Fullerton & Knowles | Attorneys - Virginia, Maryland
Table of Contents for Construction Law Survival Manual

MECHANIC’S LIENS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Distinctive Features of the Law in the District of Columbia.

The mechanic’s lien provided by the District of Columbia (“DC”) Code is generally protective of, and favorable to, contractors. There is relatively little case law on the DC mechanic’s lien statute, so answers to most questions must be found in the code itself. It is also a little bit difficult to find DC mechanic’s lien case law, so a complete list of available cases we have found is attached at the end of this chapter.

The Recorder of Deeds (land records) has drafted a required form. The claimant must fill in the blanks on the form and file it in the land records. An attachment can be used to supplement the form for including additional information required under the revised statute.

The mechanic’s lien form must be filed in the land records within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project. This can create a very generous time limit in the case of subcontractors who supplied labor and materials long before completion of the rest of the project. Subcontractors are also entitled to request information from the owner concerning the contract and status of accounts between the owner and general contractor.

The priority of DC mechanics liens is better than the priority of the Maryland mechanic’s liens, but not quite as good as Virginia’s. A DC lien is inchoate. Once filed, the lien relates back to the day work commenced on the project. This super-priority nature of DC mechanics' liens provides a powerful weapon to the contractor. The lien may survive bankruptcy or a sale of the property.

The owner does have a “defense of payment” to a DC mechanic’s lien. All subcontractor liens will fail if the owner has paid the general contractor in full. This provision is identical to the Virginia system but differs from that of Maryland that places the burden of ensuring payment of all subcontractors on the owner.

The DC mechanic’s lien law does not seem to have as many technical requirements as some other states. There are few cases that have held liens invalid for technical reasons. This may be because DC mechanic’s lien law is more liberal and favors the claimant. It may also be because few technical questions have been put before DC courts. A claimant should be careful to strictly comply with the mechanic’s lien code.

Deadline Summary.

PREFILING BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

No prefiling requirement.

LIEN FILING and/or SERVICE AFTER LABOR OR MATERIALS SUPPLIED

All contractors must file a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien in land records within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project and serve a copy of the Notice on the owner by certified mail or posting within 5 business days after filing.

ENFORCEMENT

All contractors must enforce by filing a lawsuit within 180 days after the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien was filed in the land records; and in addition must file a notice in the land records that the lawsuit is pending within 10 days of filing the lawsuit. .

Defense of Payment: Owner’s Responsibility for Payment to Subcontractors.

The owner of a construction project must pay for the project only once. If an owner can prove that it has paid for the project in full, then all subcontractor liens will fail.1 Until the owner has received a notice of mechanic’s lien, the owner can continue to freely make payments to the general contractor, eroding the subs’ ability to lien. THIS IS THE TRUE DEADLINE FOR FILING a subcontractor mechanic’s lien and serving notice on the owner: before the general contractor has been paid.

There is a “payment chain,” from the owner to the general contractor to the subcontractor to the sub-subcontractor or supplier. The mechanic’s lien of any lower tier contractor is only as strong as the weakest link in this payment chain. For this reason, a sub or supplier wants to file its lien and provide notice as soon as problems are apparent. In DC, however, the payment chain is restricted to the general contractor and the subcontractor. There are no sub-subcontractor liens.

A sub or supplier also wants to be aware of the status of account between the owner and general contractor at all times. If the owner is about to release all retention, then the subcontractor's right to lien the project is about to disappear. In DC, subcontractors are entitled to request information from the owner concerning the contract and status of accounts between the owner and general contractor.

Remote Subcontractor and Supplier Liens.

Mechanic’s lien rights are restricted to the general contractor with the owner and the subcontractors. No sub-subcontractors have lien rights. This will leave suppliers without lien rights, unless they deal directly with the owner or the general contractor.

Priority.

The timing of various liens on a property usually determine their priority. The first in time filed in the land records will be the “first mortgage,” with the first priority to any proceeds from a foreclosure or sale of the property. If another mortgage is filed in the land records later in time, it will be a “second mortgage.” If the property is foreclosed, this second mortgage will not receive any proceeds until after the first mortgage has been paid in full.

There are very few exceptions to this “first in time, first in right” general rule. One exception is county real estate tax liens, which will always have priority over other liens no matter when they are filed. Another exception is mechanics’ liens that are “inchoate,” such as liens in the District of Columbia and Virginia. If a mechanic’s lien is inchoate, the lien “relates back” to and exists from the moment labor or material is supplied to the property, as long as the claimant eventually perfects the lien by filing and enforcing the mechanic’s lien. Any mortgage or judgment lien recorded after work began on the property will be inferior to the mechanic’s lien.

Generally, a DC mechanic’s lien has priority over all liens and mortgages that attach to the property after work was commenced. A DC mechanic’s lien does have priority over construction loan advances made after the claimant filed its Notice of Mechanic’s Lien.2 The mechanic’s lien priority is only to post-notice advances, regardless of when the construction loan was recorded. If a claimant started work before the construction lender recorded its loan on the property, the claimant’s lien still only has priority over advances made after the claimant’s notice was filed.3 A mechanic’s lien in DC does not have priority over a mortgage on the property used to pay the purchase price.

Subcontractors have priority over general contractors. If there are several subcontractors and there is not enough money to satisfy all of the claims, each subcontractor is paid a pro rata share. If a subcontractor gave notice to the owner before the owner paid the general contractor, however, that subcontractor has priority to the extent of those payments.4

Sale or Foreclosure of Property.

The DC mechanic’s lien should generally survive foreclosure of a property, because it is inchoate and superior to most other liens recorded after commencement of work. If a foreclosure of an inferior lien takes place, the purchaser at foreclosure will take the property subject to the mechanic’s lien. If a lender with superior priority forecloses, however, the foreclosure purchaser will take the property free of the mechanic’s lien. See the section on Priority below for more information.

Bankruptcy.

There is no case law to help us in DC. Based on the case law from other states, however, the “automatic stay” of the United States Bankruptcy Code should not stay the perfection (filing in the land records) of the mechanic’s lien. This is because the lien is inchoate. The claimant already had the lien, so the filing does not change anything and is not a preference. In fact, it is important to keep in mind that the mechanic’s lien must still be filed within the normal time limits.

The bankruptcy of an owner or upstream contractor should delay enforcement of a mechanic’s lien, however. It is not permissible to enforce a mechanic’s lien without permission of the Bankruptcy Court, but the claimant is provided additional time later to enforce the mechanic’s lien.

Tenant Work.

A contractor who does work for a tenant can obtain a lien on the leasehold interest. The claimant may not be able to lien the “fee simple” property of the owner, but it will be able to lien the tenant’s interest in the property.

