§ 32-28-3-9 — Subcontractor's, journeyman's, or laborer's liens; notice; actions

(a) This section applies to a:
(1) subcontractor;
(2) lessor leasing construction and other equipment and tools,
regardless of whether an operator is also provided by the lessor;
(3) journeyman; or
(4) laborer;
employed or leasing any equipment or tools used by the lessee in
erecting, altering, repairing, or removing any house, mill, manufactory
or other building, or bridge, reservoir, system of waterworks, or other
structure or earth moving, or in furnishing any material or machinery
for these activities.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (f) and section 12 of this
chapter, in order to acquire rights under this section, a person described
in subsection (a) must give to the property owner, or if the property
owner is absent, to the property owner's agent, written notice
particularly setting forth the amount of the person's claim and services
rendered for which:
(1) the person's employer or lessee is indebted to the person; and
(2) the person holds the property owner responsible.
(c) Subject to subsections (d) and (e), the property owner is liable
for the person's claim.
(d) The property owner is liable to a person described in subsection
(a) for not more than the amount that is due and may later become due
from the owner to the employer or lessee.
(e) A person described in subsection (a) may recover the amount of
the person's claim if, after the amounts of other claims that have
priority are subtracted from the amount due from the property owner
to the employer or lessee, the remainder of the amount due from the
property owner to the employer or lessee is sufficient to pay the amount
of the person's claim.
(f) This subsection applies to a person described in subsection (a)
who gives written notice, to the property owner or, if the property
owner is absent, to the owner's agent, before labor is performed or
materials or machinery is furnished. The notice must particularly set
forth the amount of:
(1) labor the person has contracted to perform; or
(2) materials or machinery the person has contracted to furnish;
for the employer or lessee in erecting, altering, repairing, or removing
any of the buildings or other structures described in subsection (a). A
person described in this subsection has the same rights and remedies
against the property owner for the amount of the labor performed by the
person or materials or machinery furnished by the person after the
notice is given, as are provided in this chapter for persons who serve
notice after performing the labor or furnishing the materials or
machinery.
(g) If an action is brought against a property owner under this
section, all subcontractors, equipment lessors leasing equipment,
journeymen, and laborers who have:
(1) performed labor or furnished materials or machinery; and
(2) given notice under this section;
may become parties to the action. If, upon final judgment against the
property owner the amount recovered and collected is not sufficient to
pay the claimants in full, the amount recovered and collected shall be
divided among the claimants pro rata.
[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-8-3-9.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.1-2010, SEC.129.