Carson v. Roediger

HARRIS, Justice.

In 1981 the legislature extensively amended Iowa statutes on mechanic’s liens in order to ensure, according to the bill’s preamble, “that the lien of a subcontractor is not enforceable ... except to the extent of the amount owed to the principal contractor at the time” of notice of the lien. 1981 Iowa Acts ch. 186. This dispute is within the familiar pattern in which the principal contractor fails in his obligations and the courts must decide who, as between the homeowner and a subcontractor, must suffer the loss. The trial court, under the special facts and in light of the…