Recent Changes to Florida’s Construction Lien Statute and Public Bonded Projects – Changes to Florida Statute Section 255.05

Recent Changes to Florida’s Construction Lien Statute and Public Bonded Projects – Changes to Florida Statute section 255.05

By: Theodore J. Hamilton, Esq.

The Florida law for a subcontractor, equipment lessor or materialman to perfect a claim on a public construction bond recently changed.   Law of Florida 2019-94: see link here: http://laws.flrules.org/2019/94   Florida Statute section 255.05 governs the process to be followed to claim on a bond on a public construction project with a public entity in the State of Florida.  This section does not apply to Federally Bonded projects.   The changes focus primarily in two areas:

1. The new law requires the Notice of Non-Payment to be signed under oath before a notary;
2. The new law adds a penalty of non-enforce-ability if it is determined the notice of non-payment is willfully exaggerated in its amount; and
3. The new law confirms that the time frame for serving the notice of non-payment for rental equipment is 90 days after the last date the rental equipment was on the job site and available for use.

The Notice of Non-Payment must now be under oath.

The new Florida Statutes 255.05 provides a form of a Notice of Non-Payment. This form must now provide for a notary to confirm that the person signing the Notice did so under oath.  The new form must be “substantially” followed and must include the oath. Without the required elements the claimant risks making the notice invalid.

The new law adds a penalty of non-enforcement if the notice of non-payment is willfully exaggerated in its amount.

The Notice of Non-Payment must be accurate.  To be fraudulent the Notice would either be (1) willfully exaggerated as to the amounts due; (2) willfully include a claim for work not performed or materials not furnished; or (3) prepared the notice of nonpayment with willful and gross negligence, which results in a willful exaggeration.   Ultimately, the notice needs to be accurate.  This new provision will give owners a defense should the Notice contain willful errors.

The new law confirms the time frames for an equipment rental supplier to serve the notice of non-payment.

For equipment rental suppliers, the new statutory changes make it 100% clear that the notice of non-payment must be served no later than 90 days after the last date the rental equipment was on the job site and available for use.    Thus, if the equipment is on the site, but broken down, the 90 days would run from the date it was last usable.  These changes, clarify some ambiguities created by conflicting decisions in the Florida Courts as to the last day available to serve the Notice in such a situation.

Conclusion:

This is just a brief summary and not a complete review of each situation.  It highlights one of the changes in the last year to the Construction Lien provisions in Florida.  For further information contact our office.