A05501 Summary:

BILL NOA05501D
 
SAME ASSAME AS S02232-F
 
SPONSORRosenthal
 
COSPNSRMosley, Gottfried, Otis, Moya, Russell, Weprin, Hooper, Ortiz, Perry, Davila, Dinowitz, Simon, Miller, Lifton, Lavine, Barron, Seawright, Richardson, Benedetto, Steck, Bronson, Mayer, Crespo, Hunter
 
MLTSPNSRBrennan, Cook, Hevesi, Kim, Lentol, Rivera, Skartados
 
Amd Lien L, generally; amd §§199-a & 663, Lab L; amd §§6201, 6210, 6211, 6223 & R6212, CPLR; amd §§624 & 630, BC L; amd §§609 & 1102, Lim Lil L
 
Relates to securing payment of wages for work already performed; creates a lien remedy for all employees; provides grounds for attachment; relates to procedures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; relates to rights for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft.
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A05501 Actions:

BILL NOA05501D
 
02/24/2015referred to judiciary
05/27/2015amend and recommit to judiciary
05/27/2015print number 5501a
06/02/2015reported referred to codes
06/08/2015reported referred to rules
06/16/2015reported
06/16/2015rules report cal.496
06/16/2015ordered to third reading rules cal.496
01/06/2016referred to judiciary
02/02/2016amend and recommit to judiciary
02/02/2016print number 5501b
03/16/2016amend and recommit to judiciary
03/16/2016print number 5501c
03/22/2016reported referred to codes
03/29/2016reported
04/01/2016advanced to third reading cal.476
05/24/2016passed assembly
05/24/2016delivered to senate
05/24/2016REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
06/14/2016recalled from senate
06/14/2016RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
06/14/2016vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
06/14/2016amended on third reading 5501d
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A05501 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         5501--D
                                                                Cal. No. 476
 
                               2015-2016 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 24, 2015
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL,  MOSLEY,  GOTTFRIED,  OTIS, MOYA,
          RUSSELL, WEPRIN, HOOPER, ORTIZ, PERRY, DAVILA, DINOWITZ, SIMON,  MILL-
          ER,  LIFTON,  LAVINE, BARRON, SEAWRIGHT, RICHARDSON, BENEDETTO, STECK,
          BRONSON, MAYER, CRESPO, HUNTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BREN-
          NAN, COOK, HEVESI, KIM, LENTOL, RIVERA, SKARTADOS  --  read  once  and
          referred  to  the Committee on Judiciary -- committee discharged, bill
          amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
          tee  --  recommitted  to the Committee on Judiciary in accordance with
          Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
          reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said  committee  --  again
          reported  from  said  committee  with amendments, ordered reprinted as
          amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred  to
          the  Committee  on  Codes  --  passed by Assembly and delivered to the
          Senate, recalled from the Senate,  vote  reconsidered,  bill  amended,
          ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
 
        AN  ACT  to  amend the lien law, in relation to employee liens; to amend
          the labor law, in relation to employee complaints; to amend the  civil
          practice  law  and  rules,  in  relation to grounds for attachment; to
          amend the business corporation law, in relation to streamlining proce-
          dures where employees may hold  shareholders  of  non-publicly  traded
          corporations personally liable for wage theft; and to amend the limit-
          ed  liability company law, in relation to creating a right for victims
          of wage theft to hold the  ten  members  with  the  largest  ownership
          interests in a company personally liable for wage theft
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Section 2 of the lien law is amended by  adding  three  new
     2  subdivisions 21, 22 and 23 to read as follows:
     3    21.  Employee.  The  term "employee", when used in this chapter, shall
     4  have the same meaning as "employee" pursuant to articles one, six, nine-
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09323-06-6

        A. 5501--D                          2
 
     1  teen and nineteen-A of the labor law, as applicable, or the  Fair  Labor
     2  Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et. seq., as applicable.
     3    22.  Employer.  The  term "employer", when used in this chapter, shall
     4  have the same meaning as "employer" pursuant to articles one, six, nine-
     5  teen and nineteen-A of the labor law, as applicable, or the  Fair  Labor
     6  Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et. seq., as applicable.
     7    23.  Wage  claim.  The  term  "wage claim", when used in this chapter,
     8  means a claim that an employee has suffered a violation of sections  one
     9  hundred  seventy,  one hundred ninety-one, one hundred ninety-three, one
    10  hundred ninety-six-d, six hundred fifty-two or six hundred seventy-three
    11  of the labor law or the related regulations and wage orders  promulgated
    12  by the commissioner, a claim for wages due to an employee pursuant to an
    13  employment contract that were unpaid in violation of that contract, or a
    14  claim  that  an  employee has suffered a violation of 29 U.S.C. § 206 or
    15  207.
    16    § 2. Section 3 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 137 of the  laws
    17  of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
    18    §  3.  Mechanic's  lien  and  employee's  lien  on [real] property. 1.
    19  Mechanic's lien.  A  contractor,  subcontractor,  laborer,  materialman,
    20  landscape gardener, nurseryman or person or corporation selling fruit or
    21  ornamental trees, roses, shrubbery, vines and small fruits, who performs
    22  labor  or  furnishes materials for the improvement of real property with
    23  the consent or at the request of the owner thereof,  or  of  his  agent,
    24  contractor  or  subcontractor,  and any trust fund to which benefits and
    25  wage supplements are due or payable for the benefit  of  such  laborers,
    26  shall  have  a lien for the principal and interest, of the value, or the
    27  agreed price, of such labor, including benefits and wage supplements due
    28  or payable for the benefit of any laborer, or materials  upon  the  real
    29  property  improved or to be improved and upon such improvement, from the
    30  time of filing a notice of such lien  as  prescribed  in  this  chapter.
    31  Where the contract for an improvement is made with a husband or wife and
    32  the property belongs to the other or both, the husband or wife contract-
    33  ing  shall  also  be  presumed to be the agent of the other, unless such
    34  other having knowledge of the improvement shall, within ten  days  after
    35  learning  of  the  contract give the contractor written notice of his or
    36  her refusal to consent to the improvement. Within  the  meaning  of  the
    37  provisions  of this chapter, materials actually manufactured for but not
    38  delivered to the real property, shall also be  deemed  to  be  materials
    39  furnished.
    40    2.  Employee's  lien. An employee who has a wage claim as that term is
    41  defined in subdivision twenty-three of section two of this chapter shall
    42  have a lien on his or her employer's interest in property for the  value
    43  of  the  wage  claim arising out of the employment, including liquidated
    44  damages pursuant to subdivision one-a of  section  one  hundred  ninety-
    45  eight, section six hundred sixty-three or section six hundred eighty-one
    46  of  the  labor  law,  or  29 U.S.C. § 216 (b), from the time of filing a
    47  notice of such lien as prescribed in this chapter.  An  employee's  lien
    48  based on a wage claim may be had against the employer's interest in real
    49  property  and  against the employer's interest in personal property that
    50  can be sufficiently described within the meaning of section 9-108 of the
    51  uniform commercial code, except that an employee's lien shall not extend
    52  to deposit accounts or goods as those terms are defined in section 9-102
    53  of the uniform commercial code.  The department of labor and the  attor-
    54  ney  general  may obtain an employee's lien for the value of wage claims
    55  of the employees who are the  subject  of  their  investigations,  court
    56  actions or administrative agency actions.