Lien Waivers.

A contractor may waive its mechanic’s lien rights in the construction contract. However, under the DC statute, a waiver of liens in a general contract is not effective against a subcontractor.5

TIME LIMITS FOR NOTICE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN

In DC, a claimant has a right to a mechanic’s lien as soon as labor and materials are furnished to a project. However, the mechanic’s lien is not perfected until the claimant files a “Notice of Mechanic’s Lien.”

Completion of the Building or Improvement.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien must be filed in the Recorder of Deeds office within “90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project.”6 This almost certainly means within 90 days after all contractors have completed all work on the project. The time for filing may, therefore, be much more than 90 days after the claimant finished its particular portion of the work.

There is an element of doubt whether a claimant must file its Notice within 90 days after the claimant’s last work or within 90 days after completion of the entire building, because the only case that discusses this time limit simply repeats the wording of the statute.7 We have, therefore, only the plain words of the statute. This wording is similar to the wording found in many state codes for a mechanic’s lien deadline. The statute in Virginia, for example, formerly had similar deadline wording. The case law in most other states is clear that the deadline runs from the last work performed by all contractors and from completion of the entire project. In any event, it may be safer to count the deadline from the claimant’s last work. A claimant should have hard evidence to prove its own last work, but may have difficulty establishing the last date other contractors supplied substantial new work included within this project.

There is also an element of doubt as to how a project is defined. There are no recorded cases defining a project. If a framing contractor is hired by the owner to build new partition walls and a plumbing contractor is hired by the owner to add a bathroom on a different floor of the building, these are probably independent projects and each would run its own mechanic’s lien deadline. If both projects are in the same area of the building, however, and the framing contractor built the partitions for the bathroom plumbing fixtures, then this might be the same project. The framing contractor may still be able to file a lien long after the framing was complete if the plumbing contractor is still on the project.

If a general contractor abandons a project before the project is complete, that general contractor’s 90 day deadline for filing a Notice will start running when the project is abandoned. Subcontractors who contracted with the abandoning general contractor must also file a mechanic’s lien within 90 days after the general contractor abandons the project. This is true even if the owner later hires another contractor to finish the project.8

How Soon Notice can be Filed.

DC Code Section 40-301.02 states that the contractor shall file the Notice of Lien stating “the amount due or to become due . . . within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project.” Again, there is no case law but the words of the statute seem clear. Construction must have already begun before the Notice can be filed but it can be filed before payment is due to the claimant. This presumably means that the Notice can be filed before the claimant has completed work. .

THE NOTICE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN.

Form of Notice.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien must be filed in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds. This is the land records of the District of Columbia located at 515 D Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001, across the street from the Superior Court.9 In addition to filing the Notice in the land records, all claimants must serve a copy of the Notice on the owner as discussed below.

The Recorder of Deeds provides a form to be used for the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien, recently revised and now available on the Internet in Acrobat Adobe as shown in Appendix 27.10 This form can also be filled out on-line at our website www.FullertonLaw.com.

In the past, the Recorder of Deeds would usually not accept the Notice of Lien at all unless it was on the Recorder’s form. It is not clear at this point whether the Recorder’s office will require the use of this new form or will take any form that meets the statutory requirements. The Recorder’s office has advised using the Recorder’s form and to use an attachment to supplement information required under the revised code.

The Recorder’s form is helpful to the public and does simplify the procedure in many ways, but can also create problems. Some mechanic’s lien claims cannot be adequately described in the blanks on the form. The form itself is at odds with the DC Code in places and at times not consistent with case law.

Under the DC Code, the Notice must include11

(1) The name and address of the contractor or the contractor's registered agent;

(2) The name and address of the owner or the owner's registered agent;

(3) The name of the party against whose interest a lien is claimed and the amount claimed, less any credit for payments received up to and including the date of the notice of intent;

(4) A description of the work done, including the dates that work was commenced and completed;

(5) A description of the material furnished, including the dates that material was first and last delivered;

(6) A legal description and, to the extent available, a street address of the real property;

(7) (A) To the extent available under applicable law, if the contractor is an entity organized under the laws of the District of Columbia or is doing business in the District of Columbia within the meaning of applicable District law:

(i) A copy of the contractor's current license to do business in the District issued by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; and

(ii) A certificate of good standing from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs issued within 180 days prior to the date of the filing of the notice of intent; or

(B) To the extent available under applicable law, if the contractor is an individual or an entity organized under laws other than those of the District of Columbia, and is not doing business in the District of Columbia within the meaning of applicable District laws but is required to be licensed by a governmental entity:

(i) A copy of the contractor's current license to do business issued by the government of the other jurisdiction; and

(ii) A certificate evidencing the contractor's good standing in its place of business or state of incorporation issued by the other jurisdiction;

(8) If the project is provided under a home improvement contract, a copy of the home improvement contract; and

(9) (A) A sworn, notarized statement affirming under penalty of perjury and upon personal knowledge that:

(i) The contents of the notice of intent are true and correct to the best of the contractor's information and belief; and

(ii) The contractor has a right to recover the amount claimed.

(B) If a notice of intent is executed by an authorized representative or counsel of the contractor, he or she shall attach evidence of his or her authority to execute the notice of intent on behalf the contractor and shall affirm that the notice of intent is true and correct to the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief.

The DC Code states “the notice of intention to hold a lien on the property shall include copies of licenses to do business, certificates of good standing and copies of any home improvement contract.”12 The DC Code seems to say that those documents must be included in the Notice of Lien. In practice, however, these documents are not filed with the Notice, but are presented to the Clerk for review in accepting the Notice for recording. .

The Recorder of Deed’s Website currently provides a list of required documents.13 It seems problematic that the Clerk has power what would normally be judicial, to decide whether a claimant has valid lien rights. If the clerk refuses to file a notice of lien based on one of these requirements, a claimant could lose lien rights if the time to file passes, whether the clerk was correct or not. This does not seem fair to the Recorder of Deeds or contractors in the District.

The DC Mechanic’s Lien Code has long stated that a contractor is entitled to a lien for “the contract price agreed upon between them, or, in the absence of an express contract, for the reasonable value of the work and materials furnished.”14 This is consistent with the law in other states, recognizes express or implied contracts and recognizes lien rights when the parties do not even have a clear verbal contract, much less a written contract.

DC case law, like most other states, had previously held that the right to lien arises as soon as labor or material is furnished, whether or not there was a written contract.15 In the case of home improvement, however, it appears that a claimant will not be able to record a mechanic’s lien without producing a copy of a written contract.

