Last week, the Puget Sound Business Journal (@PSBJ) published an article I wrote about mechanics lien laws in Washington state. Thanks to them for contacting me about the guest contribution and publishing the article. The article, titled “Mechanic’s liens gets a little easier (subscription required),” addressed the recent legal hurricane in Washington’s construction industry caused by [...]
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How To File A Mechanic’s Lien In Washington
If you have not been paid for labor, services or materials furnished on a construction project in Washington, you may be able to collect the money you are owed by filing a mechanic’s lien (also referred to as a claim of lien). You can file a mechanic’s lien claim on your own, or call upon [...]
Washington Supreme Court Adds Equity Exception to Attorney Fees Rule on Mechanic Lien Challenges
In my post from earlier this week, I suggested that the Washington Supreme Court’s Williams v. Athletics’ Field decision was a big deal with a number of consequences to mechanic lien laws in that state. We talked about the liberal v. strict construction of mechanic lien statutes in that article, but now I want to talk [...]
To Strictly Construe or Not Strictly Construe? Washington Supreme Court Clears The Air
When the Washington Supreme Court delivered its big mechanic’s lien opinion last week in Williams v. Athletics’ Field, I only had a few moments to report it here on the blog (Williams v. Athletics’ Field). However, this decision has significant consequences to mechanic lien jurisprudence in Washington state, and it deserves a blog post or [...]
Washington Supreme Court Reverses Controversial Williams v Athletic’s Field
Well, can I say that I saw it coming? Today, the Washington Supreme Court released its opinion on Williams v. Athletic’s Field, and reversed, making all lien claimants breathe a huge sigh of relief. We’ve written a great number of posts on this interesting case in Washington state, and how much it means to [...]
Scott Wolfe Featured in Tacoma’s News Tribune in Story About Collecting On Mechanic’s Liens and Construction Projects
What happens when your working on a construction project that goes completely belly up? When the project itself is over-mortgaged, and the folks up the contracting chain have taken all the money, spent it, and declared bankruptcy? This situation happens all across the country, but happened recently in massive style with “Prium,” a construction outfit [...]
Very Little Mechanic’s Lien Rights When Contracting With Indian Tribes or on Tribal Land
Over the past year, I’ve had some dealings with construction companies and suppliers being hired to furnish labor and/or materials to Indian Tribes or on Tribal Land, and am finding that there is a bit of a boom in construction of casinos and other establishments for Indian Tribes. With the boom, non-Indian contractors and suppliers [...]
FAQ: If I’m Unlicensed, Can I File A Mechanic’s Lien?
Short Answer: It depends. In some states, unlicensed contractors are forbidden from filing a lien. In other states, it is allowed. You must consult your state’s particular lien laws. Long Answer: The first thing to say about this subject is that if you’re doing work that requires a license without having that license, you’re treading [...]
Watch Supreme Court Oral Argument in Controversial Washington Mechanic’s Lien Case
If you keep up with construction industry news in Washington or are a reader of this blog, you’ve likely heard about the controversial Washington mechanics lien case climbing through the courts, Williams v. Athletics Field. We’ve written about it there five or six times, explaining the history of the decision and how it could impact [...]
Foreclosing A Mechanics Lien in Washington Just Got More Confusing
Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals published an opinion last week in Diversified Wood Recycling, Inc. v. Harold Johnson, et al, which addresses some nuances of Washington’s mechanics lien laws. Warning: Reading this opinion will (i) Confuse the hell out of you; and (ii) Make you laugh our loud. You’ll be confused because [...]
Bill Dies That Would Offset Controversial Williams v. Athletic Field Decision
The long and complicated road of the Williams v. Athletic Field decision continues to wind in Washington. Last month, a bill floating around the Washington legislature that would potentially offset the controversial Division II Court of Appeals decision died, as it failed to go up for vote before the session’s deadline. To catch you up [...]
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Scott Wolfe Jr., JD
CEO of Zlien, and a licensed attorney in six states, he's experienced in construction & corporate credit management laws....Read More
Nate Budde, JD
Zlien's Chief Legal Mind and licensed attorney. Nate is a Stanford & Tulane Grad, a Jeopardy! alumni and more....Read More
Seth Smiley, JD
Construction attorney in California & Louisiana, Seth is an experienced construction litigator and Zlien's COO....Read More
Funding Gates
The world's first CRM for receivables management.Read More
Gretchen Lynn
Operations Genius at Zlien - She writes all the fun stuff here.Read More
Jason Bull
Zlien's Research Giant - He shares tips and info on how to confirm project, surety or construction party data.Read More
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