        A. 5501--D                          3
 
     1    3.  As  used  in  this  article and unless otherwise specified, a lien
     2  shall mean an employee's lien or a mechanic's lien.
     3    §  3. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 4 of the lien law, subdivision 1
     4  as amended by chapter 515 of the laws of 1929 and subdivision 2 as added
     5  by chapter 704 of the laws of 1985, are amended to read as follows:
     6    (1) [Such] A mechanic's or employee's lien and employee's lien against
     7  real property shall extend to the owner's right, title  or  interest  in
     8  the  real  property and improvements, existing at the time of filing the
     9  notice of lien, or thereafter acquired, except as  hereinafter  in  this
    10  article provided. If an owner assigns his interest in such real property
    11  by a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, within thirty days
    12  prior  to  such  filing,  the  lien  shall  extend  to the interest thus
    13  assigned. If any part of the real property subjected  to  such  lien  be
    14  removed  by  the  owner  or  by any other person, at any time before the
    15  discharge thereof, such removal shall  not  affect  the  rights  of  the
    16  lienor, either in respect to the remaining real property, or the part so
    17  removed.  If  labor  is  performed  for,  or  materials  furnished to, a
    18  contractor or subcontractor for  an  improvement,  the  mechanic's  lien
    19  shall  not  be  for  a sum greater than the sum earned and unpaid on the
    20  contract at the time of filing the notice of lien, and  any  sum  subse-
    21  quently  earned  thereon. In no case shall the owner be liable to pay by
    22  reason of all mechanic's liens created pursuant to this  article  a  sum
    23  greater  than  the  value  or  agreed  price  of the labor and materials
    24  remaining unpaid, at the time of filing notices of such liens, except as
    25  hereinafter provided.
    26    (2) [Such] A mechanic's or employee's lien shall  not  extend  to  the
    27  owner's  right,  title  or  interest  in real property and improvements,
    28  existing at the time of filing the notice of lien if  such  lien  arises
    29  from the failure of a lessee of the right to explore, develop or produce
    30  natural  gas or oil, to pay for, compensate or render value for improve-
    31  ments made with the consent or at  the  request  of  such  lessee  by  a
    32  contractor,  subcontractor,  materialman,  equipment  operator or owner,
    33  landscaper, nurseryman, or person or corporation who performs  labor  or
    34  furnishes  materials  for the exploration, development, or production of
    35  oil or natural gas or otherwise  improves  such  leased  property.  Such
    36  mechanic's  or employee's lien shall extend to the improvements made for
    37  the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas,  and
    38  the  working  interest held by a lessee of the right to explore, develop
    39  or produce oil and natural gas.
    40    § 4. The opening paragraph of section 4-a of the lien law, as  amended
    41  by chapter 696 of the laws of 1959, is amended to read as follows:
    42    The  proceeds  of  any  insurance which by the terms of the policy are
    43  payable to the owner of real property improved, and actually received or
    44  to be received by him because of the destruction or removal by  fire  or
    45  other  casualty  of an improvement on which lienors have performed labor
    46  or services or for which they have furnished materials, or upon which an
    47  employee has established an employee's lien, shall after the  owner  has
    48  been  reimbursed  therefrom  for  premiums paid by him, if any, for such
    49  insurance, be subject to liens provided by this act to the  same  extent
    50  and  in  the same order of priority as the real property would have been
    51  had such improvement not been so destroyed or removed.
    52    § 5. Subdivisions 1, 2 and 5 of section 9 of the lien law, as  amended
    53  by chapter 515 of the laws of 1929, are amended to read as follows:
    54    1.  The  name of the lienor, and either the residence of the lienor or
    55  the name and business address of the lienor's attorney, if any;  and  if
    56  the  lienor  is  a partnership or a corporation, the business address of

        A. 5501--D                          4
 
     1  such firm, or corporation, the names of partners and principal place  of
     2  business,  and if a foreign corporation, its principal place of business
     3  within the state.
     4    2. The name of the owner of the [real] property against whose interest
     5  therein a lien is claimed, and the interest of the owner as far as known
     6  to the lienor.
     7    5. The amount unpaid to the lienor for such labor or materials, or the
     8  amount  of the wage claim if a wage claim is the basis for establishment
     9  of the lien, the items of the wage claim and  the  value  thereof  which
    10  make up the amount for which the lienor claims a lien.
    11    §  6. Subdivision 1 of section 10 of the lien law, as amended by chap-
    12  ter 367 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
    13    1. (a) Notice of mechanic's lien may be filed at any time  during  the
    14  progress  of  the  work  and the furnishing of the materials, or, within
    15  eight months after the completion of the contract, or the final perform-
    16  ance of the work, or the final furnishing of the materials, dating  from
    17  the last item of work performed or materials furnished; provided, howev-
    18  er,  that  where the improvement is related to real property improved or
    19  to be improved with a single family dwelling, the notice  of  mechanic's
    20  lien  may  be  filed at any time during the progress of the work and the
    21  furnishing of the materials, or, within four months after the completion
    22  of the contract, or the final performance of  the  work,  or  the  final
    23  furnishing of the materials, dating from the last item of work performed
    24  or materials furnished; and provided further where the notice of mechan-
    25  ic's  lien  is for retainage, the notice of mechanic's lien may be filed
    26  within ninety days after the date the retainage was due to be  released;
    27  except  that  in  the case of a mechanic's lien by a real estate broker,
    28  the notice of mechanic's lien may be filed only after the performance of
    29  the brokerage services and execution of lease by both lessor and  lessee
    30  and  only  if  a  copy of the alleged written agreement of employment or
    31  compensation is annexed to the notice of lien, provided that  where  the
    32  payment  pursuant to the written agreement of employment or compensation
    33  is to be made in installments, then a notice of lien may be filed within
    34  eight months after the final payment is due, but in no event later  than
    35  a date five years after the first payment was made. For purposes of this
    36  section,  the term "single family dwelling" shall not include a dwelling
    37  unit which is a part of a subdivision that has been filed with a munici-
    38  pality in which the subdivision is located when at the time the lien  is
    39  filed,  such  property  in the subdivision is owned by the developer for
    40  purposes other  than  his  personal  residence.  For  purposes  of  this
    41  section,  "developer"  shall  mean  and  include any private individual,
    42  partnership, trust or corporation which improves two or more parcels  of
    43  real  property  with single family dwellings pursuant to a common scheme
    44  or plan. [The]
    45    (b) Notice of employee's lien may be filed at any time not later  than
    46  three  years following the end of the employment giving rise to the wage
    47  claim.
    48    (c) A notice of lien, other than for a lien on personal property, must
    49  be filed in the clerk's office of the county where the property is situ-
    50  ated. If such property is situated in two or more counties,  the  notice
    51  of  lien shall be filed in the office of the clerk of each of such coun-
    52  ties. The county clerk of each county shall provide and keep a  book  to
    53  be  called  the  "lien docket," which shall be suitably ruled in columns
    54  headed "owners," "lienors," "lienor's attorney,"  "property,"  "amount,"
    55  "time of filing," "proceedings had," in each of which he shall enter the
    56  particulars  of  the  notice, properly belonging therein. The date, hour

        A. 5501--D                          5
 
     1  and minute of the filing of each notice of lien shall be entered in  the
     2  proper  column.  Except  where the county clerk maintains a block index,
     3  the names of the owners shall be arranged in such book  in  alphabetical
     4  order.  The  validity of the lien and the right to file a notice thereof
     5  shall not be affected by the death of the owner  before  notice  of  the
     6  lien is filed.  A notice of employee's lien on personal property must be
     7  filed,  together with a financing statement, in the filing office as set
     8  forth in section 9-501 of the uniform commercial code.
     9    § 7. Section 11 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 147 of the laws
    10  of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
    11    § 11. Service of copy of notice of lien.  1. Within five  days  before
    12  or  thirty days after filing the notice of a mechanic's lien, the lienor
    13  shall serve a copy of such notice upon the owner, if a  natural  person,
    14  (a)  by delivering the same to him personally, or if the owner cannot be
    15  found, to his agent or attorney, or (b) by leaving it at his last  known
    16  place  of  residence  in  the city or town in which the real property or
    17  some part thereof is  situated,  with  a  person  of  suitable  age  and
    18  discretion, or (c) by registered or certified mail addressed to his last
    19  known  place of residence, or (d) if such owner has no such residence in
    20  such city or town, or cannot be found, and he has no agent or  attorney,
    21  by  affixing  a copy thereof conspicuously on such property, between the
    22  hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and four o'clock in the afternoon;
    23  if the owner be a corporation, said service shall be made (i) by  deliv-
    24  ering  such copy to and leaving the same with the president, vice-presi-
    25  dent, secretary or clerk to the corporation, the cashier, treasurer or a
    26  director or managing agent thereof, personally,  within  the  state,  or
    27  (ii) if such officer cannot be found within the state by affixing a copy
    28  thereof conspicuously on such property between the hours of nine o'clock
    29  in  the  forenoon  and four o'clock in the afternoon, or (iii) by regis-
    30  tered or certified mail addressed to its last known place  of  business.
    31  Failure  to  file  proof  of such a service with the county clerk within
    32  thirty-five days after the notice of lien is filed shall  terminate  the
    33  notice  as  a  lien. Until service of the notice has been made, as above
    34  provided, an owner, without knowledge of the lien, shall be protected in
    35  any payment made in good faith to any contractor or other person  claim-
    36  ing a lien.
    37    2.  Within  five days before or thirty days after filing the notice of
    38  an employee's lien, the lienor shall serve a copy of  such  notice  upon
    39  the  employer,  if  a  natural person, (a) by delivering the same to him
    40  personally, or if the employer cannot be found, to his agent  or  attor-
    41  ney,  or (b) by leaving it as his last known place of residence or busi-
    42  ness, with a person of suitable age and discretion, or (c) by registered
    43  or certified mail addressed to his last  known  place  of  residence  or
    44  business, or (d) if such employer owns real property, by affixing a copy
    45  thereof  conspicuously  on  such  property,  between  the  hours of nine
    46  o'clock in the forenoon and four o'clock in the  afternoon.  The  lienor
    47  also  shall,  within  thirty  days after filing the notice of employee's
    48  lien, affix a copy thereof conspicuously on the real property identified
    49  in the notice of employee's lien, between the hours of nine  o'clock  in
    50  the  forenoon  and  four  o'clock in the afternoon. If the employer be a
    51  corporation, said service shall be made (i) by delivering such  copy  to
    52  and  leaving  the  same with the president, vice-president, secretary or
    53  clerk to the corporation, the cashier, treasurer or a director or manag-
    54  ing agent thereof, personally, within the state, or (ii) if such officer
    55  cannot be found within the state by affixing a copy thereof conspicuous-
    56  ly on such property between the hours of nine o'clock  in  the  forenoon