DC courts have held that the contractor must show that it has “proceeded properly to acquire and establish his lien.”16 Mechanic’s lien statutes are “strictly construed” in most states, being in derogation of common law. This means generally that a mechanic’s lien claimant must do everything exactly the way the code says to do it. Even a minor mistake can mean lien rights are lost.

Other than these statutory filing requirements, the DC mechanic’s lien Notice does not seem to have as many technical requirements as some other states like Virginia. Court case law tells us that the amount claimed, the name of the owner and a description of the property are essential requirements for a valid lien.17 There is little additional case law ruling liens invalid for technical reasons. This may be because DC mechanic’s lien law is more liberally in favor of a claimant. It may also be due to the fact that technical questions have not often been put before a DC court. A claimant should be careful to strictly comply with the mechanic’s lien code. As in other states, DC courts have held that the Code should be strictly construed to determine whether the contractor has “proceeded properly to acquire and establish his lien,” but then “liberally construed” in favor of the contractor’s recovery once perfection has been established18

Deadline for Notice.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien must be filed in the Recorder of Deeds office within “90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project .”19 This is discussed in greater detail in a section above and almost certainly means within 90 days after all contractors have completed all work on the project. The time for filing may, however, be much more than 90 days after the claimant finished its particular portion of the work.

Failure to record the Notice within the 90-day period will terminate the contractor’s lien.20

Delivery of Notice.

The DC Code requires all claimants, general contractors and subcontractors, to serve the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien on the owner. Any contractor must send a copy of the recorded Notice of Mechanic’s Lien to the owner by certified mail to the current address (or if not available in the local public records, the last known address) of the owner within 5 business days after recordation in the land records.21

If the certified mail is returned to the contractor unclaimed or undelivered, the contractor must post a copy of the recorded Notice in a location generally visible from some entry point to the real property.22 This provision can be very helpful if the owner refuses to accept certified mail. The Recorder of Deeds’ Notice of Mechanic’s Lien form, however, seems to require a certification by the claimant that the Notice was already served on the owner by certified mail. If the recorded Notice sent to the owner by certified mail is returned unclaimed or undelivered, it is not clear whether the claimant should just post the recorded lien or alter the Notice to reflect the posting and rerecord.

Owner.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien must correctly name the owner of the property. If a lien names the wrong person as the owner, the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien is fatally insufficient.23

Tenants and Leaseholds.

If a tenant orders work in DC, this will give rise to mechanic’s lien rights on at least a leasehold interest. The claimant may not be able to lien the “fee simple” property of the owner but can obtain a lien in the lease owned by the tenant. The eventual result would be a foreclosure on the leasehold. The purchaser at foreclosure would then own the lease but the “fee simple” owner’s interest would be unaffected.24

There is no case law on this subject, but the statute makes it clear in two places that a contractor can obtain a lien on the leasehold.25 Presumably, case law from other states can provide guidance on leasehold liens.26

Contract Purchaser.

A “contract purchaser” or “vendee” may begin construction on real property that is “under contract,” but has not yet gone to settlement. The DC Code provides that a contractor will obtain a lien if performing work for such a vendee.27 The result seems to be that the contractor obtains a lien in the contract to purchase the property. The buyer at foreclosure would have the right to buy the property at the contract price.

Owner and Agent of Owner.

The form provides a space for the claimant to fill in the name of the owner’s “agent” and addresses for both the owner and that agent. There is no requirement in the DC Code that this information appear on the lien recorded in the land records. It is important, however, for a subcontractor claimant to serve a copy of the lien on the owner or owner’s agent. The subcontractor claimant, therefore, needs a good address for service.28 Sometimes it is difficult to obtain service if the owner is a corporation or out of state. In these cases, the lien can be served on an agent of the owner, such as the registered agent or a management company.

Description of Property.

The mechanic’s lien form provides a space for a property description. The DC Code makes it clear that the mechanic’s lien claimant must provide a description of the property upon which the lien is claimed. 29 There is no DC case law, however, on questions that plague claimants in other states, such as allocation of materials to multiple parcels, vagueness in the property description, overinclusiveness, overburdening, or blanket liens.30 A DC mechanic’s lien claimant should still take great care to accurately and clearly describe the property to which labor and materials were supplied. Case law from other states should be consulted to consider the potential pitfalls of DC claimants if faced with an aggressive and imaginative defense team.

Extent of Lien.

DC Code Section 40-301.01 provides a lien upon the “building erected, improved, added to, or repaired…” and “the land on which the same is erected, intended to be used in connection therewith, or necessary to the use and enjoyment thereof.” However, the extent of a claimant’s lien depends on whether the owner who contracted for the work has a “fee simple” interest in the property or some lesser interest.31 For example, if the owner who contracted for the work and materials is a tenant, the lien may only extent to the tenant’s leasehold interest.32

The statute provides for a court determination of the dimensions of the land subject to a mechanic’s lien if the claim is contested.33

Lot & Square and the Street Address.

The form Notice of Mechanic’s Lien directs the claimant to “[g]ive lot & square and street address.” The DC mechanic’s lien code states that a legal description of the property to be liened must be on the notice and to the extent it is available also a street address. Usually, a lot and square information is readily available from the tax assessment office and is an “easy” way to describe the property. A claimant should visit the tax assessor’s office to obtain copies of applicable tax maps. These maps are very helpful in identifying the project property and cross checking lot, square and street address information.

Unfortunately, there is always an element of doubt concerning tax assessment information. The assessor usually has multiple versions of a tax map from different time periods and assessment identifications will often change over time. Additionally, the assessor will consolidate or subdivide lots as property is redeveloped. Squares are sometimes renumbered. Lot and square information is almost always provided in Deeds and other documents recorded in the land records, but this information is not always consistent with information at the tax assessment office.

This raises the question of whether the “true” legal description is in the tax assessor’s office or in the land records. If there are inconsistencies or doubts, the claimant should be careful to identify the property description either as coming from the tax assessor’s office at a particular time or as coming from the land records as described in particular instruments.

Title Search.

A title search in DC is difficult and often expensive. A claimant should hire a title searcher with extensive experience in DC and allow plenty of time for the search.

Unfortunately, the recorder of deeds has experienced budget and management problems. Indexing of deeds and other instruments can lag days or even weeks behind. This means that it could be long after a settlement before any title searcher can find a deed in any index. Several title companies in DC obtain copies of all instruments recorded in the land records and create their own indexes. A claimant may wish to use such a title company. It is also a good idea, if possible, to have your title-searcher check the indexes a few weeks after your lien is recorded.

Claimant.

