Equitable Subrogation Part Deux: Mechanic’s Lien vs. Later Bank Deed of Trust

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Kevin Parker

By Kevin J. Parker

https://www.swlaw.com/people/kevin_parker

This post follows, almost two years to the day, Rick Erickson’s post of August 29, 2014. As noted by Rick Erickson in his August 29, 2014 post, the Arizona Supreme Court in the Weitz case (2014) had determined that equitable subrogation principles were applicable to enable an earlier-recorded mechanic’s lien to be trumped by a later-recorded bank deed of trust, if the loan secured by the later deed of trust paid off a lien that had been ahead of the mechanic’s lien.  In a decision filed August 9, 2016, the Arizona Court of Appeals further clarified the scope of such equitable subrogation.… Read More »

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Transfer of Property Title to a Holding Company Did Not Divest Landowner of Owner-Occupant Status Under A.R.S. § 33-1002(B)

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Rick Erickson

By:  Richard G. Erickson

Recently, in Marco Crane & Rigging Co. v. Masaryk, 703 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 29 (Dec. 30, 2014), the Arizona Court of Appeals established that a subcontractor on a residential project has no lien rights against an owner-occupant, even though the homeowner transferred the property’s title to a holding company (an Arizona limited liability company) after the subcontractor commenced work.

In other words, the lien protections afforded to owner-occupants are determined, at the latest, when a contractor records its lien.  After the contractor commences work and records its lien, the homeowner’s actions in negating owner-occupant status do not divest the homeowner of statutory protections against lienholders. … Read More »

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Nevada Supreme Court Clarifies Mechanic and Materialman Lien Issues

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Nathan Kanute

By:  Nathan Kanute and Bob Olson

On August 7, 2014, the Nevada Supreme Court issued two opinions dealing with the priority of mechanics’ liens and the proof required for a materialman to establish a lien.  These cases provide valuable guidance to lenders, materialmen, contractors, and subcontractors operating in Nevada.

In Byrd Underground, LLC v. Angaur, LLC, 130 Nev. Adv. Op. 62, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada certified three questions to the Nevada Supreme Court.  The questions focused on whether placement of fill materials and grading constituted “construction of a work of improvement” for purposes of a lien priority determination under NRS 108.225. … Read More »

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Mortgage Lenders Can’t Jump Ahead of Mechanic’s Liens

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Ben Reeves

By:  Ben Reevesleap 4

In Weitz Co., LLC v. Heth, 223 Ariz. 442, 314 P.3d 569 (Ct. App. Nov. 26 2013), the Arizona Court of Appeals held that the plain language of Arizona’s mechanic lien statute, A.R.S. § 33-992(A), does not allow a lender to jump ahead of a mechanic’s lien under the doctrine of “equitable subrogation.”

In Weitz, First National Bank of Arizona lent a developer $44,000,000 to build a 165-unit, mixed-use commercial/residential project in downtown Phoenix.  The bank secured repayment of the construction loan by recording a deed of trust against the project.

The developer hired The Weitz Company as its general contractor. … Read More »

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