        A. 5501--D                          6
 
     1  and  four  o'clock in the afternoon, or (iii) by registered or certified
     2  mail addressed to its last known place of business, or (iv) by  delivery
     3  to  the  secretary  of  the  department  of  state in the same manner as
     4  required  by  subparagraph one of paragraph (b) of section three hundred
     5  six of the business corporation law.  Failure to file proof  of  such  a
     6  service  with  the county clerk within thirty-five days after the notice
     7  of lien is filed shall terminate the notice as a lien. Until service  of
     8  the notice has been made, as above provided, an owner, without knowledge
     9  of the lien, shall be protected in any payment made in good faith to any
    10  other person claiming a lien.
    11    §  8.  Section  11-b of the lien law, as amended by chapter 147 of the
    12  laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
    13    § 11-b. Copy of notice of mechanic's lien to a contractor  or  subcon-
    14  tractor.    Within five days before or thirty days after filing a notice
    15  of mechanic's lien in accordance with section ten of this chapter or the
    16  filing of an amendment of notice of mechanic's lien in  accordance  with
    17  section twelve-a of this [chapter] article the lienor shall serve a copy
    18  of such notice or amendment by certified mail on the contractor, subcon-
    19  tractor, assignee or legal representative for whom he was employed or to
    20  whom  he furnished materials or if the lienor is a contractor or subcon-
    21  tractor to the person, firm or corporation with whom  the  contract  was
    22  made.  A  lienor having a direct contractual relationship with a subcon-
    23  tractor or a sub-subcontractor but not  with  a  contractor  shall  also
    24  serve  a  copy  of  such  notice  or  amendment by certified mail to the
    25  contractor. Failure to file proof of such  a  service  with  the  county
    26  clerk  within  thirty-five  days after the notice of lien is filed shall
    27  terminate the notice as a lien. Any lienor, or a person acting on behalf
    28  of a lienor, who fails to serve a copy of the notice of mechanic's  lien
    29  as  required  by  this section shall be liable for reasonable attorney's
    30  fees, costs and expenses,  as  determined  by  the  court,  incurred  in
    31  obtaining such copy.
    32    §  9.  Subdivision  1  of  section 12-a of the lien law, as amended by
    33  chapter 1048 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
    34    1. Within sixty days after the original filing, a lienor may amend his
    35  lien upon twenty days notice to existing  lienors,  mortgagees  and  the
    36  owner,  provided  that  no action or proceeding to enforce or cancel the
    37  mechanics' lien or employee's lien has  been  brought  in  the  interim,
    38  where  the purpose of the amendment is to reduce the amount of the lien,
    39  except the question of wilful exaggeration shall survive such amendment.
    40    § 10. Subdivision 1 of section 13 of the lien law, as amended by chap-
    41  ter 878 of the laws of 1947, is amended to read as follows:
    42    (1) [A] An employee's lien, or a lien for materials furnished or labor
    43  performed in the improvement of real property, shall have priority  over
    44  a  conveyance,  mortgage,  judgment or other claim against such property
    45  not recorded, docketed or filed at the time of the filing of the  notice
    46  of  such  lien,  except  as  hereinafter  in this chapter provided; over
    47  advances made upon any mortgage or other encumbrance thereon after  such
    48  filing,  except  as  hereinafter  in this article provided; and over the
    49  claim of a creditor who has not furnished materials or  performed  labor
    50  upon such property, if such property has been assigned by the owner by a
    51  general  assignment  for  the  benefit  of creditors, within thirty days
    52  before the filing of either of such notices; and also over an attachment
    53  hereafter issued or a money judgment hereafter recovered upon  a  claim,
    54  which,  in  whole  or  in  part,  was not for materials furnished, labor
    55  performed or moneys advanced for the improvement of such real  property;
    56  and  over  any claim or lien acquired in any proceedings upon such judg-

        A. 5501--D                          7
 
     1  ment. Such liens shall also have priority  over  advances  made  upon  a
     2  contract  by an owner for an improvement of real property which contains
     3  an option to the contractor, his successor or assigns  to  purchase  the
     4  property, if such advances were made after the time when the labor began
     5  or  the first item of material was furnished, as stated in the notice of
     6  lien. If several buildings are demolished, erected, altered or repaired,
     7  or several pieces or parcels of real property are  improved,  under  one
     8  contract,  and  there  are  conflicting liens thereon, each lienor shall
     9  have priority upon the particular part of the real property or upon  the
    10  particular  building  or  premises  where  his labor is performed or his
    11  materials are used. Persons shall have no priority  on  account  of  the
    12  time of filing their respective notices of liens, but all liens shall be
    13  on  a  parity except as hereinafter in section fifty-six of this chapter
    14  provided; and except that in all cases  laborers  for  daily  or  weekly
    15  wages  with  a  mechanic's  lien, and employees with an employee's lien,
    16  shall have preference over all other claimants under this article.
    17    § 11. Section 17 of the lien law, as amended by  chapter  324  of  the
    18  laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
    19    §  17.  Duration  of lien. 1. (a) No mechanic's lien specified in this
    20  article shall be a lien for a longer period  than  one  year  after  the
    21  notice  of  lien  has  been  filed, unless within that time an action is
    22  commenced to foreclose the lien, and a notice of the  pendency  of  such
    23  action,  whether  in  a  court of record or in a court not of record, is
    24  filed with the county clerk of the county in which the notice of lien is
    25  filed, containing the names of the parties to the action, the object  of
    26  the  action,  a brief description of the real property affected thereby,
    27  and the time of filing the notice of lien; or  unless  an  extension  to
    28  such lien, except for a lien on real property improved or to be improved
    29  with  a  single  family  dwelling, is filed with the county clerk of the
    30  county in which the notice of lien is filed within  one  year  from  the
    31  filing  of  the  original  notice of lien, continuing such lien and such
    32  lien shall be redocketed as of the date of filing such  extension.  Such
    33  extension  shall  contain  the  names of the lienor and the owner of the
    34  real property against whose interest therein such  lien  is  claimed,  a
    35  brief description of the real property affected by such lien, the amount
    36  of  such  lien, and the date of filing the notice of lien. No lien shall
    37  be continued by such extension for more than one year  from  the  filing
    38  thereof.  In  the event an action is not commenced to foreclose the lien
    39  within such extended period, such lien shall be extinguished  unless  an
    40  order  be  granted  by  a court of record or a judge or justice thereof,
    41  continuing such lien, and such lien shall be redocketed as of  the  date
    42  of  granting such order and a statement made that such lien is continued
    43  by virtue of such order. A lien on  real  property  improved  or  to  be
    44  improved  with a single family dwelling may only be extended by an order
    45  of a court of record, or a judge or justice thereof. No  lien  shall  be
    46  continued by court order for more than one year from the granting there-
    47  of,  but  a  new  order  and entry may be made in each of two successive
    48  years. If a lienor is made a party defendant in  an  action  to  enforce
    49  another  lien, and the plaintiff or such defendant has filed a notice of
    50  the pendency of the action within the time prescribed in  this  section,
    51  the  lien  of  such defendant is thereby continued. Such action shall be
    52  deemed an action to enforce the lien of such defendant lienor. The fail-
    53  ure to file a notice of pendency of action shall not abate the action as
    54  to any person liable for the payment of the debt specified in the notice
    55  of lien, and the action may  be  prosecuted  to  judgment  against  such
    56  person.  The  provisions  of  this section in regard to continuing liens

