(1) Unless otherwise provided by the Construction Contractors Board by rule, before filing a complaint under ORS 701.139, a person must send notice to the contractor that the person intends to file the complaint. The person must send the notice at least 30 days before filing the complaint. The notice must be mailed by certified mail to the last known address of the contractor as shown in board records. The board by rule may:
(a) Specify the manner in which the person may show compliance with this subsection at the time of filing the complaint.
(b) Provide that all or part of the requirements for sending a notice under this subsection may be waived if the contractor, by other means, has actual notice of the dispute with the person filing the complaint.
(2) If the notice described in subsection (1) of this section is mailed to the contractor fewer than 45 days before expiration of the time limitation under ORS 701.143 for the board to receive the complaint, the time limitation for the board to receive the complaint does not expire until 60 days after the notice is mailed.
(3) The board by rule may impose a processing fee for complaints filed under ORS 701.139. The fee amount may not exceed the amount of the filing fee provided by ORS 21.110 (1) for a plaintiff filing a civil action in circuit court. The board may impose different processing fees for complaints processed under ORS 701.145 than for complaints processed under ORS 701.146.
(4) If the board adopts rules under subsection (3) of this section, the rules:
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, must provide that a prevailing complainant recover processing fees as damages in the final order of the board.
(b) Must provide that the board may waive or defer all or part of the processing fee upon application by the person filing the complaint that shows the person is unable to pay all or part of the fee. The application must be made under oath and notarized. The application must show the average monthly income and expenses of the complainant, assets and liabilities of the complainant and any other information required by board rule.
(c) May provide for the processing fee to be waived for all complaints that are based on the furnishing of labor by a complainant to a contractor. The board may provide for processing fee waiver under this paragraph only if, in the opinion of the board, a majority of complainants who file complaints based on the furnishing of labor to contractors are eligible for fee waivers as described in paragraph (b) of this subsection. [Formerly 701.147]
Section: Previous 701.122 701.124 701.125 701.126 701.128 701.130 701.131 701.133 701.135 701.137 701.138 701.139 701.140 701.143 701.145 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008