A Notice of Lien may be filed by a contractor who has a contract with an owner to furnish work and materials for the improvement of a building.34 A subcontractor or supplier having a contract with an original contractor (only one tier removed from the owner) has the same lien rights as the original contractor.35

Remote Subcontractors and Suppliers - No Sub-subcontractor Lien.

District of Columbia case law makes it clear that a sub-subcontractor does not have lien rights.36 A contractor or supplier does not have lien rights unless they have a contract directly with the owner or a contract with the general contractor. This will deprive suppliers of lien rights unless they have a contract with the owner or general contractor.

Description of Labor or Materials.

The DC Code provides a lien for “work or materials provided by a contractor for the erection, construction, improvement or repair of or addition to any real property . . . or the placing of any engine, machinery, or other thing therein or in connection therewith so as to become a fixture.”37 The purpose of the statute is to provide a preferred claim in property to a person who has enhanced the value of that property.38

There is little case law that provides guidance as to what is included in “work,” “materials” and “fixtures” for which a claimant may lien. The wording of the statute is broad and would seem to allow liens for a fairly broad spectrum of work and materials. Liens for machinery and fixtures would seem to be broader than the lien allowed in some other states.

A number of questions remain unanswered, however. The DC Code does not address demolition, although this is a common component in the redevelopment and new construction in the city. Demolition may, therefore, be unlienable. It is dubious whether surveyors or architects have lien rights. Furthermore, there is no provision concerning rental of equipment used in the construction process.

Description of the Contract.

Under the DC Code, claimant must provide both the dates of commencement and completion, although the form has not been revised to include a space for completion date. The form seems to request the date the claimant commenced work, rather than the date work commenced on the project by any other contractor. This is a point of some uncertainty, however, since the mechanic’s lien filing deadline seems to focus on the latest work performed by any contractor on the building or improvement.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien form also requests the identity of the contracting parties for labor and materials furnished to the project. There is uncertainty concerning this section of the Notice as well. The claimant should probably provide information about the claimant’s contract with the owner or with any intermediate contractor. It is possible, however, that the form is requesting information about the general contract with the owner, regardless of whether the claimant is a party to that general contract. The form requests the identity of the “party of the first part” and the “party of the second part,” possibly referring to the names that appear at the top of the mechanic’s lien form. In this case, “claimant” would be the party of the first part and “owner” would be the party of the second part.

Signature of Claimant.

The claimant’s signature is requested at two different places on the mechanic’s lien form. First, the claimant must “affirm under penalty of law” that the information requested on the form, discussed above, is correct to the best of claimant’s information and belief. Second, on page two of the form, the claimant is asked to certify that:

i. A copy of the Notice was served on the owner.

ii. The Notice is filed “within 90 days after the earlier of the completion or termination of the project ”

iii. That the claimant understands that the claimant must “commence suit to enforce this lien within 180 days from the date of filing.”

Certifying that the owner has been served with a copy of the lien presents a problem because the certification is made before the lien has actually been filed. The DC Code states that the claimant has to serve the Notice on the owner or owner’s agent within 5 business days after the recordation, but the Recorder of Deeds’ form asks for a certification that the owner has been served with the Notice. Trying to comply with the information requested on the form leaves the claimant with three options, each of which is a problem.

First, the claimant can serve a copy of the Notice on the owner before the lien is filed. Then the claimant can certify on the lien form that a copy of the Notice has, in fact, been served on the owner. This can be a problem, however, if the lien is filed later than expected because of filing problems. It may be necessary to change the lien when the owner has already been served with a copy of the prior unfiled mechanic’s lien form. It can also be a strategic mistake to give the owner notice of the lien before it is actually filed in the land records. It is possible that an owner would quickly deed the property to another entity in order to thwart the mechanic’s lien. The owner could also make a payment to the general contractor, which could defeat the lien of a subcontractor.39

The claimant’s second option is to forecast the date on which the owner will be served after the lien has been filed. This can be a problem because the claimant is certifying that the owner “was served.” The claimant may be making a false certification.

The claimant’s third, and probably best, option is to serve to the Notice twice. This obviously takes longer and costs more. It also does not really solve the two conceptual problems discussed above.

The claimant must include “a sworn, notarized statement . . . that the contents of the notice of intent are true and correct to the best of the contractor’s information and belief.”40 There is no requirement in the DC Code for the certification that the Notice is filed within 90 days of the earlier of completion or termination of the project, although the Notice must state the date work was completed. There is also no DC Code section requiring certification that the claimant understands the suit to enforce must be filed within 180 days) of the date the lien is filed in the land records. These are both correct statements of the law, however, and are helpful reminders to a claimant.

AMOUNT OF CLAIM AND ALLOCATION.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien form provides a place for the claimant to state the amount of the lien claim as “$_________________ (including interest).” This presumably means that the claimant should compute legal or contractual interest through the date of lien filing and include it in the amount of the claim. Again, there is no requirement or discussion of this in the DC Code. We will probably never know the thought process of the clerk who created this form. It may be possible to cross out the words “including interest.” A claimant should be concerned, however, that the claim for interest will be waived if not computed and included in the claim total.

The Notice of Mechanic’s Lien form also provides a space for the claim amount a second time in the sentence immediately following. This blank does not state “including interest,” but seems to request the same dollar amount a second time.

No mechanic’s lien has been ruled invalid in a published DC case because of problems with the claim amount. A claimant should take care, however, and assume that there is still a risk of forfeiting a lien, especially in the case of a willful overstatement of claim amount. A claimant should also make a good faith effort to avoid mistaken overstatement of claims.41 The DC Code does state claimant must include “a sworn, notarized statement . . . that the contents of the notice of intent are true and correct to the best of the contractor’s information and belief” and that the “contractor has a right to recover the amount claimed.”42

Allocation.

A contractor does not need to allocate labor and materials supplied to two or more buildings if they are “joined together and owned by the same person or persons.”43 This is a significant difference from Virginia mechanic’s lien law where many liens are lost because of the claimant’s failure or inability to allocate.44

The claimant may file a single mechanic’s lien for more than one building only if they are joined together and owned by a single person or entity.45 The court can allow the enforcement of a single lien against multiple buildings and can decree that all of the buildings be sold together or separately.46

If a claimant files a single lien on more than one property, it is possible for the claimant to release one of the buildings later.47 This has been a problem in other states such as Virginia, where courts have decided that the release of one building would overburden the remaining property and invalidate the entire lien.48

REMOTE SUBCONTRACTOR AND SUPPLIER LIENS.

No Sub-subcontractor Mechanics Liens.

Sub-subcontractors are not entitled to liens in DC. The DC Code only provides for liens by an “original contractor” with a contract with the owner and by “any person directly employed by the original contractor, whether as subcontractor, materialman, or laborer…”49

Subcontractor Mechanic’s Liens.

