Three and a half months after officially opening, at least four active and unpaid construction work claims worth $3.38 million have been filed by four subcontractors on the $5 billion, 3.1-million square foot SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, according to the LA County clerk’s office.
All four claimant subcontractors, the project’s general contractor, and the property owners have yet to respond to requests comment.
Beyond the construction liens – more commonly known as mechanics liens – filed against the indoor-outdoor NFL stadium and entertainment complex, the new home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
Prior to opening its doors on Sept. 8, 2020, at least one construction worker was killed at the project. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the jobsite became a hotspot of its own, resulting in nearly 50 construction workers contracting the COVID-19 virus by late July 2020.
An influx of mechanics lien claims were filed against the joint venture general contractor overlooking the project in Turner AECOM Hunt, along with property owners Stadco LA, LLC and Pincay RE, LLC.
One of the largest mechanics liens to be filed against SoFi Stadium has since been released. In March of 2020, subcontractor Smith Emery Company placed a $4.4 million lien against the facility. The lien, which was filed against both property owners on March 10th, was later released on March 18th, according to the Los Angeles County clerk’s office.
The chief financial officer (CFO) from Smith Emery Company that filed the now-satisfied $4.4 million lien has yet to respond to a request for comment.
When a lien is released, the unpaid construction work claim is canceled, indicating that the debt has been settled. A lien release also signals that the claim has been removed from the property title.
A mechanics lien is a debt recovery tool widely used by unpaid contractors and suppliers to gain a security interest in serviced property. Until the claim has been paid for, a contractor’s lien can prevent a property owner from selling or refinancing the property.
Each unpaid construction work claim was processed under California mechanics lien statutes.
Four active liens placed on SoFi Stadium as of December 2020
Of the many contractors and suppliers hired to build the SoFi Stadium, at least four have active mechanics lien claims worth a combined $3,389,251.42 against the multipurpose complex, located at 1000 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA.
The largest of the four active liens totals $2,937,042.50 in unpaid work, filed by concrete reinforcement subcontractor Alamillo Rebar on November 3, 2020. Alamillo Rebar’s lien was filed directly against property owners Stadco LA and Pincay RE.
Seven days later on November 10th, subcontractor Global Electric filed the second-largest lien to date, claiming $226,144.38 pursuant to a contract with the property owners.
The most recent lien filed to date came on December 8th from electrical subcontractor GEC2, claiming $185,088.04 in unpaid work elecusivally owed by Stadco LA.
On November 4th, millwork subcontractor W.B. Powell filed a lien worth $40,976, naming general contractor Turner AECOM Hunt.
Back in January of 2014, the LA Times reported Pincay RE is a holding company owned by the Los Angeles Rams’ team owner, Stan Kroenke.
According to a Memorandum of Lease filing with the Los Angeles County clerk’s office in June of 2018, Stadco LA is leasing SoFi Stadium from Pincay RE.
Construction worker killed by fall at SoFi Stadium in June 2020
On June 5, 2020, one of general contractor Turner AECOM Hunt’s construction workers was killed at SoFi Stadium after falling off a roof, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Construction at SoFi Stadium resumed two days after the death of the 37-year-old construction worker from Brownsville, Texas.
Turner AECOM Hunt released the following statement published by NBC Los Angeles shortly after the fatal incident occurred:
“This is an extremely sad day. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.
We work extremely hard to prevent days like this and we have halted all construction activity. Counseling services will be made available to all workers on site to support them in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”
SoFi Stadium project marred by COVID-19 since pandemic’s start
Amid the initial statewide “Safe at Home” orders in California from March 19th, one of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 at SoFi Stadium was reported on March 28th surrounding a construction worker employed by The Herrick Corporation.
By July 17, 2020, at least 49 construction workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus at SoFi Stadium.
One month prior in June, the Los Angeles Times reported the L.A. County Department of Public Health had begun an open investigation surrounding the rise of COVID-19 cases at the SoFi Stadium project.
In a statement published by the Los Angeles Times in July of 2020, Turner AECOM Hunt explained they had a “robust mitigation program” in place to combat the spread of coronavirus at SoFi Stadium.