(a) The lien created by Section 3061.5 shall continue in force for a period of 45 days from the time the person claiming such lien shall have ceased to do or perform the work for which such lien is claimed, and such lien shall cease at the expiration of the 45 days unless the claimant, his or her assignee or successor in interest, files a claim with the Labor Commissioner or brings suit to foreclose the lien in which case the lien continues in force until the claim filed with the Labor Commissioner or the lien foreclosure suit is finally determined and closed. If a claim is filed with the Labor Commissioner, the Labor Commissioner shall act upon and finally determine such claim within 180 days after filing. In case such proceedings are not prosecuted to trial within two years after the commencement thereof, the court may in its discretion dismiss the same for want of prosecution.
(b) Upon filing a claim with the Labor Commissioner, the Labor Commissioner, if the owner who is the grower or producer has failed to satisfy the conditions of subdivision (d) of Section 3061.5, shall determine whether or not such owner of the severed crops, severed farm products, or their proceeds is capable financially of satisfying such claim. For purposes of this determination, it shall be proper for the Labor Commissioner after investigation to take into account the potential liability faced by such owner of such severed crops, severed farm products, or their proceeds. If the Labor Commissioner determines that a lien is necessary to protect the interest of claimants, the Labor Commissioner shall file such lien on the crop, the severed farm product, or their proceeds and notify, in writing, the owner and notify, in writing, all persons who have filed financing statements on the crop, the farm product, or their proceeds pursuant to the provisions of the Commercial Code.
(c) The plaintiff in any such lien foreclosure suit, at the time of issuing the summons or at any time afterwards, may have the severed crops or severed farm products or proceeds from their sale upon which such lien subsists attached, as provided in this code and Title 6.5 (commencing with Section 488.010) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, upon delivering to the clerk an affidavit, by or on behalf of the plaintiff, showing that: (1) the plaintiff, or his assignor or predecessor in interest, performed labor in harvesting or transporting the severed crops or severed farm products or both; (2) that such labor has not been paid for; (3) that the sum for which the attachment is asked does not exceed the lesser of the reasonable value of the services rendered or if earnings, does not exceed the lesser of two weeks unpaid earnings or reasonable value of actual services rendered, or 25 percent of the fair market value of the severed crop or severed farm product; and (4) that the attachment is not sought and the action is not brought to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor or creditors of any defendant.
(d) Any number of persons claiming liens under this section and Section 3061.5 may join in the same action and when separate actions are commenced, the court may consolidate them. If after sale of the property subject to the liens provided for in this section and Section 3061.5, under the judgment or decree of foreclosure of such lien or liens, there is a deficiency of proceeds, the proceeds shall be divided pro rata among the lien claimants whose liens are established, regardless of the order in which the liens were created or the order in which the suits to foreclose same were commenced. Judgment for the deficiency may be docketed against the party personally liable therefor and his sureties.
(e) Nothing contained in this section or Section 3061.5 shall be construed to impair or affect the right of any person to whom any debt may be due for work done, to maintain a personal action to recover such debt against the person liable therefor, or his sureties, either in connection with the lien suit or in a separate action. The person bringing such personal action may take out a separate attachment therefor, notwithstanding his or her lien, and in his or her affidavit to procure an attachment need not state that his or her demand is not secured by a lien, and the judgment, if any, obtained by the plaintiff in such personal action shall not be construed to impair or merge any lien held by the plaintiff under this section or Section 3061.5; provided that any money collected on the judgment shall be credited on the amount of such lien in any action brought to enforce the same, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(f) If the lien has attached to perishable goods, the lienholder may, during the period for which the lien is in effect and prior to the filing of a foreclosure suit, obtain a court order for the sale of such perishable goods pursuant to the provisions of Section 488.530 of the Code of Civil Procedure; provided, however, that in the event that such perishable crop is subject in whole or in part to a valid marketing agreement which is in force between the owner who is the grower or producer and an agricultural marketing cooperative organized under the Food and Agricultural Code or similar laws of other states, the agricultural marketing cooperative may purchase or otherwise take possession or custody of such crop or portion thereof according to the terms of the marketing agreement. Any moneys due and payable to such owner who is the grower or producer in return for such crop shall be paid by the agricultural marketing cooperative to the court.
(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1059.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018