The DC Code provides that a subcontractor is “entitled to the same rights and subject to the same obligations as the original contractor …”50 The Recorder of Deeds provides one form for a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien, discussed above, which should be used by both general contractors and subcontractors. In addition to filing the Notice, the subcontractor must serve that Notice on the owner.

Delivery of Notice.

A subcontractor has two different statutes to follow to properly serve the lien. A subcontractor must serve the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien “by leaving a copy thereof with said owner or his agent, if said owner or agent is a resident of the District . . .”51 Although Section 40-303.03 does not state how the Notice must be left with the owner, revised Section 40-301.02 seems to indicate that all claimants must send the Notice to the owner by certified mail. A subcontractor should be careful to comply with both statutes and serve the Notice by certified mail if at all possible.52 The Recorder of Deeds’ Notice of Mechanic’s Lien Form also requires a certification by the claimant that the Notice was served on the owner by certified mail.

If the certified mail is returned to the contractor unclaimed or undelivered, the contractor must post a copy of the recorded Notice in a location generally visible from some entry point to the real property.53

ENFORCEMENT OF MECHANICS' LIENS.

Although a DC mechanic’s lien is “perfected” once a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien is filed among the land records, the mechanic’s lien must later be enforced. Essentially, this means that the claimant must bring a lawsuit to have the validity of the mechanic’s lien established and the property sold to satisfy the lien. Selling the property to satisfy the lien is the end result of a mechanic’s lien action.

To enforce the mechanic’s lien, the claimant must file a complaint.54 The DC Code requires the complaint to contain the following:54 The DC Code requires the complaint to contain the following:55

  • A brief statement of the contract on which the claim is founded;

  • The amount due;

    ii. The time the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien was filed;

    iii. The time the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien was served on the owner or his agent;

    iv. The time the building or work was completed;

  • A description of the premises;

  • Other “material facts;”

    vi. A request that the premises be sold to satisfy the lien.

    A claimant should have all of this information readily available, along with a complete statement of account describing the claim, well before the complaint is filed. The DC statute and case law do not give us guidance as to what “other material facts” are necessary. The complaint should contain any additional facts that are important to proving the claim and to selling the premises.

    Deadline for Enforcement.

    The mechanic’s lien must be enforced within 180 days after the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien was filed with the Recorder of Deeds by filing a lawsuit in court. 56 A claimant must also record a “notice of pendency of action” in the land records within 10 days of filing suit. Failure to timely file suit or the notice of pendency of action shall terminate the lien.

    Effect of Bankruptcy.

    Based on case law from other states, the bankruptcy of an owner or upstream contractor should delay enforcement of a mechanic’s lien.57

    Necessary Parties.

    The DC Code states that if a subcontractor brings suit to enforce a mechanic’s lien, the original contractor shall be made a party as well as all other persons who have filed liens on the premises.58 This means that the general contractor and all other lien claimants must be made defendants to the suit to enforce the lien.

    If a mechanic’s lien is bonded off, as discussed below, the DC Code requires that suit be brought against the owner.59 It also states that suit may be brought against the sureties. It would be advisable, however, to always name the sureties as parties to the lawsuit.

    Other than the two statutory provisions just mentioned, there is no DC statute or case law that requires other defendants in the suit to enforce. However, an owner is probably a necessary party on due process grounds because the complaint to enforce the mechanic’s lien is a suit to sell the owner’s property. Based on the case law from other states, it is probably also advisable to name mortgage lenders and other persons with an interest in the property.

    Purpose of Enforcement.

    The ultimate goal in a mechanic’s lien action is to sell the premises. The DC statute provides that if the right of the claimant to the lien is established, the court shall decree the sale of the real estate or the interest of the owner.60 Claimants should remember that the interest of the “owner” is being sold. If the person ordering the work (owner) is a tenant with a leasehold interest, then this leasehold interest will be sold.61

    Once the property is sold, the proceeds of the sale are distributed to those persons with liens on the property. The proceeds are distributed in the order of priority of the liens on the property.62 There may not be enough money from the sale to satisfy all of the liens on the property.

    Multiple Lien Claimants.

    Under the DC Code, “all or any number of persons having liens on the same property may join in one suit . . .”63 Joining together in one suit may lower the costs of enforcing the lien. If different claimants bring several suits, the court may order them “consolidated: or tried together.64

    Trial.

    A suit to enforce a mechanic’s lien in DC is normally heard by a judge. It can also be heard before a “Master.” The role of a Master is very similar to that of a Commissioner in Chancery in Virginia.65 A Master is a “judge for a day,” and conducts a hearing in which evidence is presented much as it would be presented in court.66 After receiving the evidence, the Master writes a report on his findings.67 The report is filed with the court and served on the parties to the case.68 The court must accept the Master’s findings of the facts of the case unless they are clearly wrong.69 The court need not accept the Master’s findings as to the legal issues in the case. The parties may object to the Master’s report and bring their objections before the court. The court then accepts, modifies or rejects the Master’s findings.70

    Deficiency Judgment.

    If the property is sold as a result of enforcement of a mechanic’s lien, and the sale does not provide enough to satisfy the lien, then the claimant will have a deficiency judgment against those parties to the lawsuit who were personally served with the lawsuit and who had a contract with the claimant.71 A deficiency judgment is a judgment in the amount of the remaining debt. A deficiency judgment is collected out of the general assets of the debtor. If the debtor is insolvent, the judgment is worthless.

    DEFENSE OF PAYMENT: OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT TO SUBCONTRACTORS.

    An owner has a “defense of payment” to a subcontractor’s mechanic’s lien in DC.72 The owner of the project need only pay for the construction once. If the owner has legitimately paid the original contractor in full for the project, subcontractor liens will fail. The DC Code states that if the owner, in good faith, has paid the general contractor in full for the project (and the amount of the payment is not disputed by the general contractor), the subcontractors shall not be entitled to a lien on the owner's real property to recover any amounts due and owing to the subcontractors for their work or materials73 However, the DC Code also provides that once a subcontractor “ notifies the owner in writing of amounts due to the subcontractor . . . while the owner has a balance due and owing” to the general contractor, the notice from the subcontractor “shall be prima facie evidence” that any payment made after that by the owner to the general contractor “was not made in good faith.”74 Apparently, this does not necessarily mean service of an actual Notice of Mechanic’s Lien filed in the land records, but could be a less formal “notice” of amounts due to a subcontractor. Potential claimants should consider sending a letter to an owner as soon as problems are apparent on a troubled project. Any provision in a contract that prohibits a subcontractor from contacting or communicating with an owner is be void to the extent it prevents this notice.75

    The DC Code also provides that subcontractor liens are “subject to the terms and conditions of the original contract.”76 DC courts have not faced this particular phrase in a recorded case. It may be in the statute to make it clear that a subcontractor’s lien is limited by the total amount due under the general contractor’s contract. This would be consistent with the law in other states. However, this phrase may also limit a subcontractor’s lien to charges that are in the general contract. For example, a subcontractor’s favorable interest rate upon default might be limited to the interest rate in the general contract.