        A. 5501--D                          8
 
     1  shall apply to liens discharged by deposit or by order on the filing  of
     2  an  undertaking.  Where  a  lien is discharged by deposit or by order, a
     3  notice of pendency of action shall not be filed.
     4    (b) A lien, the duration of which has been extended by the filing of a
     5  notice  of  the pendency of an action as above provided, shall neverthe-
     6  less terminate as a lien after such notice has been canceled as provided
     7  in section sixty-five hundred fourteen of the  civil  practice  law  and
     8  rules  or  has ceased to be effective as constructive notice as provided
     9  in section sixty-five hundred thirteen of the  civil  practice  law  and
    10  rules.
    11    2. (a) No employee's lien on real property shall be a lien for a long-
    12  er  period than one year after the notice of lien has been filed, unless
    13  an extension to such lien is filed with the county clerk of  the  county
    14  in  which the notice of lien is filed within one year from the filing of
    15  the original notice of lien, continuing such lien and such lien shall be
    16  redocketed as of the date of filing such extension. Such extension shall
    17  contain the names of the lienor and  the  owner  of  the  real  property
    18  against whose interest therein such lien is claimed, a brief description
    19  of  the property affected by such lien, the amount of such lien, and the
    20  date of filing the notice of lien.  No lien shall be continued  by  such
    21  extension  for  more than one year from the filing thereof. In the event
    22  an action is not commenced to obtain judgment on the wage  claim  or  to
    23  foreclose  the  lien  within  such  extended  period, such lien shall be
    24  extinguished unless an order be granted by a court of record or a  judge
    25  or justice thereof, continuing such lien, and such lien shall be redock-
    26  eted  as  of  the  date of granting such order and a statement made that
    27  such lien is continued by virtue of such order.
    28    (b) No employee's lien on personal property shall  be  a  lien  for  a
    29  longer  period  than  one  year  after  the financing statement has been
    30  recorded, unless an extension to such lien, is  filed  with  the  filing
    31  office in which the financing statement is required to be filed pursuant
    32  to section 9-501 of the uniform commercial code within one year from the
    33  filing  of  the original financing statement, continuing such lien. Such
    34  extension shall contain the names of the lienor and  the  owner  of  the
    35  property  against  whose  interest therein such lien is claimed, a brief
    36  description of the prior financing statement to  be  extended,  and  the
    37  date  of filing the prior financing statement.  No lien shall be contin-
    38  ued by such extension for more than one year from the filing thereof. In
    39  the event an action is not commenced to  obtain  judgment  on  the  wage
    40  claim  or  to  foreclose the lien within such extended period, such lien
    41  shall be extinguished unless an order be granted by a court of record or
    42  a judge or justice thereof, continuing such lien, and such lien shall be
    43  refiled as of the date of granting such order and a statement made  that
    44  such lien is continued by virtue of such order.
    45    (c)  If  a  lienor  is  made a party defendant in an action to enforce
    46  another lien, and the plaintiff or such defendant has filed a notice  of
    47  the  pendency  of the action within the time prescribed in this section,
    48  the lien of such defendant is thereby continued. Such  action  shall  be
    49  deemed an action to enforce the lien of such defendant lienor. The fail-
    50  ure to file a notice of pendency of action shall not abate the action as
    51  to any person liable for the payment of the debt specified in the notice
    52  of  lien,  and  the  action  may  be prosecuted to judgment against such
    53  person.  The provisions of this section in regard  to  continuing  liens
    54  shall  apply to liens discharged by deposit or by order on the filing of
    55  an undertaking. Where a lien is discharged by deposit  or  by  order,  a
    56  notice of pendency of action shall not be filed.

        A. 5501--D                          9
 
     1    (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a lienor commences a foreclosure
     2  action  or  an  action to obtain a judgment on the wage claim within one
     3  year from the filing of the notice of  lien  on  real  property  or  the
     4  recording of the financing statement creating lien on personal property,
     5  the lien shall be extended during the pendency of the action and for one
     6  hundred  twenty  days  following  the  entry  of  final judgment in such
     7  action, unless the action results in a final judgment or  administrative
     8  order  in the lienor's favor on the wage claims and the lienor commences
     9  a foreclosure action, in which instance the lien shall be  valid  during
    10  the pendency of the foreclosure action. If a lien is extended due to the
    11  pendency  of  a  foreclosure action or an action to obtain a judgment on
    12  the wage claim, the lienor shall file a  notice  of  such  pendency  and
    13  extension  with  the  county  clerk of the county in which the notice of
    14  lien is filed, containing the names of the parties to  the  action,  the
    15  object  of  the  action,  a  brief  description of the property affected
    16  thereby, and the time of filing the notice of lien, or in the case of  a
    17  lien on personal property shall file such notice with the office author-
    18  ized  to  accept  financing  statements pursuant to section 9-501 of the
    19  uniform commercial code. For purposes of  this  section,  an  action  to
    20  obtain  judgment on a wage claim includes an action brought in any court
    21  of competent jurisdiction, the submission of a complaint to the  depart-
    22  ment of labor or the submission of a claim to arbitration pursuant to an
    23  arbitration  agreement. An action also includes an investigation of wage
    24  claims by the commissioner of labor or the attorney general of the state
    25  of New York, regardless of whether such investigation was initiated by a
    26  complaint.
    27    (e) A lien, the duration of which has been extended by the filing of a
    28  notice of the pendency of an action as above provided,  shall  neverthe-
    29  less terminate as a lien after such notice has been canceled as provided
    30  in  section  sixty-five  hundred  fourteen of the civil practice law and
    31  rules or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice  as  provided
    32  in  section  sixty-five  hundred  thirteen of the civil practice law and
    33  rules.
    34    § 12. Subdivisions 2 and 4 of section 19 of the lien law,  subdivision
    35  2  as amended by chapter 310 of the laws of 1962, subdivision 4 as added
    36  by chapter 582 of the laws of 2002 and paragraph a of subdivision  4  as
    37  further  amended  by  section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of
    38  2011, are amended to read as follows:
    39    (2) By failure to begin an action to foreclose such lien or to  secure
    40  an  order  continuing  it,  within  one year from the time of filing the
    41  notice of lien, unless (i) an action be begun within the same period  to
    42  foreclose  a  mortgage or another mechanic's lien upon the same property
    43  or any part thereof and a notice of pendency of  such  action  is  filed
    44  according to law, or (ii) an action is commenced to obtain a judgment on
    45  a  wage  claim  pursuant to subdivision two of section seventeen of this
    46  article, but a lien, the duration of which  has  been  extended  by  the
    47  filing  of  a  notice  of  the pendency of an action as herein provided,
    48  shall nevertheless terminate as  a  lien  after  such  notice  has  been
    49  cancelled or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice.
    50    (4) Either before or after the beginning of an action by the employer,
    51  owner  or  contractor executing a bond or undertaking in an amount equal
    52  to one hundred ten percent of such lien conditioned for the  payment  of
    53  any  judgment which may be rendered against the property or employer for
    54  the enforcement of the lien:
    55    a. The execution of any such bond or undertaking by  any  fidelity  or
    56  surety  company  authorized  by the laws of this state to transact busi-

