Getting Paid on Private Work Projects

摘要

Last month's article discussed mechanisms for getting paid on public work projects. There are different tools available for getting paid on private work projects and one of the most powerful is a mechanics' lien claim. In North Bay Construction, Inc. v. The City of Petaluma, 206 Cal. App. Lexis 1510 (2006), discussed last month, the contractor recognized this fact and recorded a mechanics' lien against the property on which the work of improvement was constructed. Unfortunately, the property was publicly owned. As a result, the court invalidated the mechanics lien because mechanics' liens are only available against private property.