H.B. 486

This document includes Senate 2nd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 11:29 PM by rday. --> PLEASE NOTE:
THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES BOTH THE BILL AND ALSO A TRANSMITTAL LETTER THAT CONTAINS PASSED AMENDMENTS BUT NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE BILL.

March 5, 2008 (11:27pm)


Mr. Speaker:

The Senate passed, upon reconsideration, H.B. 486, WRONGFUL LIENS AND WRONGFUL JUDGEMENT LIENS, by Representative J. Gowans, with the following amendments:
1. Page 3, Lines 60 through 64
House Committee Amendments
2-26-2008

60 (1) (a) The provisions of Sections 38-9-1, 38-9-3, 38-9-4, and 38-9-6 apply to any
61 recording or filing or any rejected recording or filing of a lien or notice of interest pursuant to
62 this chapter on or after May 5, H. [ 1997 ] 2008 .H .
63 (b) The provisions of Sections 38-9-1 and 38-9-7 apply to all liens of record regardless
64 of the date the lien or notice of interest was recorded or filed.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsections (1)(a) and (b), the provisions of this chapter applicable to the filing of a notice of interest do not apply to a notice of interest filed before May 5, 2008.

and it is transmitted to the House for further consideration.

Respectfully,



Annette B. Moore
Secretary of the Senate


17 hb0486.wpd 11:27 pm CRP/rday

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 10:32 AM by ddonat. --> 1 WRONGFUL LIENS AND WRONGFUL
2 JUDGEMENT LIENS
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: James R. Gowans
6 Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill addresses the filing of, and an action against, a wrongful lien.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . includes a notice of interest and other encumbrances within the definition of
14 "wrongful lien";
15 . addresses the impact of various wrongful lien provisions on a notice of interest and
16 other encumbrance;
17 . increases the statutory amount that may be recovered by a person against whom a
18 wrongful lien is recorded; and
19 . makes technical changes.
20 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
21 None
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 None
24 Utah Code Sections Affected:
25 AMENDS:
26 38-9-1, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 125
27 38-9-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 93

28 38-9-4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 297
29 38-9a-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 93
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 38-9-1 is amended to read:
33 38-9-1. Definitions.
34 As used in this chapter:
35 (1) "Interest holder" means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful property
36 interest in certain real property, including an owner, title holder, mortgagee, trustee, or
37 beneficial owner.
38 (2) "Lien claimant" means a person claiming an interest in real property who offers a
39 document for recording or filing with any county recorder in the state asserting a lien, or notice
40 of interest, or other claim of interest in certain real property.
41 (3) "Owner" means a person who has a vested ownership interest in certain real
42 property.
43 (4) "Record interest holder" means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful
44 property interest in certain real property, including an owner, titleholder, mortgagee, trustee, or
45 beneficial owner, and whose name and interest in that real property appears in the county
46 recorder's records for the county in which the property is located.
47 (5) "Record owner" means an owner whose name and ownership interest in certain real
48 property is recorded or filed in the county recorder's records for the county in which the
49 property is located.
50 (6) "Wrongful lien" means any document that purports to create a lien, notice of
51 interest, or encumbrance on an owner's interest in certain real property and at the time it is
52 recorded or filed is not:
53 (a) expressly authorized by this chapter or another state or federal statute;
54 (b) authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court of competent
55 jurisdiction in the state; or
56 (c) signed by or authorized pursuant to a document signed by the owner of the real
57 property.
58 Section 2. Section 38-9-2 is amended to read:

59 38-9-2. Scope.
60 (1) (a) The provisions of Sections 38-9-1 , 38-9-3 , 38-9-4 , and 38-9-6 apply to any
61 recording or filing or any rejected recording or filing of a lien or notice of interest pursuant to
62 this chapter on or after May 5, H. [ 1997 ] 2008 .H .
63 (b) The provisions of Sections 38-9-1 and 38-9-7 apply to all liens of record regardless
64 of the date the lien or notice of interest was recorded or filed.
65 (2) The provisions of this chapter shall not prevent a person from filing a lis pendens in
66 accordance with Section [ 78-40-2 ] 78B-6-1303 or seeking any other relief permitted by law.
67 (3) This chapter does not apply to a person entitled to a lien under Section 38-1-3 who
68 files a lien pursuant to Title 38, Chapter 1, Mechanics' Liens.
69 Section 3. Section 38-9-4 is amended to read:
70 38-9-4. Civil liability for filing wrongful lien -- Damages.
71 (1) A lien claimant who records or files or causes a wrongful lien as defined in Section
72 38-9-1 to be recorded or filed in the office of the county recorder against real property is liable
73 to a record interest holder for any actual damages proximately caused by the wrongful lien.
74 (2) If the person in violation of [this] Subsection (1) refuses to release or correct the
75 wrongful lien within ten days from the date of written request from a record interest holder of
76 the real property delivered personally or mailed to the last-known address of the lien claimant,
77 the person is liable to that record interest holder for [$1,000] $3,000 or for treble actual
78 damages, whichever is greater, and for reasonable attorney fees and costs.
79 (3) A person is liable to the record owner of real property for [$3,000] $10,000 or for
80 treble actual damages, whichever is greater, and for reasonable attorney fees and costs, who
81 records or files or causes to be recorded or filed a wrongful lien as defined in Section 38-9-1 in
82 the office of the county recorder against the real property, knowing or having reason to know
83 that the document:
84 (a) is a wrongful lien;
85 (b) is groundless; or
86 (c) contains a material misstatement or false claim.
87 Section 4. Section 38-9a-201 is amended to read:
88 38-9a-201. Wrongful lien injunction -- Forms.
89 (1) (a) Any person who believes that he or she is the victim of a wrongful lien may file

90 a verified written petition for a civil wrongful lien injunction against the person filing, making,
91 or uttering the lien, notice of interest, or other encumbrance in the district court in the district in
92 which the petitioner or respondent resides or in which any of the events occurred.
93 (b) A minor accompanied by his or her parent or guardian may file a petition on his or
94 her own behalf, or a parent, guardian, or custodian may file a petition on the minor's behalf.
95 (2) (a) (i) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall develop and adopt forms for
96 petitions, ex parte civil wrongful lien injunctions, civil wrongful lien injunctions, service, and
97 any other necessary forms in accordance with the provisions of this chapter on or before May 2,
98 2005.
99 (ii) The office shall provide the forms adopted under Subsection (2)(a)(i) to the clerk of
100 each district court.
101 (b) The court clerks shall provide the forms to persons seeking to proceed under this
102 chapter.
103 (c) The district courts shall issue all petitions, injunctions, ex parte injunctions, and any
104 other necessary forms in the form prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts.




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