        A. 5501--D                         10

     1  ness, shall be sufficient; and where a certificate of qualification  has
     2  been  issued  by  the  superintendent  of  financial  services under the
     3  provisions of section one thousand one hundred eleven of  the  insurance
     4  law,  and has not been revoked, no justification or notice thereof shall
     5  be necessary. Any such company may execute any such bond or  undertaking
     6  as  surety  by  the  hand  of its officers, or attorney, duly authorized
     7  thereto by resolution of its board of directors,  a  certified  copy  of
     8  which  resolution,  under  the seal of said company, shall be filed with
     9  each bond or undertaking. Any such bond or undertaking  shall  be  filed
    10  with the clerk of the county in which the notice of lien is filed, and a
    11  copy  shall  be served upon the adverse party. The undertaking is effec-
    12  tive when so served and filed. If a certificate of qualification  issued
    13  pursuant  to  subsections  (b),  (c) and (d) of section one thousand one
    14  hundred eleven of the insurance law is not filed with the undertaking, a
    15  party may except, to the sufficiency of a surety and by a written notice
    16  of exception served  upon  the  adverse  party  within  ten  days  after
    17  receipt,  a  copy  of the undertaking. Exceptions deemed by the court to
    18  have been taken unnecessarily, or  for  vexation  or  delay,  may,  upon
    19  notice,  be  set  aside,  with  costs. Where no exception to sureties is
    20  taken within ten days or where  exceptions  taken  are  set  aside,  the
    21  undertaking shall be allowed.
    22    b. In the case of bonds or undertakings not executed pursuant to para-
    23  graph  a  of  this  subdivision, the employer, owner or contractor shall
    24  execute an undertaking with two or more sufficient sureties,  who  shall
    25  be free holders, to the clerk of the county where the premises are situ-
    26  ated.  The  sureties  must  together  justify in at least double the sum
    27  named in the undertaking. A copy of the undertaking,  with  notice  that
    28  the sureties will justify before the court, or a judge or justice there-
    29  of,  at  the  time  and place therein mentioned, must be served upon the
    30  lienor or his attorney, not less than five days before such  time.  Upon
    31  the  approval of the undertaking by the court, judge or justice an order
    32  shall be made by such court, judge or justice discharging such lien.
    33    c. If the lienor cannot be found, or  does  not  appear  by  attorney,
    34  service  under  this  subsection  may  be made by leaving a copy of such
    35  undertaking and notice at the lienor's  place  of  residence,  or  if  a
    36  corporation at its principal place of business within the state as stat-
    37  ed  in  the notice of lien, with a person of suitable age and discretion
    38  therein, or if the house of his abode or its place of  business  is  not
    39  stated  in  said notice of lien and is not known, then in such manner as
    40  the court may direct. The premises, if any, described in the  notice  of
    41  lien  as  the lienor's residence or place of business shall be deemed to
    42  be his said residence or its place of business for the purposes of  said
    43  service  at  the time thereof, unless it is shown affirmatively that the
    44  person servicing the papers or directing the service  had  knowledge  to
    45  the  contrary.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subdivision
    46  relating to service of notice, in any case where the mailing address  of
    47  the  lienor  is outside the state such service may be made by registered
    48  or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such lienor at the mail-
    49  ing address contained in the notice of lien.
    50    d. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the provisions of
    51  article twenty-five of the  civil  practice  law  and  rules  regulating
    52  undertakings  is  applicable  to  a  bond  or  undertaking given for the
    53  discharge of a lien on account of private improvements or of an  employ-
    54  ee's lien.
    55    §  13.  Section  24  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the
    56  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:

        A. 5501--D                         11
 
     1    § 24.  Enforcement  of  [mechanic's]  lien.  (1)  Real  property.  The
     2  [mechanics']  liens  on  real  property specified in this article may be
     3  enforced against the property specified in the notice of lien and  which
     4  is subject thereto and against any person liable for the debt upon which
     5  the lien is founded, as prescribed in article three of this chapter.
     6    (2)  Personal property. An employee's lien on personal property speci-
     7  fied in this article may immediately be enforced  against  the  property
     8  through  a  foreclosure  as  prescribed  in  article nine of the uniform
     9  commercial code, or upon judgment obtained by the employee, commissioner
    10  of labor or attorney general of the state of New York, may  be  enforced
    11  in  any  manner  available  to the judgment creditor pursuant to article
    12  nine of the uniform commercial code or other applicable laws.
    13    § 14. Section 26 of the lien law, as amended by  chapter  373  of  the
    14  laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
    15    §  26.  Subordination  of liens after agreement with owner. In case an
    16  owner of real property shall execute to one or more persons, or a corpo-
    17  ration, as trustee or trustees, a bond and mortgage or a note and  mort-
    18  gage  affecting  such  property in whole or in part, or an assignment of
    19  the moneys due or to become due under a contract for a building loan  in
    20  relation  to  such property, and in case such mortgage, if any, shall be
    21  recorded in the office of the register of the  county  where  such  real
    22  property  is  situated,  or  if  such county has no register then in the
    23  office of the clerk of such county, and in case such assignment, if any,
    24  shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county where such  real
    25  property  is  situated;  and  in  case lienors having [mechanics'] liens
    26  against said real property, notices of which have been filed up  to  and
    27  not  later than fifteen days after the recording of such mortgage or the
    28  filing of such assignment, and which liens have not been  discharged  as
    29  in  this  article  provided, shall, to the extent of at least fifty-five
    30  per centum of the aggregate amount for which such notices of liens  have
    31  been so filed, approve such bond and mortgage or such note and mortgage,
    32  if  any, and such assignment, if any, by an instrument or instruments in
    33  writing, duly acknowledged and filed in the office of such county clerk,
    34  then all mechanics' liens for  labor  performed  or  material  furnished
    35  prior  to  the  recording of such mortgage or filing of such assignment,
    36  whether notices thereof have been theretofore or  are  thereafter  filed
    37  and which have not been discharged as in this article provided, shall be
    38  subordinate  to  the  lien of such trust bond and mortgage or such trust
    39  note and mortgage to the extent of the aggregate amount of  all  certif-
    40  icates  of interest therein issued by such trustee or trustees, or their
    41  successors, for moneys loaned, materials furnished, labor performed  and
    42  any  other  indebtedness  incurred  after said trust mortgage shall have
    43  been recorded, and for expenses in connection with said trust  mortgage,
    44  and  shall  also  be subordinate to the lien of the bond and mortgage or
    45  note and mortgage, given to secure the  amount  agreed  to  be  advanced
    46  under  such  contract  for  a  building loan to the extent of the amount
    47  which shall be advanced by the holder of such bond and mortgage or  such
    48  note and mortgage to the trustee or trustees, or their successors, under
    49  such assignment. The provisions of this section shall apply to all bonds
    50  and mortgages and notes and mortgages and all assignments of moneys due,
    51  or  to  become due under building loan contracts executed by such owner,
    52  in like manner, and recorded or filed, from time to time as hereinbefore
    53  provided. In case of an assignment to trustees under the  provisions  of
    54  this  section,  the trustees and their successors shall be the agents of
    55  the assignor to receive and receipt for any and all sums advanced by the
    56  holder of the building loan bond and mortgage or the building loan  note

        A. 5501--D                         12
 
     1  and  mortgage  under  the building loan contract and such assignment. No
     2  lienor shall have any priority over the bond and mortgage  or  note  and
     3  mortgage  given to secure the money agreed to be advanced under a build-
     4  ing loan contract or over the advances made thereunder, by reason of any
     5  act preceding the making and approval of such assignment.
     6    §  15.  Section  38  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 859 of the
     7  laws of 1930, is amended to read as follows:
     8    § 38. Itemized statement may be required of lienor. A lienor  who  has
     9  filed  a  notice of mechanic's lien shall, on demand in writing, deliver
    10  to the owner or contractor making such demand  a  statement  in  writing
    11  which  shall  set forth the items of labor and/or material and the value
    12  thereof which make up the amount for which he claims a lien,  and  which
    13  shall  also  set  forth the terms of the contract under which such items
    14  were furnished.  The statement shall be verified by the  lienor  or  his
    15  agent  in  the  form required for the verification of notices in section
    16  nine of this [chapter] article. If the lienor shall fail to comply  with
    17  such  a  demand  within five days after the same shall have been made by
    18  the owner or contractor, or  if  the  lienor  delivers  an  insufficient
    19  statement,  the  person aggrieved may petition the supreme court of this
    20  state or any justice thereof, or the county court of  the  county  where
    21  the  premises  are  situated,  or the county judge of such county for an
    22  order directing the lienor within a  time  specified  in  the  order  to
    23  deliver  to  the  petitioner the statement required by this section. Two
    24  days' notice in writing of such application shall  be  served  upon  the
    25  lienor. Such service shall be made in the manner provided by law for the
    26  personal  service  of a summons. The court or a justice or judge thereof
    27  shall hear the parties and upon being  satisfied  that  the  lienor  has
    28  failed,  neglected  or  refused  to comply with the requirements of this
    29  section shall have an appropriate order directing  such  compliance.  In
    30  case  the  lienor fails to comply with the order so made within the time
    31  specified, then upon five days' notice to  the  lienor,  served  in  the
    32  manner  provided by law for the personal service of a summons, the court
    33  or a justice or judge thereof may make an order cancelling the lien.
    34    § 16. Section 39 of the lien law, as added by chapter 859 of the  laws
    35  of 1930, is amended to read as follows:
    36    §  39.  Lien wilfully exaggerated is void. In any action or proceeding
    37  to enforce a [mechanic's] lien upon a private or public  improvement  or
    38  in  which  the validity of the lien is an issue, if the court shall find
    39  that a lienor has wilfully exaggerated the amount for which he claims  a
    40  lien  as  stated in his notice of lien, his lien shall be declared to be
    41  void and no recovery shall be had thereon. No such lienor shall  have  a
    42  right  to file any other or further lien for the same claim. A second or
    43  subsequent lien filed in contravention of this section  may  be  vacated
    44  upon application to the court on two days' notice.
    45    §  17.  Section  40  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the
    46  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:
    47    § 40. Construction of article. This article  is  to  be  construed  in
    48  connection  with  article  two of this chapter, and provides proceedings
    49  for the enforcement of employee's liens on real  property,  as  well  as
    50  liens  for labor performed and materials furnished in the improvement of
    51  real property, created by virtue of such article.
    52    § 18. Section 41 of the lien law, as amended by  chapter  807  of  the
    53  laws of 1952, is amended to read as follows:
    54    § 41. Enforcement of mechanic's or employee's lien on real property. A
    55  mechanic's  lien  or  employee's  lien  on real property may be enforced
    56  against such property, and against a person liable  for  the  debt  upon

