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September 29, 2014 · 10:57 AM

A Few Simple Words That Make a World of Difference for Lower-Tier Miller Act Claimants

If you’re a lower-tier subcontractor or supplier on a public construction project, it might be tempting to calendar your notice-of-claim deadline 90 days (in the case of federal Miller Act projects) or 120 days (in the case of North Carolina “Little Miller Act” projects) from your last furnishing of labor and materials, regardless the nature of that last furnishing.

Resist that temptation.

It overlooks a few simple but critical words recited in the federal Miller Act, as well as similar language contained in North Carolina’s Little Miller Act.

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Filed under Federal case law, Payment Bonds

Tagged as conditions precedent Miller Act, Miller Act, nc little miller act, notice of claim under Miller Act, notice under Miller Act

March 12, 2014 · 8:57 AM

A Trap for 2nd-Tier Miller Act Claimants to Avoid

Most second-tier Miller Act subs and suppliers understand that in order to recover under a prime contractor’s Miller Act payment bond, written notice of the claim must be made to the contractor “within 90 days from the date on which the person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished or supplied the last of the material for which the claim is made.” 40 U.S.C.A. § 3133(b)(2). With that 90-day rule in mind, consider the following hypothetical:

You’re a second-tier supplier who last furnished materials to a first-tier subcontractor on a Fort Bragg project on December 13, 2013. Today is the 89th day since your last furnishing, and you still haven’t been paid. Realizing your claim notice deadline is fast approaching, you send your claim to the prime contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested this morning. The prime will receive the notice and sign the green card on March 14, the 91st day after your last furnishing. Was your notice of claim timely?

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