A Brief History of Oregon’s Construction Lien Law

Like many modern American legal principles, the concept of the lien originated in England, where those who performed physical labor—so-called “mechanics”—were given a “charge” on the items upon which they worked. Shortly after the American Revolution, states and territories in the United States began enacting statutes giving builders lien rights to secure payment for their work. The first construction lien statute was passed by Maryland’s legislature in 1791, reportedly to encourage further... By: Stoel Rives - Ahead of Schedule