        A. 5501--D                         13
 
     1  which  the lien is founded, by an action, by the lienor, his assignee or
     2  legal representative, in the supreme court or in a county  court  other-
     3  wise having jurisdiction, regardless of the amount of such debt, or in a
     4  court  which  has  jurisdiction in an action founded on a contract for a
     5  sum of money equivalent to the amount of such debt.
     6    § 19. Section 43 of the lien law, as amended by  chapter  310  of  the
     7  laws of 1962, is amended to read as follows:
     8    §  43.  Action  in  a  court  of record; consolidation of actions. The
     9  provisions of the real property actions and proceedings law relating  to
    10  actions  for  the  foreclosure of a mortgage upon real property, and the
    11  sale and the distribution of the proceeds thereof apply to actions in  a
    12  court  of  record,  to  enforce mechanics' liens and employees' liens on
    13  real property, except as otherwise provided in this article. If  actions
    14  are  brought  by  different  lienors  in a court of record, the court in
    15  which the first action was brought, may, upon its own  motion,  or  upon
    16  the  application of any party in any of such actions, consolidate all of
    17  such actions.
    18    § 20. Section 46 of the lien law, as amended by  chapter  515  of  the
    19  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:
    20    §  46.  Action  in  a  court  not of record. If an action to enforce a
    21  mechanic's lien or employee's lien against real property is brought in a
    22  court not of record, it shall be commenced by the personal service  upon
    23  the  owner  of  a summons and complaint verified in the same manner as a
    24  complaint in an action in a court of  record.  The  complaint  must  set
    25  forth  substantially  the facts contained in the notice of lien, and the
    26  substance of the agreement under which the labor was  performed  or  the
    27  materials  were  furnished, or if the lien is based upon a wage claim as
    28  defined in section two of this chapter, the basis for such  wage  claim.
    29  The  form  and  contents of the summons shall be the same as provided by
    30  law for the commencement of an action upon a contract in such court. The
    31  summons must be returnable not less than twelve  nor  more  than  twenty
    32  days  after  the  date of the summons, or if service is made by publica-
    33  tion, after the day of the last publication of  the  summons.    Service
    34  must be made at least eight days before the return day.
    35    §  21.  Section  50  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the
    36  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:
    37    § 50. Execution. Execution may be issued upon a judgment  obtained  in
    38  an  action  to  enforce  a mechanic's lien or an employee's lien against
    39  real property in a court not of record, which shall direct  the  officer
    40  to  sell the title and interest of the owner in the premises, upon which
    41  the lien set forth in the complaint existed at the time  of  filing  the
    42  notice of lien.
    43    §  22.  Section  53  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the
    44  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:
    45    § 53. Costs and disbursements. If an action is brought  to  enforce  a
    46  mechanic's  lien  or an employee's lien against real property in a court
    47  of record, the costs and disbursements shall rest in the  discretion  of
    48  the  court,  and  may  be  awarded to the prevailing party. The judgment
    49  rendered in such an action shall include the amount of  such  costs  and
    50  specify  to whom and by whom the costs are to be paid. If such action is
    51  brought in a court not of record, they shall be the same as  allowed  in
    52  civil  actions  in  such  court.  The  expenses  incurred in serving the
    53  summons by publication may be added to the amount of costs  now  allowed
    54  in such court.
    55    §  23.  Section  59  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the
    56  laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows:

        A. 5501--D                         14
 
     1    § 59. Vacating of a [mechanic's] lien; cancellation of bond; return of
     2  deposit, by order of court. 1. A mechanic's lien  notice  of  which  has
     3  been filed on real property or a bond given to discharge the same may be
     4  vacated  and cancelled or a deposit made to discharge a lien pursuant to
     5  section  twenty  of this chapter may be returned, by an order of a court
     6  of record. Before such order shall be granted, a notice shall be  served
     7  upon  the  lienor,  either personally or by leaving it as his last known
     8  place of residence, with a person of suitable age,  with  directions  to
     9  deliver  it  to  the  lienor.  Such  notice  shall require the lienor to
    10  commence an action to enforce the lien, within a time specified  in  the
    11  notice,  not  less  than  thirty  days from the time of service, or show
    12  cause at a special term of a court of record, or at a county court, in a
    13  county in which the property is situated, at a time and place  specified
    14  therein,  why  the  notice of lien filed or the bond given should not be
    15  vacated and cancelled, or the deposit returned,  as  the  case  may  be.
    16  Proof  of  such service and that the lienor has not commenced the action
    17  to foreclose such lien, as directed in the  notice,  shall  be  made  by
    18  affidavit, at the time of applying for such order.
    19    2.  An employee's lien notice of which has been filed on real property
    20  or a bond given to discharge the same may be vacated and cancelled or  a
    21  deposit  made  to  discharge  a  lien pursuant to section twenty of this
    22  chapter may be returned, by an order of a court of record.  Before  such
    23  order shall be granted, a notice shall be served upon the lienor, either
    24  personally  or  by  leaving  it  at his last known place of residence or
    25  attorney's place of business,  with  a  person  of  suitable  age,  with
    26  directions  to  deliver  it to the lienor. Such notice shall require the
    27  lienor to commence an action to enforce the  lien,  or  to  commence  an
    28  action  to  obtain  judgment  on  the wage claim upon which the lien was
    29  established, within a time specified in the notice, not less than ninety
    30  days from the time of service, or show cause at  a  special  term  of  a
    31  court of record, or at a county court, in a county in which the property
    32  is  situated,  at  a time and place specified therein, why the notice of
    33  lien filed or the bond given should not be vacated and cancelled, or the
    34  deposit returned, as the case may be. Proof of such service and that the
    35  lienor has not commenced the action to foreclose such lien or an  action
    36  to  obtain  judgment  on  the  wage claim upon which the lien was estab-
    37  lished, as directed in the notice, shall be made by  affidavit,  at  the
    38  time of applying for such order.
    39    §  24.  Section  62  of the lien law, as amended by chapter 697 of the
    40  laws of 1934, is amended to read as follows:
    41    § 62. Bringing in new parties. A lienor who has filed a notice of lien
    42  after the commencement of an action in a court of record to foreclose or
    43  enforce an employee's lien or a mechanic's lien against real property or
    44  a public improvement, may at any  time  up  to  and  including  the  day
    45  preceding  the  day on which the trial of such action is commenced, make
    46  application upon notice to the plaintiff or his attorney in such action,
    47  to be made a party therein. Upon good cause shown, the court must  order
    48  such lienor to be brought in by amendment. If the application is made by
    49  any  other  party  in  said action to make such lienor or other person a
    50  party, the court may in its  discretion  direct  such  lienor  or  other
    51  person  to  be  brought in by like amendment. The order to be entered on
    52  such application shall provide the time for and manner  of  serving  the
    53  pleading of such additional lienor or other person and shall direct that
    54  the  pleadings,  papers  and proceedings of the other several parties in
    55  such action, shall be deemed amended, so as not to require the making or
    56  serving of papers other than said order to  effectuate  such  amendment,

