Proposed developers of property that county had acquired from property owner filed notice of lis pendens claiming a construction lien on the property, which had been reacquired by owner via a foreclosure sale, and seeking to recover $8,607,898.68 in expenses they had incurred in anticipation of the development project.
The Chancery Court entered judgment dismissing developers’ claims with prejudice and awarding owner $200,000 in damages based on an earlier agreed order. Developers filed motion for reconsideration, which was denied, and then appealed.
The Supreme Court held that:
- Developers could not establish a valid construction lien against the property;
- Lease-purchase agreement between county and developers did not enable developers to place the construction lien; and
- Developers lacked standing to challenge the transfer of funds between county and owner.