bidding Process

Bidding on a public job can be frustrating. The process the government body utilizes to request bids and then to decide can be shrouded in mystery. This article will present insight on the bidding process and shed a bit of light on the process.

Competitive bidding process Arizona

Bidding on a public jobcan be frustrating. The process the government body utilizes to request bids and then to decide can be shrouded in mystery. This article will present insight on the bidding process and shed a bit of light on the process.

Rules may vary

Most public bodies follow the Arizona Procurement Code, but not all of them. Partly because of this, depending upon the Request For Proposal, the rules will vary. Requirements in the Request For Proposal must be followed. If a Proposal from bidders is due at 3:00 p.m., and the requesting body requires 10 copies to be submitted, if you submit a Response at 3:10 p.m. or with less than 10 copies, your Proposal probably will be found to be non-responsive and the Proposal will not be considered. 

Recently, a contractor I representedfound out he was not the successful bidder five days after his competitor was awarded the project. The contractor had 10 days to file a bid protest. He asked for backup documentation from the contracting body, but did not press for the information to be released immediately. He received the information about 10 days later. Any bid protest would have been late and, as a result, would have had an uphill battle.

With that said, bid protests sometimes work with just a few letters to the correct person. Recently, I represented a rooferwho challenged the award of a contract to a competitor. In this situation, we alleged that the architect for the county colluded with the salesman of a particular product to require the salesman’s product to be used in the project. Based on information from the salesman and the architect, the Procurement Officer did not consider my client’s suggested use of a different product that was an “equal alternate.” This requirement eliminated all other roofers who had submitted bids because none of the other roofers were approved to apply the product, including my client. After I pointed out the wrongfulness of the process to the Procurement Manager, the Procurement Manager reversed the Procurement Officer’s decision and awarded the contract to my client.

In the event that letters to the correct person do not work, the aggrieved party may commence legal action, often with the Arizona Department of Administration(the forum is dependent upon the public body that issued the Request For Proposal). In the case of the Arizona Department of Administration, a hearing officer will hear the case and submit his or her decision to the Director, who has the ability to accept it or modify it. As in the case with a decision from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, if the aggrieved party is still not satisfied, that party can seek judicial relief in Maricopa County Superior Court.

If you are not the successful bidder, you will immediately wonder why you were not. You may want to inquire about the scoring process that the public body uses. That is, the public body may put different weights on the different requirements within the proposal. Some of the requirements within the RFP may be mandatory, and some may be discretionary.

Additionally, the actual scoring may have an error. Scoring implies assigning numbers to different criteria. The numbers are weighted, and then added up. This process requires humans to enter the numbers into a spreadsheet. This data entry is subject to mis-entry of numbers, or mis-calculation of numbers.

If you follow the bid requirements closely, aggressively follow up with any requests for clarification, and demand information immediately when denied an award, you will be in a much better position to protect your rights. 

The Registrar’s New Arbitration Process Regarding Corrective Work Orders

As of July 25, 2011, Arizona has a new statute, ARS §32-1155.01, that is designed to avoid contractors (and complaining parties) from being forced to litigate before an Administrative Law Judge.

Arizona arbitration process corrective work order

If you or your company has had the unfortunate experience of receiving a Corrective Work Order from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, you know that you are entitled to dispute the Corrective Work Order. If you dispute the Corrective Work Order, a Citations and Complaint would typically be issued against you or your company. You would have to answer the Citation and Complaint, and several weeks or months later, you (or a representative of your company) would have to argue your position before an Administrative Law Judge.

The Registrar’s arbitration process in Arizona

As of July 25, 2011, Arizona has a new statute, ARS §32-1155.01, that is designed to avoid contractors (and complaining parties) from being forced to litigate before an Administrative Law Judge. If the cost of repair within a Corrective Work Order is $5,000 or less, the Registrar may refer the dispute to arbitration. If the cost to repair is more than $5,000, the parties may arbitrate the matter, if both parties agree.

