In 2019, the Louisiana Legislature passed a series of significant changes to the Louisiana Private Works Act ("PWA"),1 which provides a privilege (also known as a "lien") in favor of certain claimants who perform work or supply materials in connection with the improvement of property.2 These changes went into effect on January 1, 2020.
But before we jump into the changes, a few basics. "The Private Works Act was enacted to facilitate construction of improvements on immovable property and does so by granting to subcontractors, among others, two rights to facilitate recovery of the costs of their work from the owner with whom they lack privity of contract."3The first right is a statutory claim, or the right to personally sue the owner for the amount that is owed.4 The second right is a privilege on the immovable constructed, repaired, or improved, which secures the claim against the owner.5