Weitz Co. v. Heth

OPINION

BROWN, Judge.

¶ 1 The question we address is whether Arizona’s statutory provision governing the priority of mechanics’ liens (Arizona Revised Statutes (“AR.S.”) section 33-992(A)) permits a court to shift lien priorities by applying the doctrine of equitable subrogation. Because § 33-992(A) expressly provides that mechanics’ liens have priority over all subsequent encumbrances (subject to a narrow exception not applicable here), we hold that allowing a subsequent lienholder to equitably subrogate its loan to a position ahead of a mechanic’s lien would contravene the plain statutory…