{"id":11059,"date":"2026-11-11T04:27:13","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T04:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/business-litigation\/payment-bond-claim-litigation-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T04:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T04:27:21","slug":"payment-bond-claim-litigation-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lawayala.com\/resources\/business-litigation\/payment-bond-claim-litigation-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Payment Bond Claim Lawsuit in Florida | Ayala Law PA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Construction Litigation | Tampa Bay and Florida<\/p>

Payment Bond Claim Lawsuits in Florida<\/h1>

Ayala Law PA helps contractors, subcontractors and suppliers pursue unpaid work on Florida construction projects, from reviewing the bond to taking the claim to court.<\/p>

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By Eduardo A. Maura \u00b7 Published November 10, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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You did the work or supplied the materials, and the payment never came. A payment bond claim lawsuit in Florida asks a court to collect that unpaid amount through the bond that backed the project. For many of these claims, Florida law requires suit within one year after your last furnishing of labor, services or materials.<\/p>\n

This guide explains who can file, how public and private projects differ, why dates control the claim, and what a lawsuit involves. The right steps depend on your contract, your dates and your project paperwork.<\/p>\n

Who Can File a Payment Bond Claim in Florida?<\/h2>\n

Subcontractors, sub-subcontractors and material suppliers are often the parties left unpaid on a project. They furnished labor, services or materials to the construction job. When the contractor doesn’t pay, the bond may give you a second source of payment. The surety, the company that backed the contractor’s bond, becomes a central party in the case. If the contractor can’t pay, the bond may be your main route to the money.<\/p>\n

Your claim usually seeks the unpaid balance on your contract or purchase order. A judgment can also carry interest. Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 55.03<\/a>, the rate is fixed when the judgment is entered and adjusted each January 1 until it is paid, unless a written contract sets its own rate.<\/p>\n\n

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If you're owed money on a project you finished or supplied, our team can talk through your dates and paperwork with you. Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.<\/p>

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Public and Private Projects: Which Bond Rules Apply<\/h2>\n

Florida’s one-year rule covers both private and public work, but it has exceptions for some claims. A public project is paid for by a government owner, such as a city, county or state agency.<\/p>\n

The one-year rule applies to private work as well as public work. It does not cover every bond action, though. The same statute excludes actions governed by section 255.05(10), section 337.18(1) and section 713.23(1)(e). Those claims need a separate review, so don’t assume the one-year rule fits. Florida’s statute of limitations for many civil actions is set out in Fla. Stat. \u00a7 95.11<\/a>. Florida’s rules are written by statute, so the exact text matters more than general rules of thumb.<\/p>\n

Gather these items now:<\/p>\n