The primary unanswered question is what the Arbitrator can actually order. The Arbitrator cannot suspend or revoke a license, award monetary damages, assess civil penalties or award attorneys’ fees or costs. It appears that the Arbitrator can order restitution, or the cost of repair of the items in the Corrective Work Order. However, presumably, the Registrar can suspend or revoke a license and assess penalties, based upon the Arbitrator’s findings. 

The statute allows the contractor to post a bond in the estimated cost of repair within 14 days after the Registrar referring the matter to arbitration. Presumably, this will keep contractors who are not successful in Arbitration from being exposed to having their licenses suspended or revoked. The statute’s deadlines are designed to move the process quickly toward resolution. While there are procedural safeguards in the law, generally, there is no right to appeal an Arbitrator’s ruling to a court.

This processis in its infancy. Unfortunately, personnel at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors still do not have many answers as to how they intend to implement this statute. However, based on the excessive case load of Administrative Law Judges. I would expect the Registrar to slowly phase in this process, thereby avoiding the Administrative law track, and more quickly resolving lower-dollar Corrective Work Orders.

Stop Notices Are Valuable Tools to Collect Money

Stop notices to collect money owed

You work hard, and when you do not get paid for your labor or materials, it is financially and emotionally devastating. To increase your chances of getting paid, consider using Stop Notices.

A Stop Notice is a demand upon a lender or owner to immediately stop paying a general contractor

Stop Notices are a remedy the Arizona Legislature added to assist contractors and material suppliers in getting paid. A Stop Notice is a demand upon a lender or owner to immediately stop paying a general contractor. A Stop Notice creates a lien on undisbursed construction funds held by the owner or construction lender.

Contractors and suppliers who can record a mechanic’s liencan serve a Stop Notice. Thus, to serve a valid Stop Notice, a contractor or supplier must have served a 20-Day Notice. The project must be a private project, not a public project. If the project is “owner occupied”, the contractor/supplier cannot serve a valid Stop Notice unless the Claimant has a written contract with the owner occupant.

A lender that receives a bonded Stop Notice must withhold the amount of the claim until the claim is resolved

A Stop Notice is served on the lender, if there is one, and the project owner. There are two types of Stop Notices: bonded and unbonded. A bonded Stop Notice is a Stop Notice that is served with a bond, issued by a surety company, for 125% of the amount owed. A lender that receives a bonded Stop Notice must withhold the amount of the claim until the claim is resolved. This is the strength of the Stop Notice remedy: serving a Stop Notice can shut down or significantly curtail a project. However, a surety normally requires a bond to be backed by cash collateral. The requirement of cash collateral can preclude contractors and suppliers from being able to use the bonded Stop Notice remedy. 

An unbonded Stop Notice is a Stop Notice without the bond

An unbonded Stop Notice is a Stop Notice without the bond. An owner served with an unbonded Stop Notice from a subcontractor or supplier must withhold funds to satisfy the subcontractor or supplier’s claims. While the lender does not have to honor an unbonded Stop Notice, often times the lender will choose to honor it, which will either get you paid or cause the project to be shut down. You can prepare an unbonded Stop Notice in house, or a preliminary notice company can prepare unbonded Stop Notices for you for a reasonable fee. 

Most contractors in Arizona do not use Stop Notices. If you are not getting paid on a project, consider, at a minimum, an unbonded Stop Notice. A project owner must withhold money and a lender may withhold money. An unbonded Stop Notice is inexpensive, and it may be the tool that gets you paid

Preliminary 20 Day Notices Are Still Valuable In This Down Real Estate Market

To record a mechanic’s lien, the lien claimant must have sent out a preliminary twenty day notice (“20 day notice”). Many people have questioned whether 20 day notices are still cost justifiable. Also, people have questioned whether 20 day notices are effective for landscape contractors when they are performing maintenance work. Finally, others are unsure about whether a 20 day notice will cause tension with the owner or general contractor. This article will address these questions.

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