(1)(a) A customer or a person of record claiming a lien against a motor vehicle may obtain the release of the motor vehicle from any lien claimed under part II of chapter 713 by a motor vehicle repair shop for repair work performed under a written repair estimate by filing with the clerk of the court in the circuit in which the disputed transaction occurred a cash or surety bond, payable to the person claiming the lien and conditioned for the payment of any judgment which may be entered on the lien. The bond shall be in the amount stated on the invoice required by s. 559.911, plus accrued storage charges, if any, less any amount paid to the motor vehicle repair shop as indicated on the invoice. The customer or person shall not be required to institute judicial proceedings in order to post the bond in the registry of the court and shall not be required to use a particular form for posting the bond unless the clerk provides such form to the customer or person for filing. Upon the posting of such bond, the clerk of the court shall automatically issue a certificate notifying the lienor of the posting of the bond and directing the lienor to release the motor vehicle.

(b) The lienor shall have 60 days to file suit to recover the bond. The prevailing party in that action may be entitled to damages plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees. If the lienor fails to file suit within 60 days after the posting of such bond, the bond shall be discharged by the clerk.

(2) The failure of a lienor to release or return to the customer or person the motor vehicle upon which any lien is claimed, upon receiving a copy of a certificate giving notice of the posting of the bond and directing release of the motor vehicle, shall subject the lienor to judicial proceedings which may be brought by the customer or person to compel compliance with the certificate. Whenever a customer or person brings an action to compel compliance with the certificate, the customer or person need only establish that:

(a) Bond in the amount of the invoice, plus accrued storage charges, if any, less any amount paid to the motor vehicle repair shop as indicated on the invoice, was posted;

(b) A certificate was issued pursuant to this section;

(c) The motor vehicle repair shop, or any employee or agent thereof who is authorized to release the motor vehicle, received a copy of a certificate issued pursuant to this section; and

(d) The motor vehicle repair shop or employee authorized to release the motor vehicle failed to release the motor vehicle.

The customer or person, upon a judgment in her or his favor in an action brought under this subsection, may be entitled to damages plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees sustained by her or him by reason of such wrongful detention or retention. Upon a judgment in favor of the motor vehicle repair shop, the shop may be entitled to reasonable attorney fees.

(3) A motor vehicle repair shop that, or an employee or agent thereof who is authorized to release the motor vehicle who, upon receiving a copy of a certificate giving notice of the posting of the bond in the required amount and directing release of the motor vehicle, fails to release or return the property to the customer or person pursuant to this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(4) A customer or person who stops payment on a credit card charge or a check drawn in favor of a motor vehicle repair shop on account of an invoice or who fails to post a cash or surety bond pursuant to this section shall be prohibited from any recourse under this section with respect to the motor vehicle repair shop.

History.—s. 1, ch. 80-139; s. 147, ch. 91-224; s. 827, ch. 97-103; s. 1, ch. 2019-73.