Construction Litigation
Construction Parties
Materialmen furnish materials incorporated into the improvement. They hold lien rights in most states and bond claim rights on bonded projects, subject to tier limitations and notice requirements.
Suppliers to suppliers are frequently excluded.
Alternative Names:
Material Supplier|Supplier
Why it Matters?
Tier limitations exclude suppliers to suppliers from bond claims under the Miller Act and from lien rights in several states, which surprises second-tier material vendors who assume any unpaid party has recourse. Establishing the contractual chain is the first step in any supplier claim. Preliminary notice requirements are also stricter for materialmen than for contractors in many states, with short windows measured from first delivery.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Are suppliers to suppliers covered?
Are notice requirements stricter for materialmen?
