On smaller projects like yours the lien is typically placed when final payment is refused.If there is a disagreement that would have to be tried in civil court or hopefully there is an arbitration clause in the contract because it is much less expensive but probably not worth it for a flooring job.

Its under the civil cases.Every so often someone would write my parents and ask them about the judgement as he a few times tried to get owner financing on a new home to get a bigger one. 

Sew, how’s the litigation going?

i don't think getting code enforcement and an attorney involved at step 1 is a good idea..litigation should be used as a last resort after the landlord ignores your requests ( and keeps receiving rents) --it shouldn't be used as a blanket threat each time there's something wrong with the property...first get in touch with the landlord...if the owner is using a property management company, then i'd explain the situation to them..sadly, they may not care though...is this your first winter in the house?

Can anything be done to make this right short of litigation?

this way, the LLC is on the hook for litigous suits from tenants.

@Adam Craig This is a civil law question, not a real estate law question.  

All that litigation and the title is clean?

He is a Civil Engineer, which is nice since we have done a lot of the work in-house.

Asking a civilized society to just do away with rules, regulations and laws is rather delusional. :)