    The Payment Chain.

    Owner

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    Original Contractor

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    Subcontractor

    The payment chain for DC mechanics liens is limited to contractors that dealt directly with the owner or the general contractor. Sub-subcontractors have no mechanic’s lien rights. The subcontractor’s lien is only valid to the extent to which the owner is indebted to the original contractor.77

    The “True” Deadline for Notice of a Mechanic’s Lien.

    The deadline discussed above for filing a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien in the Recorder of Deeds is actually an outside deadline for subcontractors. The “true deadline” would be to get the Notice filed and served on the owner while the owner is still holding enough money to pay the subcontractor’s claim. The longer a subcontractor waits to file its Notice and serve it on the owner, the more payments an owner may make to the original contractor, reducing the enforceable amount of the subcontractor lien on the project. However, a potential claimant may be able to “freeze money” in the owner’s hands by sending an informal “notice” of amounts due to the subcontractor before an actual Notice of Mechanic’s Lien is recorded in the land records.78

    To be safe, a subcontractor should file and serve its actual lien while the owner is still holding money. An owner may continue to make payments to the original contractor, even after a subcontractor’s lien is filed and until the owner is served with the Notice filed with the Recorder of Deeds.79

    Affirmative Defense.

    In Virginia, the defense of payment is expressly an “affirmative defense.” It is up to the owner to prove that there is no debt between the owner and a general contractor.80 In Maryland, the court has come to the same conclusion in the limited instances in which a homeowner has a defense of payment in Maryland. In DC, it is not clear whether it is up to the owner to prove there is no debt in order to defeat a mechanic’s lien or up to the subcontractor to prove that the owner owes the general contractor in order to enforce a mechanic’s lien.

    The DC statute merely states that a subcontractor’s lien “shall be limited to the amount due, or to become due, but unpaid to the original contractor and be satisfied, in whole or in part, out of that amount only.”81 Claimants should assume they have the burden of showing a debt between the owner and original contractor. Enforcing a mechanic’s lien could be very difficult for a subcontractor for this reason.

    Cost of Completion.

    Aside from direct payments from the owner to the original contractor, the debt between an owner and original contractor may be reduced by the cost to the owner of completing a project after an original contractor has failed or refused to complete.82 This is similar to the law in other states. If an owner must pay another contractor to complete the project, or has legitimate backcharges against the original contractor, a subcontractor’s lien rights will be reduced. The owner does not have to pay twice. The backcharges and costs are damages owed to the owner that reduce the debt between the owner and original contractor.83

    Subcontractor “Bound” to General Contract.

    The DC statute states that “a liens in favor of parties so employed by the contractor shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the contract” between the owner and general contractor.84 The general contract may have provisions on damages in the event that the general contractor breaches the contract which may affect a subcontractor’s lien.85 The general contract may have special financing arrangements that affect the owner’s “defense of payment.”86 A DC subcontractor can obtain a copy of the general contract under DC law, as explained below, and should do so because the general contract’s provisions may be important to the subcontractor’s mechanic’s lien rights.

    Owner’s Duty on Receipt of Notice.

    After service of a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien, “the owner shall be bound to retain out of any subsequent payments becoming due to the contractor a sufficient amount to satisfy any indebtedness due from said contractor to the said subcontractor.”87 A subcontractor should file and serve its lien as soon as possible so the owner has this duty to withhold money. This is the “true deadline” for filing a lien, as discussed above. If the owner makes payments to the original contractor after it was given notice of the lien, the owner cannot claim those payments as part of the owner’s “defense of payment.” In fact, under DC case law, any amount the owner pays the contractor after receiving notice is lienable, even if the eventual costs of completion result in total costs to the owner exceeding the contract amount.88

    Consider this example. An owner contracts with original contractor for the construction of a warehouse for $100,000. As work progresses, the owner makes a $50,000 payment to the original contractor. The original contractor hires subcontractor and soon is in debt to subcontractor for $10,000. The subcontractor files a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien and serves it on the owner. After the owner has been given notice, owner makes a $10,000 payment to the original contractor, without withholding anything for subcontractor. After subcontractor’s notice, the contractor abandons the project and owner spends $50,000 to complete the project. If the owner never made the $10,000 payment to the original contractor, subcontractor’s lien would be worthless because the owner contracted for a $100,000 warehouse and paid out $100,000 to the original contractor to have the project completed. The owner would have a defense of payment. However, because the owner paid the original contractor $10,000 after the subcontractor’s notice, the subcontractor still has a lien for $10,000, regardless of the fact that the total cost of completing the project was $110,000.

    Advance Payments to General Contractor.

    Under the DC statute, an owner cannot make advance payments to a contractor in order to set up a defense of payment to subcontractor liens that are filed later.89 If the owner makes advance payments for the purpose of avoiding subcontractor mechanic’s liens, the payments are treated as if they were never made. It is important for subcontractors to realize, however, that the advance payment must be made in “bad faith.” The payments must be made for the purpose of avoiding the subcontractor’s lien.90 If advance payments are made in order to speed up work or and no “bad faith” is shown, the payments may still reduce a subcontractor’s lien. It is, therefore, important that a subcontractor be aware of an original contract’s payment terms and the status of accounts between an original contractor and owner.

    Subcontractor’s Right to Request Information from Owner.

    The DC statute provides that a subcontractor is entitled to know the terms of the original contract and the status of accounts between an original contractor and the owner.91 The owner must forward the information upon request from the subcontractor. If the owner provides false information or does not comply with the request, the property is liable to the lien of the subcontractor demanding the information as if no payments had been made to the general contractor. The owner cannot then defend a mechanic’s lien action by showing that the general contractor has been paid in full.

    If this request is sent early in the project, then the subcontractor will understand the payment terms of the general contract. The subcontractor will be better able to avoid a defense of payment. If the request is sent later in the project and the owner does not respond, the subcontractor may be able to “bootstrap” its way up to a valid mechanic’s lien where a defense of payment would have otherwise existed. Our practical experience is that an owner rarely responds to such a request. All subcontractors, therefore, should send this request early in the project.

