Certain workers and suppliers can claim payment from the owner and contractor for work or materials tied to an immovable, and the owner may be relieved from those claims if specific bond and filing conditions are met.
§4802. Improvement of immovable by contractor; claims against the owner and contractor; privileges securing the improvement A. The following persons have a claim against the owner and a claim against the contractor to secure payment of the following obligations arising out of the performance of work under the contract: (1) Subcontractors, for the price of their work. (2) Laborers or employees of the contractor or a subcontractor, for the price of work performed at the site of the immovable. (3) Sellers, for the price of movables sold to the contractor or a subcontractor that become component parts of the immovable, or are consumed at the site of the immovable, or are consumed in machinery or equipment used at the site of the immovable. (4) Lessors, for the rent of movables used at the site of the immovable and leased to the contractor or a subcontractor by written contract. (5) Professional consultants engaged by the contractor or a subcontractor, and the professional subconsultants of those professional consultants, for the price of professional services rendered in connection with a work that is undertaken by the contractor or subcontractor. B. The claims against the owner under this Section shall be secured by a privilege on the immovable on which the work is performed. C. The owner is relieved of the claims against him under this Section and the privileges securing them when the claims arise from the performance of a contract by a general contractor for whom a bond is given and maintained as required by R.S. 9:4812 and when notice of the contract with the bond attached is properly and timely filed as required by R.S. 9:4811. D. Claims against the owner and the contractor granted by this Part are in addition to other contractual or legal rights the claimants may have for the payment of amounts owed them. E. A claimant may assert his claim against either the contractor, his surety, or the owner without the joinder of the others. The claim shall not be subject to a plea of discussion or division. F. A contractor shall indemnify the owner for claims against the owner arising from the work to be performed under the contract. A subcontractor shall indemnify the owner, the contractor, and any subcontractor from or through whom his rights are derived, for amounts paid by them for claims under this Part arising from work performed by the subcontractor. A contractor who pays the claims of other claimants arising from work performed under the contractor's contract is legally subrogated to their contractual rights but may not assert by subrogation their claims against the owner arising under this Section or the privileges securing them. A subcontractor who pays the claims of other claimants arising from work performed on behalf of the subcontractor is legally subrogated to their contractual rights but may not assert by subrogation their claims against the owner or contractor arising under this Section or the privileges securing them. G. Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 325, §3. Acts 1981, No. 724, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1989, No. 41, §1, eff. June 15, 1989; Acts 1991, No. 1024, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 1134, §1; Acts 2013, No. 357, §1; Acts 2019, No. 325, §§1, 3. NOTE: See Acts 2019, No. 325, §§6, 7, and 10, regarding applicability.