House Study Bill 760



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON
                                            JUDICIARY BILL BY
                                            CHAIRPERSON PAULSEN)


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to an award of attorney fees in an action to
  2    enforce a mechanic's lien.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 6553HC 81
  5 kk/je/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 572.32, subsection 1, Code 2005, is
  1  2 amended to read as follows:
  1  3    1.  In a court action to enforce a mechanic's lien, if the
  1  4 plaintiff furnished labor or materials directly to the
  1  5 defendant, a prevailing plaintiff may be awarded reasonable
  1  6 attorney fees.
  1  7                           EXPLANATION
  1  8    This bill relates to an award of attorney fees in an action
  1  9 filed to enforce a mechanic's lien.  Under current law, a
  1 10 plaintiff may be awarded reasonable attorney fees if the
  1 11 plaintiff furnished either labor or materials directly to the
  1 12 defendant.  The bill removes the requirement that the
  1 13 plaintiff must furnish labor or materials directly to the
  1 14 defendant in order for attorney fees to be awarded in an
  1 15 action to enforce a mechanic's lien.
  1 16 LSB 6553HC 81
  1 17 kk:nh/je/5