    As discussed above, a subcontractor’s lien is subject to the terms and conditions of the original contractor’s contract. A subcontractor cannot complain that it does not know the original contract terms, especially if the subcontractor never requested the information from the owner. DC cases that have limited a subcontractor’s lien discuss the fact that the subcontractor could have learned the terms of the original contract and the status of accounts.92

    PRIORITY.

    Mechanic’s liens in DC have priority over certain other liens that may be on the property. Generally, liens on a piece of property are satisfied in the order in which they were recorded. Older liens are paid first. Mechanic’s liens have a special priority in that they are prior to other liens on the property recorded after work is commenced, even if those other liens are recorded before the mechanic’s lien is recorded.

    Priority Between Mechanics Liens and Other Liens.

    Generally, a DC mechanic’s lien has priority over all liens and mortgages that attach to the property after work has commenced. A DC mechanic’s lien also has priority over any transfer of the property, which must be recorded in the land records, but was not recorded before commencement of the work.93

    The general rule above has some exceptions. A mechanic’s lien does not have priority over a mortgage on the property used to pay its purchase price.94 This is because the owner would not have the property unless this money was lent.

    A DC mechanic’s lien does have priority over construction loan advances made after the claimant filed its Notice of Mechanic’s Lien.95 The mechanic’s lien is prior only to post-Notice advances, regardless of when the construction loan was recorded. If a claimant started work before the construction lender recorded its loan on the property, the claimant’s lien still only has priority over advances made after the claimant’s Notice was filed.96 A claimant could also find that its lien is being eroded by interest accruing on construction loan money advanced before the claimant filed its Notice of Mechanic’s Lien.97 As a practical matter, a mechanic’s lien claimant may want to serve the Notice on the lender, even though not required, to make sure a construction lender will not make further advances. The construction lender may not have security for these advances. The owner may have to “bond off the lien” to solve this problem.98

    The mechanic’s lien priorities relate back to when work was commenced. The DC statute is not clear as to whether “commenced work” means when work started on the entire project or when the particular claimant started work.99 However, in one DC case, the court wrote in a footnote that a mechanic’s lien’s priority is set by the date the particular claimant started work.100

    Sale or Foreclosure of Property.

    Generally, mechanics' liens survive foreclosures of a property because they are “inchoate,” and relate back to the time work commenced. If the lien holder foreclosing on the property is inferior to the mechanic’s lienor, the purchaser at foreclosure takes the property “subject to” the mechanic’s lien.101 If a lender with superior priority forecloses, however, the foreclosure purchaser takes the property free of the mechanic’s lien. The mechanic’s lien will be extinguished.

    Priority Between Different Mechanic’s Liens.

    A subcontractor has priority over a general contractor. The subcontractor’s lien is paid first.102 If there are multiple subcontractors with liens, and there is not enough money from the sale of the property to pay them all, the liens are paid pro rata,103 with one condition. Subcontractors that served their Notice on the owner before the owner made payments to the original contractor have priority over other subcontractors to the extent of those payments.

    Priority Between Mechanics Liens and Other Unsecured Claims.

    A mechanic’s lienor has a lien against the owner’s property that was improved. Unsecured creditors of the original contractor or owner do not have a lien as to that property. Rather, they must try to collect from the general assets of the original contractor or owner.104

    Bankruptcy.

    Because the lien is inchoate, the “automatic stay” of the United States Bankruptcy Code should not stay the perfection (filing in the land records) of the mechanic’s lien. There is no case law in DC, but Bankruptcy cases from other jurisdictions should apply. 105 The claimant already had the lien, so the filing does not improve the claimant’s position and is not a preference. In fact, it is important to keep in mind that the mechanic’s lien must still be filed within the normal time limits.

    The enforcement of a mechanic’s lien by filing a lawsuit, however, probably is stayed by the Bankruptcy of the owner, general contractor or other upstream contractor. It is probably not permissible to enforce a mechanic’s lien without permission of the Bankruptcy Court, but the claimant should be provided additional time later to enforce the mechanic’s lien. Since there is no case law in DC, the safest course would be to seek relief from the bankruptcy stay and file the enforcement action before the deadline.

    MECHANIC’S LIEN WAIVERS.

    As in Maryland and Virginia, a contractor in DC can probably waive its mechanic’s lien rights at any time.106 However, under the DC statute, however, a waiver of liens in a general contract is not effective against a subcontractor.107

    RIGHTS AND OPTIONS OF OWNERS AND LENDERS.

    Right to Pay for the Project Only Once.

    The owner must pay for the project just once. This is the owner’s defense of payment to subcontractor liens, discussed above.108 However, if the owner does not comply with several important provisions of the DC statute, it may lose its defense of payment. For example the defense of payment could be lost if the owner fails or refuses to inform a subcontractor of the terms of a general contract on request109 or if the owner continues to pay a general contractor after the Notice of lien or served on the owner.110

    Duties, Rights and Options after Notices are Received.

    Once the owner has been served with a subcontractor’s Notice of Mechanic’s Lien, the owner must retain payments to the original contractor in a sufficient amount to satisfy the subcontractor’s lien.111 If the owner does not retain the money, it cannot assert a defense of payment with regard to those funds.112 Subcontractors should remember that the owner’s duty to withhold funds may only arise after the owner has been served with the subcontractor’s Notice of Mechanic’s Lien.113

    Once the owner receives a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien, the owner should retain money sufficient to satisfy the mechanic’s lien claim. The owner may also decide to settle the mechanic’s lien claim or pay the indebtedness into court.114 Owners may also choose to protect themselves with mechanic’s lien waivers and affidavits.

    Apparently, even if an owner receives a less formal “notice” of amounts due to a subcontractor, an owner should not make further payments to the general contractor without withholding the amount claimed by the subcontractor. Any provision in a contract that prohibits a subcontractor from contacting or communicating with an owner is be void to the extent it prevents this notice.115

    Removal of Mechanic’s Lien.

    The DC statute allows the owner to remove a mechanic’s lien from the property by either paying the amount claimed into court or by bonding off the lien. Unlike Virginia and Maryland, the DC Code and case law do not provide for an early hearing as to the validity of a mechanic’s lien.116

    The DC Code provides methods to judicially “bond off” a mechanic’s lien. If the owner pays into court the amount of the claim, along with interest and costs, the court will release the mechanic’s lien.117 If the owner pays the bond in cash, it need not send notice to anyone. 118 The owner can also file with the court a “written undertaking” by which the owner and two sureties promise to pay any judgment rendered by the court.119 The recorder’s office has issued a new approved form, available on the Internet in Acrobat Adobe.120 The owner must give notice to the claimant of a written undertaking. The sureties must swear that their net worth is double the amount of the lien and must be approved by the court.121 The owner can bond off a lien before or after the claimant files suit to enforce it.122

    As a practical matter, “judicial bonding,” described above, is rarely utilized. Because of the expense of judicial bonding, a practice of non-judicial bonding has developed. Many owners, lenders, and sureties are satisfied with an informal bond that does not involve the court or appear in the land records. A surety company will provide a bond to a title company, the owner, or the lender. The owner, lender or title company may then be willing to allow payments or loan draws to continue. The mechanic’s lien will remain of record with the Recorder of Deeds, but the bonded party will have protection in case of a judgment for the claimant. A claimant may never know that an owner or other party has been non-judicially bonded since the claimant is not entitled to notice of this process.

