Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 701 § 701.630 — Payments to subcontractors and material suppliers; failure to pay; omission of payment

Payments to subcontractors and material suppliers; failure to pay; omission of payment. (1) An original contractor, subcontractor or material supplier that performs in accordance with a construction contract is entitled to payment from the party with whom the original contractor, subcontractor or material supplier contracts. (2)(a) If a subcontractor has performed in accordance with a construction contract, and the original contractor receives payment from the owner for work performed by the subcontractor, the original contractor shall pay the subcontractor for that work no later than seven days after the original contractor receives the payment. If a material supplier has performed in accordance with a construction contract, and the original contractor receives payment from the owner for materials or products provided by the material supplier, the original contractor shall pay the material supplier for those materials and products no later than seven days after the original contractor receives the payment. An original subcontractor that receives payment under this subsection for work provided to the original subcontractor by another subcontractor, or for materials or products provided to the original subcontractor, shall pay the other subcontractor or material supplier for the work, materials or products no later than seven days after the original subcontractor receives the payment. (b) Payment is not required under this subsection unless a subcontractor or material supplier provides to the original contractor or subcontractor a billing or invoice for the work performed or materials or products supplied in compliance with the terms of the contract between the parties. Each subcontractor or material supplier must provide an appropriate waiver of any lien for labor, equipment, services, materials or products in accordance with subcontract or purchase order terms and conditions. The original contractor or subcontractor may require that such waivers of lien be notarized. (3) Any failure to reasonably account for the application or use of payments, as proven in a legal proceeding authorized under the terms of the construction contract, may constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Construction Contractors Board under ORS 701.098. (4) An original contractor that submits a billing or estimate to an owner, or an original subcontractor that submits a billing or estimate to the original contractor, may omit from the billing or estimate amounts to be withheld from payment to a subcontractor or material supplier because of: (a) Unsatisfactory work progress; (b) Defective construction work, materials or products not remedied; (c) Disputed work, materials or products, except that the withheld amount may not exceed 150 percent of the amount in dispute; (d) Failure to comply with other material provisions of the construction contract; (e) A third party claim being filed or reasonable evidence that a third party claim will be filed; (f) Failure of the subcontractor to make timely payments to subcontractors and material suppliers for labor, equipment, materials and products; (g) Damage to an original contractor, subcontractor or material supplier; (h) Reasonable evidence that the subcontract cannot be completed for the unpaid balance of the subcontract sum; or (i) Other items as allowed under the subcontract or purchase order terms and conditions. (5) An original contractor or original subcontractor may also omit from a billing or estimate a reasonable amount for retainage, except that the amount omitted may not exceed the actual percentage allowed by the construction contract, subcontract or purchase order. As used in this subsection, “retainage” has the meaning given that term in ORS 701.410. (6) If a progress or final payment to a subcontractor or material supplier is delayed by more than seven days after receipt of a progress or final payment by an original contractor or subcontractor, the original contractor or subcontractor shall pay its subcontractor or material supplier interest beginning on the eighth day, except during periods of time during which payment is withheld pursuant to subsection (4) or (5) of this section, at the rate of one and one-half percent a month or a fraction of a month on the unpaid balance or at such higher rate as the parties agree. (7) In any action, claim or arbitration brought to collect interest under this section, the prevailing party shall be awarded costs and reasonable attorney fees. [2003 c.675 §56; 2011 c.553 §3] Note: See note under 701.620.