Overview of the Mechanics Lien Law
This is a brief description of steps to be taken when the Owner of property on which you have recorded a mechanics lien files bankruptcy.
The California mechanics lien is a powerful tool for contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers to secure payment of unpaid construction debts. A contractor, subcontractor or materials supplier is allowed to record a mechanics lien on real property, based on the value added to the property by the claimant during the construction process.
The recorded mechanics lien provides the claimant with legal right to force the sale of the improved real property and thereby obtain the funds necessary to pay the delinquent debt. Under the usual procedure, the first step is the recording of the mechanics lien with County Recorder’s office in the County where the property is located. A lawsuit to foreclose on the lien must then be filed in the County Superior Court of that County, within ninety (90) days after the mechanics lien is recorded. The goal of the lawsuit is to obtain a judgment for foreclosure on the mechanics lien in order to force a sale of the property. The net proceeds of the sale will be used to pay the unpaid construction debt secured by the recorded mechanics lien, assuming sale proceeds exceed the amount of senior liens and encumbrances.
Generally, if the claimant does not file the lien foreclosure lawsuit within 90 days after recording the mechanics’ lien, the lien becomes void and unenforceable. A bankruptcy, however, does not automatically negate a mechanics lien. It is important to understand certain issues and procedures in order for the contractor to protect itself in the event of the property owner/developer’s bankruptcy filing.
A contractor holding a valid mechanics lien is treated as a “secured” creditor, generally entitled to full payment, provided that the property securing the lien has value in excess of prior liens and encumbrances and provided that the mechanics lien claimant files a lawsuit to foreclose on the mechanics lien within ninety days after the mechanics lien is recorded.
The Bankruptcy Code Automatic Stay
U.S. Bankruptcy Code section 362’s “automatic stay” acts as an injunction, effective on the date the bankruptcy is filed, that prohibits lawsuits, and all other acts by creditors, to collect on a prepetition debt or enforce claims against the debtor’s property. Section 362 sets the rule that no state court lawsuit may be filed against a bankrupt party without first obtaining permission from the Bankruptcy Court. The automatic stay, thus, automatically prohibits the filing of a state court lawsuit to foreclose on the mechanics lien without first obtaining the Bankruptcy Court approval. This presents a significant problem when the mechanics lien claimant is facing its 90-day deadline to file a lien foreclosure lawsuit but is barred from doing so by the automatic stay.
Case authority holds that state court lawsuits, filed against a bankrupt debtor after the bankruptcy filing, are void and of no effect. Therefore, a mechanics lien foreclosure action filed against a debtor after it files bankruptcy will very likely not preserve the mechanics lien.
The automatic stay prohibits the contractor/subcontractor from filing an action to foreclose its lien. If the mechanics lien is recorded but no lawsuit is filed to foreclose the lien within 90 days of recording, the contractor stands to lose its rights as a secured creditor. Luckily, the Bankruptcy Code offers an alternate remedy that allows for protection of mechanics lien rights without the need to file a lawsuit.
Protecting Your Mechanics’ Lien in Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy Code section 546(b) generally provides that the rights and powers of the Bankruptcy Trustee/Chapter 11 debtor in possession are subject to “any generally applicable law’” that permits perfection of an interest in property to be effective against an entity that acquires rights in such property before the date of such perfection.
Section 546(b) provides that if a law requires commencement of an action to accomplish such perfection, maintenance, or continuation of perfection of an interest in property, and such an action has not been commenced before the date of the filing of the petition then:
“such interest in such property shall be perfected, or perfection of such interest shall be maintained or continued, by giving notice within the time fixed by such law for such seizure or such commencement.”
A mechanics lien gives rise to an interest in property that the claimant acquires when the lien is recorded, and before a lawsuit to foreclose is filed. Section 546(b) allows the mechanics lien holder to file a “Notice of Perfection of Lien” with the bankruptcy court as an alternative to filing an action to foreclose in a state court, provided the notice is filed within the statutory 90 day period after the lien is recorded. In addition, the claimant should file a “Proof of Claim” with the bankruptcy court, using the approved form, and noting that the claim is a “secured” claim.
Danger of Using the “Notice of Perfection” Only
The automatic stay prohibiting mechanics lien lawsuits, terminates if: 1) the Bankruptcy Trustee abandons the real property subject to the mechanics lien; 2) the bankruptcy case is dismissed; or 3) the Court grants another interested person’s request for relief from the automatic stay. If one these occur, the claimant may lose the right to foreclose on its mechanics lien if the claimant does nothing further to protect its interests and the statutory time period to act elapses.
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure include a provision giving creditors the right to request special notice of papers filed in the Court, including orders dismissing the case and orders for relief from stay or abandonment of property.
Once the mechanics lien claimant learns that the automatic stay is lifted, it should immediately proceed in state court with an action to foreclose its mechanics lien, keeping in mind that it could lose its rights if it fails to act promptly.
Motion for Relief from the Automatic Stay
A mechanics lien claimant may consider filing a “Motion for Relief from Stay” to allow the mechanics lien foreclosure action to proceed in state court. Under Bankruptcy Code section 362, the motion requires demonstrating to the Bankruptcy Court that “cause” for granting the relief exists, including lack of adequate protection (e.g., default in prior security, which threatens extinction of claimant’s lien); or that there is no equity available for unsecured creditors and the property is not necessary to an effective reorganization. A sworn Declaration and an authenticated appraisal report would generally accompany the Motion for Relief from Stay.
The decision to proceed with a Motion for Relief from a Stay should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Note that if the amount of prior liens and encumbrances exceed the property’s value, then proceeding with an action to foreclose the mechanics lien may be of no benefit, since the proceeds of a forced sale will not be sufficient to pay anything toward the mechanics lien claim.
Article revised by William L. Porter, Esq. in 2024. Mr. Porter is a principal in The Porter Law Group, Inc. in Sacramento, California. He can be reached by phone at (916) 381-7868. Visit the firm’s website at www.porterlaw.com. ©2023