        A. 5501--D                         15
 
     1  and  shall  further  provide  that the allegations in the answer of such
     2  additional lienor or other person shall, for the purposes of the action,
     3  be deemed denied by the other parties therein. The action  shall  be  so
     4  conducted  by  the  court as not to cause substantially any delay in the
     5  trial thereof.   The bringing in of  such  additional  lienor  or  other
     6  person  shall  be  without  prejudice to the proceedings had, and if the
     7  action be on the calendar of the court, same shall retain its  place  on
     8  such  calendar  without the necessity of serving a new note of issue and
     9  new notices of trial.
    10    § 25. Subdivision 3 of section 199-a of the labor law, as  amended  by
    11  chapter 564 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    12    3.  Each  employee  and  his or her authorized representative shall be
    13  notified in writing, of the termination of the  commissioner's  investi-
    14  gation of the employee's complaint and the result of such investigation,
    15  of  any  award  and collection of back wages and civil penalties, and of
    16  any intent to seek criminal penalties. In the event that criminal penal-
    17  ties are sought the employee and his or  her  authorized  representative
    18  shall be notified of the outcome of prosecution.
    19    §  26.  Subdivision  2  of section 663 of the labor law, as amended by
    20  chapter 564 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    21    2. By commissioner. On behalf of any employee paid less than the  wage
    22  to  which the employee is entitled under the provisions of this article,
    23  the commissioner may bring any legal action necessary, including  admin-
    24  istrative  action,  to  collect  such  claim,  and the employer shall be
    25  required to pay the full amount of the  underpayment,  plus  costs,  and
    26  unless the employer proves a good faith basis to believe that its under-
    27  payment  was  in compliance with the law, an additional amount as liqui-
    28  dated damages. Liquidated damages shall be calculated by the commission-
    29  er as  no  more  than  one  hundred  percent  of  the  total  amount  of
    30  underpayments found to be due the employee. In any action brought by the
    31  commissioner  in  a  court of competent jurisdiction, liquidated damages
    32  shall be calculated as an amount equal to one hundred percent of  under-
    33  payments  found  to  be  due  the  employee. Each employee or his or her
    34  authorized representative shall be notified in writing of the outcome of
    35  any legal action brought on  the  employee's  behalf  pursuant  to  this
    36  section.
    37    §  27.  Subdivision  5  of  section 6201 of the civil practice law and
    38  rules, as amended by chapter 860 of the laws of 1977 and  as  renumbered
    39  by  chapter  618 of the laws of 1992, is amended and a new subdivision 6
    40  is added to read as follows:
    41    5. the cause of action is based on a judgment, decree or  order  of  a
    42  court  of  the  United States or of any other court which is entitled to
    43  full faith and credit in this state, or on a  judgment  which  qualifies
    44  for  recognition  under the provisions of article 53[.] of this chapter;
    45  or
    46    6. the cause of action is based on wage claims.  "Wage  claims,"  when
    47  used in this chapter, shall include any claims of violations of articles
    48  five, six, and nineteen of the labor law, section two hundred fifteen of
    49  the labor law, and the related regulations or wage orders promulgated by
    50  the  commissioner  of  labor, including but not limited to any claims of
    51  unpaid, minimum, overtime, and spread-of-hours pay, unlawfully  retained
    52  gratuities,  unlawful  deductions from wages, unpaid commissions, unpaid
    53  benefits and wage supplements, and retaliation, and any claims  pursuant
    54  to 18 U.S.C. § 1595, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., and/or employment contract
    55  as  well  as the concomitant liquidated damages and penalties authorized

        A. 5501--D                         16
 
     1  pursuant to the labor law, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or any  employ-
     2  ment contract.
     3    §  28.  Section  6210 of the civil practice law and rules, as added by
     4  chapter 860 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
     5    § 6210. Order of attachment on notice;  temporary  restraining  order;
     6  contents.  Upon a motion on notice for an order of attachment, the court
     7  may, without notice to the  defendant,  grant  a  temporary  restraining
     8  order  prohibiting  the transfer of assets by a garnishee as provided in
     9  subdivision (b) of section 6214. When attachment is sought  pursuant  to
    10  subdivision  six  of  section  6201,  and  if  the employer contests the
    11  motion, the court shall hold a hearing  within  ten  days  of  when  the
    12  employer's  response  to  plaintiffs'  motion for attachment is due. The
    13  contents of the order of attachment granted  pursuant  to  this  section
    14  shall be as provided in subdivision (a) of section 6211.
    15    §  29.  Subdivision  (b) of section 6211 of the civil practice law and
    16  rules, as amended by chapter 566 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read
    17  as follows:
    18    (b) Confirmation of order. Except where  an  order  of  attachment  is
    19  granted  on  the  ground  specified in subdivision one or six of section
    20  6201, an order of attachment granted without notice shall  provide  that
    21  within  a period not to exceed five days after levy, the plaintiff shall
    22  move, on such notice as the court shall direct  to  the  defendant,  the
    23  garnishee, if any, and the sheriff, for an order confirming the order of
    24  attachment.  Where  an  order of attachment without notice is granted on
    25  the ground specified in subdivision one or  six  of  section  6201,  the
    26  court shall direct that the statement required by section 6219 be served
    27  within  five days, that a copy thereof be served upon the plaintiff, and
    28  the plaintiff shall move  within  ten  days  after  levy  for  an  order
    29  confirming  the  order  of attachment. If the plaintiff upon such motion
    30  shall show that the statement has not been served and that the plaintiff
    31  will be unable to satisfy the requirement of subdivision (b) of  section
    32  6223 until the statement has been served, the court may grant one exten-
    33  sion of the time to move for confirmation for a period not to exceed ten
    34  days. If plaintiff fails to make such motion within the required period,
    35  the  order  of  attachment and any levy thereunder shall have no further
    36  effect and shall be vacated upon motion. Upon the motion to confirm, the
    37  provisions of subdivision (b) of section 6223 shall apply. An  order  of
    38  attachment  granted  without notice may provide that the sheriff refrain
    39  from taking any property levied upon into his  actual  custody,  pending
    40  further order of the court.
    41    §  30. Subdivisions (b) and (e) of rule 6212 of the civil practice law
    42  and rules, subdivision (b) as separately amended by chapters 15 and  860
    43  of  the  laws of 1977 and subdivision (e) as added by chapter 860 of the
    44  laws of 1977, are amended to read as follows:
    45    (b) Undertaking. [On] 1. Except where an order of attachment is sought
    46  on the ground specified in subdivision six of section 6201, on a  motion
    47  for  an order of attachment, the plaintiff shall give an undertaking, in
    48  a total amount fixed by the  court,  but  not  less  than  five  hundred
    49  dollars,  a  specified part thereof conditioned that the plaintiff shall
    50  pay to the defendant all costs and damages, including reasonable  attor-
    51  ney's  fees,  which  may be sustained by reason of the attachment if the
    52  defendant recovers judgment or if it is finally decided that the  plain-
    53  tiff  was not entitled to an attachment of the defendant's property, and
    54  the balance conditioned that the plaintiff shall pay to the sheriff  all
    55  of his allowable fees.

        A. 5501--D                         17
 
     1    2.  On  a  motion  for  an  attachment  pursuant to subdivision six of
     2  section 6201, the court shall order that the plaintiff give an  accessi-
     3  ble undertaking of no more than five hundred dollars, or in the alterna-
     4  tive,  may waive the undertaking altogether. The attorney for the plain-
     5  tiff shall not be liable to the sheriff for such fees. The surety on the
     6  undertaking shall not be discharged except upon notice to the sheriff.
     7    (e)  Damages.  [The]  Except where an order of attachment is sought on
     8  the ground specified in subdivision six of section 6201,  the  plaintiff
     9  shall  be  liable  to the defendant for all costs and damages, including
    10  reasonable attorney's fees, which may be  sustained  by  reason  of  the
    11  attachment  if  the  defendant  recovers  judgment,  or if it is finally
    12  decided that the plaintiff was not entitled  to  an  attachment  of  the
    13  defendant's  property. Plaintiff's liability shall not be limited by the
    14  amount of the undertaking.
    15    § 31. Section 6223 of the civil practice law and rules, as amended  by
    16  chapter 860 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
    17    §  6223.  Vacating  or  modifying  attachment. (a) Motion to vacate or
    18  modify.  Prior to the application of property or debt to  the  satisfac-
    19  tion of a judgment, the defendant, the garnishee or any person having an
    20  interest  in  the property or debt may move, on notice to each party and
    21  the sheriff, for an order vacating or modifying the order of attachment.
    22  Upon the motion, the court may give the plaintiff a reasonable  opportu-
    23  nity  to  correct  any defect. [If] Except as provided under subdivision
    24  (b), if, after the defendant has  appeared  in  the  action,  the  court
    25  determines  that  the  attachment  is unnecessary to the security of the
    26  plaintiff, it shall vacate the order of attachment.  Such a motion shall
    27  not of itself constitute an appearance in the action.
    28    (b) Burden of proof. [Upon] Except where an  order  of  attachment  is
    29  granted  pursuant  to  subdivision six of section 6201, upon a motion to
    30  vacate or modify an order of attachment the  plaintiff  shall  have  the
    31  burden  of  establishing  the  grounds  for the attachment, the need for
    32  continuing the levy and the probability that  he  will  succeed  on  the
    33  merits. Upon a motion to vacate or modify an order of attachment granted
    34  pursuant  to  subdivision  six of section 6201, the defendant shall have
    35  the burden to demonstrate that the  attachment  is  unnecessary  to  the
    36  security  of  the plaintiff, in order to vacate or modify the attachment
    37  order.
    38    § 32. Paragraph (b) of section 624 of the business corporation law, as
    39  amended by chapter 449 of the laws  of  1997,  is  amended  to  read  as
    40  follows:
    41    (b) Any person who shall have been a shareholder of record of a corpo-
    42  ration,  or  who  is  or shall have been a laborer, servant or employee,
    43  upon at least five days' written demand shall have the right to  examine
    44  in  person  or  by  agent  or attorney, during usual business hours, its
    45  minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders and record of  sharehold-
    46  ers and to make extracts therefrom for any purpose reasonably related to
    47  such  person's  interest as a shareholder, laborer, servant or employee.
    48  Holders of voting trust certificates representing shares of  the  corpo-
    49  ration  shall  be  regarded  as  shareholders  for  the  purpose of this
    50  section.  Any such agent or attorney shall be authorized  in  a  writing
    51  that  satisfies  the  requirements  of  a writing under paragraph (b) of
    52  section 609 (Proxies). A corporation requested  to  provide  information
    53  pursuant  to  this  paragraph  shall  make available such information in
    54  written form and in any other format in which such information is  main-
    55  tained  by  the  corporation  and  shall not be required to provide such
    56  information in any other format. If a  request  made  pursuant  to  this

