December 22, 2014

End-of-Project Lien Claim Dismissed Based on Monthly Releases

By John Parnass

In this recent case from Division 3 (Cle Elum Lien Case), the Court dismissed a subcontractor’s lien claim on a private project based on the monthly progress payment releases the subcontractor had executed all the way through the completion of its Work.  The case doesn’t break a lot of new legal ground (and perhaps that’s why the Court chose to issue it as unpublished), but is a good reminder for general contractors and subs alike to pay close attention to the language used in these industry forms.