    ALTERNATIVES TO MECHANIC’S LIEN FILING.

    Enforcing the Contract.

    A claimant may decide to bring an action on its contract instead of filing and enforcing a mechanic’s lien. Such a strategy can be cheaper than enforcing a mechanic’s lien, but a claimant should always consider the advantages of preserving its mechanic’s lien rights in the owner’s property.

    Liability of Owner to Subcontractor

    The DC statute states that a subcontractor shall not be entitled to a personal judgment against the owner “except upon a special promise of such owner, in writing, for a sufficient consideration…”123 An owner is personally liable to a subcontractor only if, for example, the owner promises in writing to pay the subcontractor in exchange for the subcontractor’s staying on the job and not filing a mechanic’s lien.124

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    ©(1996,2007) James D. Fullerton, Clifton, VA (703)818-2600 www.FullertonLaw.com

    D.C. Mechanic’s Lien Case List

    1. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v Circle Equip. Co., 377 F.2d 160 (1967)
    2. Alfred Richards Brick Co. v. Triott., 23 D. C.285 (1904)
    3. Arthur Snowden Co. v Meehan, 118 A.2d 687 (1955)
    4. Battista v Horton, Myers & Raymond, 128 F.2d 29 (1942)
    5. Berenter v Staggers, 362 F.2d 971 (1966)
    6. Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Co. v Karrick, 53 F.3d 928 (1931)
    7. Clark v Huff, 165 F.2d 247 (1947)
    8. Curits v Chambers, 310 F.2d 857 (1962)
    9. Davidson v. E.F. Brooks Co., 46 App. D.C. 457 (D.C. Cir. 1917)
    10. Deland v Wagner, 64 F.2d 552 (1933)
    11. Deming v. Wardman Const. Co., 39 F.2d 504 (1930)
    12. Don’t Tear It Down Inc. v D.C. Dept. of Housing, 428 A. 2d 369 (1981)
    13. Elect. Equip.Co. v Sec. Nat. Bank, 606 F.2d 1357 (1979)
    14. F.T. Merrill v B.R. Acker Co., 142 F.2d 102 (1944)
    15. Fidelity Storage Corp. v. Trussed Concrete Steel Co., 35 App. D.C. 1 (D.C. Cir. 1910)
    16. Guardian Fed. Savings & Loan Ass’n v Suskind, 265 A.2d 295 (1970)
    17. Harper v Galliher & Huguely, 29 F.2d 452 (1928)
    18. Hartford Acc. & Ind. Co. v A.B.C. Cleaning Contractors Inc., 350 F.2d 430 (1965)
    19. Herndon Lumber & Millwork Inc. v Union Wesely, 69 A.2d 608 (1977)
    20. Highpoint Townhouses, Inc., et al. v Lee Rapp, Sr., t/a Rapp Contracting Co., 423 A.2d 932 (1980)
    21. Hutchison Brothers Exac. Co. Inc. v Dworman, 307 A.2d 760 (1973)
    22. Indian Lake Estates Inc. v Ten Individual Defendants, 350 F.2d 435 (1965)
    23. Jenkins v Parker, 428 A.2d 367 (1981)
    24. John W. Johnson Inc. v 2500 Wisconsin Ave., 231 F.2d 761 (1956)
    25. Kidwell & Kidwell Inc. v W.T.Galliher & Bro. Inc., 282 A.2d 575 (1971)
    26. Langley v. D’Audigne, 31 App. D.C. 409 (D.C. Cir. 1908)
    27. Lipscomb v Hough, 286 F. 775 (D.C. Cir. 1923)
    28. Maiatico v Fletcher, 39 F.2d 295 (1930)
    29. Malcom Price Inc. v Sloane, 308 A.2d 779 (1973)
    30. Mathews v. Libbey Bros., 42 D.C. 273 (1914)
    31. McLean v. Nolan, 44 App. D.C. 1 (D.C. Cir. 1915)
    32. Mearns v Sullivan, 262 F. 633 (D.C. Cir. 1919)
    33. Merril v. B.R. Acker Co., 142 F.2d 102 (1944)
    34. Moore v. Axelrod, 443 A.2d 40 (1982).
    35. National Brick & Supply Co. v Baylor, 299 F.2d 454 (1962)
    36. News Printing Co. v National Labor Relations Board, 231 F.2d 767 (1956)
    37. Redding & Company Inc. v Russwine Construction Corp., 463 F.2d 929 (1972)
    38. Ritzenberg v Noland Co., 364 F.2d 667 (1966)
    39. Rogers v International Sliver Co., 34 App. D.C. 410 (1915)
    40. Roth v Eisinger Mill & Lumber Co., 70 F.2d 294 (1934)
    41. Sandford v Sandford, 286 F. 777 (1923)
    42. Shalom Baranes Associates, P.C. v 900 F Street Corp., 940 F.Supp. 1 (1996)
    43. Sloane v. Malcolm Price, Inc., App. D.C., 339 A.2d 43 (1975) Stevens v. Gordon, 48 App. D.C. 604 (D.C. Cir. 1919)
    44. Spencer v Old Stein Grill, 194 F.Supp. 274 (1961)
    45. Tucker v Beazley, 57 A.2d 191 (1948)
    46. Turner v Henning, 262 F. 637 (D.C. Cir. 1920)
    47. Union Wesley Zion Church v Rider Enterprises, 369 A.2d 608 (1977)
    48. Von Der Heydt v Kennedy, 299 F2d 459 (1962)
    49. Waco Scaffold & Shoring Co. Inc. v 425 Eye Street Assoc., 355 A.2d 780 (1976)
    50. Washington Concrete Inc. v Morrissett, 377 F.2d 137 (1966)
    51. Wash. Met. Area Transit Auth. v Jones, 443 A 2d 45 (1982)
    52. Winter v. Hazen-Lamiter Co., 42 D.C. 469 (1914)
    53. Woodward & Lothrop v. Union Trust Co., 262 F. 627, 49 App. D.C. 173 (1920)

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    • Footnotes