        A. 5501--D                         18
 
     1  paragraph includes a request to furnish information regarding beneficial
     2  owners,  the  corporation  shall  make available such information in its
     3  possession regarding beneficial owners as is provided to the corporation
     4  by  a registered broker or dealer or a bank, association or other entity
     5  that exercises fiduciary powers in connection  with  the  forwarding  of
     6  information  to  such  owners.  The corporation shall not be required to
     7  obtain information about beneficial owners not in its possession.
     8    § 33. Section 630 of the business corporation law,  paragraph  (a)  as
     9  amended  by  chapter  5 of the laws of 2016, paragraph (c) as amended by
    10  chapter 746 of the laws of 1963, is amended to read as follows:
    11  § 630. Liability of shareholders for wages due to laborers, servants  or
    12           employees.
    13    (a) The  ten  largest shareholders, as determined by the fair value of
    14  their beneficial interest as of the beginning of the period during which
    15  the unpaid services referred to in this section are performed, of  every
    16  domestic  corporation  or  of  any  foreign corporation, when the unpaid
    17  services were performed in the state, no shares of which are listed on a
    18  national securities exchange or regularly quoted in an  over-the-counter
    19  market  by one or more members of a national or an affiliated securities
    20  association, shall jointly and severally be personally  liable  for  all
    21  debts,  wages or salaries due and owing to any of its laborers, servants
    22  or employees other than contractors, for services performed by them  for
    23  such corporation. [Before such laborer, servant or employee shall charge
    24  such  shareholder  for such services, he shall give notice in writing to
    25  such shareholder that he intends to hold him liable under this  section.
    26  Such  notice  shall  be  given  within one hundred and eighty days after
    27  termination of such services, except that if, within  such  period,  the
    28  laborer,  servant  or  employee  demands an examination of the record of
    29  shareholders under paragraph (b) of  section  624  (Books  and  records;
    30  right  of inspection, prima facie evidence) of this article, such notice
    31  may be given within sixty days after he has been given  the  opportunity
    32  to examine the record of shareholders. An action to enforce such liabil-
    33  ity  shall  be  commenced  within  ninety  days  after  the return of an
    34  execution unsatisfied against the corporation upon a judgment  recovered
    35  against  it  for  such services.] The provisions of this paragraph shall
    36  not apply to an investment company registered as such under  an  act  of
    37  congress entitled "Investment Company Act of 1940."
    38    (b) For the purposes of this section, wages or salaries shall mean all
    39  compensation  and  benefits payable by an employer to or for the account
    40  of the employee for personal services rendered by such employee  includ-
    41  ing  any concomitant liquidated damages, penalties, interest, attorney's
    42  fees or costs.  These shall specifically include but not be  limited  to
    43  salaries,  overtime,  vacation,  holiday  and  severance  pay;  employer
    44  contributions to or payments of insurance or welfare benefits;  employer
    45  contributions to pension or annuity funds; and any other moneys properly
    46  due or payable for services rendered by such employee.
    47    (c) A shareholder who has paid more than his pro rata share under this
    48  section shall be entitled to contribution pro rata from the other share-
    49  holders  liable  under  this section with respect to the excess so paid,
    50  over and above his pro rata share, and may sue them jointly or severally
    51  or any number of them to recover the amount due from them.  Such  recov-
    52  ery  may  be  had  in a separate action. As used in this paragraph, "pro
    53  rata" means in proportion to beneficial share interest. Before a  share-
    54  holder  may  claim contribution from other shareholders under this para-
    55  graph, he shall[, unless they have been given notice by a laborer, serv-
    56  ant or employee under paragraph (a),] give them notice in  writing  that

        A. 5501--D                         19
 
     1  he  intends to hold them so liable to him. Such notice shall be given by
     2  him within twenty days after the date that [notice was given to him  by]
     3  he became aware that a laborer, servant or employee may seek to hold him
     4  liable under paragraph (a).
     5    §  34. Subdivision (c) of section 609 of the limited liability company
     6  law, as added by chapter 537 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read  as
     7  follows:
     8    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (a) and (b) of this
     9  section, the ten members with the largest percentage ownership interest,
    10  as  determined as of the beginning of the period during which the unpaid
    11  services referred to in this section are  performed,  of  every  limited
    12  liability  company, shall jointly and severally be personally liable for
    13  all debts, wages or salaries due and owing to any of its laborers, serv-
    14  ants or employees, for services  performed  by  them  for  such  limited
    15  liability  company.  [Before  such  laborer,  servant  or employee shall
    16  charge such member for such services, he or she  shall  give  notice  in
    17  writing to such member that he or she intends to hold such member liable
    18  under this section. Such notice shall be given within one hundred eighty
    19  days  after  termination  of  such  services.  An action to enforce such
    20  liability shall be commenced within ninety days after the return  of  an
    21  execution unsatisfied against the limited liability company upon a judg-
    22  ment recovered against it for such services.] A member who has paid more
    23  than  his  or her pro rata share under this section shall be entitled to
    24  contribution pro rata from the other members liable under  this  section
    25  with  respect  to the excess so paid, over and above his or her pro rata
    26  share, and may sue them jointly or severally or any number  of  them  to
    27  recover the amount due from them. Such recovery may be had in a separate
    28  action.  As  used in this subdivision, "pro rata" means in proportion to
    29  percentage ownership interest. Before a member  may  claim  contribution
    30  from  other members under this section, he or she shall give them notice
    31  in writing that he or she intends to hold them so liable to him or her.
    32    § 35. Section 1102 of the limited liability company law is amended  by
    33  adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
    34    (e) Any person who is or shall have been a laborer, servant or employ-
    35  ee  of  a  limited  liability  company, upon at least five days' written
    36  demand shall have the right to examine in person or by agent  or  attor-
    37  ney,  during usual business hours, records described in paragraph two of
    38  subdivision (a) of this section throughout the  period  of  time  during
    39  which such laborer, servant or employee provided services to such compa-
    40  ny.  A  company  requested to provide information pursuant to this para-
    41  graph shall make available such records in written form and in any other
    42  format in which such information is maintained by the company and  shall
    43  not  be  required to provide such information in any other format.  Upon
    44  refusal by the company or by an officer  or  agent  of  the  company  to
    45  permit  an  inspection  of  the records described in this paragraph, the
    46  person making the demand for inspection may apply to the  supreme  court
    47  in  the  judicial  district  where the office of the company is located,
    48  upon such notice as the court may direct, for  an  order  directing  the
    49  company,  its  members or managers to show cause why an order should not
    50  be granted permitting such inspection by the applicant.  Upon the return
    51  day of the order to show cause, the court shall hear the parties summar-
    52  ily, by affidavit or otherwise, and if it appears that the applicant  is
    53  qualified  and  entitled  to  such  inspection, the court shall grant an
    54  order compelling such inspection and awarding such further relief as  to
    55  the  court  may  seem  just  and proper. If the applicant is found to be
    56  qualified and entitled to such inspection, the  company  shall  pay  all

        A. 5501--D                         20
 
     1  reasonable  attorney's  fees  and costs of said applicant related to the
     2  demand for inspection of the records.
     3    §  36.  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
     4  have become a law. The procedures and rights created in this act may  be
     5  used  by  employees,  laborers or servants in connection with claims for
     6  liabilities that arose prior to the effective date.
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