The Florida Senate

475.809  Foreclosure of lien; civil action by owner; award of costs and attorney's fees.--

(1)  A broker may enforce a lien for a commission that is earned and payable under this part by a foreclosure suit in the same manner as if the lien notice were a mortgage recorded against the commercial real estate of the owner obligated to pay the claimed commission. The foreclosure shall be commenced in the county court or circuit court, whichever may have jurisdiction of controversies in the amount of the claimed commission, of the county where the lien notice was recorded. The foreclosure action shall be commenced before the lien notice expires or is extinguished under s. 475.807(8); otherwise, the lien notice shall become null and void and have no further force or effect.

(2)  If a lien notice is recorded pursuant to s. 475.807 and the owner disputes the claimed commission, the owner may file a civil action seeking to discharge the lien in the county court or circuit court, whichever may have jurisdiction of controversies in the amount of the claimed commission, of the county where the lien notice was recorded.

(3)  In any action to foreclose a lien or to discharge a lien pursuant to this section, the prevailing party shall be awarded costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

History.--s. 2, ch. 2005-275.