Spanish Main Yacht Club faces $13M lien from restoration company

Spanish Main Yacht Club is still in the midst of recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and now the condominium community is facing a $13.5 million lien from a Servpro crew.

According to the claim of lien document from the Manatee County Clerk of the Courts, Servpro filed the lien on Jan. 20 for $13,521,635.46. 

“This claim of lien shall apply against all of the units in the condominium according to their respective percentage of the common expenses of the condominium,” the lien states. 

The lien was signed by Cody Michael, who represents Servpro of Saginaw, Michigan. 

In a previous article in the Longboat Observer, Spanish Main board members explained the crew was sent from Michigan through collaboration with the Servpro office in Sarasota. 

During the immediate response after the hurricanes, the Servpro crew from Michigan assisted the Spanish Main Yacht Club community with demolition and water remediation, thus requiring labor, services and parts, which are explained in the lien. 

The total value of that work was $$13,521,635.46, according to Servpro in the lien, and that balance remains unpaid. 

Servpro did not provide specific information about the situation with the Spanish Main Yacht Club. 

“A lien is a common practice used by contractors when payment is not received for work completed. I don’t have any further details to share at this time,” said a spokesperson from Servpro. 

According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, a lien is valid for up to one year, and the property owner has a right to file a Notice of Contest of Lien during that period to fight the lien. 

The Florida State Statute describes that a lien can be discharged through a number of methods, first by satisfying the lien to the acceptance of the lienor or lienor’s agent. 

If the lien is paid off or the lienor agrees it has been satisfied, then the lienor can submit a satisfaction or release of the lien. 

Additionally, if the lienor does not begin an action to enforce the lien within the year period, the lien would be discharged. 

Florida State Statute 718.121 states each individual owner of a condominium parcel may relieve their parcel of the lien “by payment of the proportionate amount attributable to his or her condominium parcel.” 

With 212 units in Spanish Main, that would be about $63,679 per unit. 

Liens may also complicate the process of selling an individual unit or parcel. If the lien holds up and is not satisfied by the property owners, this could also lead to foreclosure. 

Board members Joan Sherry, Margaret Dugan and Jeffery Love did not respond to the Observer’s calls as of Feb. 16.