A Southern California homeowner is warning others to closely monitor their property records after discovering multimillion-dollar mechanics liens filed against her home by someone she says she has never met or done business with.
Marjorie Josephat, who recently completed renovations on her Benedict Canyon property and was preparing to sell, said she was stunned to learn that two separate liens — each claiming more than $24 million in unpaid work — had been recorded against her home.
“We can’t sell with the cloud on the title, and this is a cloud on the title,” Josephat said.
Claims of Millions in ‘Unpaid Services’
According to property records reviewed in a television investigation by ABC7 Los Angeles, the liens allege that extensive services — including cleaning and business consulting — were performed but never paid for.
The filings were submitted by Ortiz Consulting LLC, whose registered agent is Rita Ortiz.
Josephat says she has never hired Ortiz or her company.
“I don’t know who Rita Ortiz is,” she said.
Shortly after Josephat spoke publicly about the issue, a third lien was recorded against her property — this time claiming more than $98 million in additional unpaid work.
Neighbors Also Affected
Investigators reported that at least three of Josephat’s neighbors have also been hit with similar liens, each listing about $24.6 million in alleged unpaid services.
All of them say they never conducted business with Ortiz.
Legal experts say the situation highlights a vulnerability in California’s lien system.
Attorney Bruce Rudman, who specializes in mechanics liens but is not connected to the case, said filing one requires minimal documentation.
“You fill in a form and hand them a check, and they will record the document,” he explained, adding he had “never seen anything like this.”
Difficult and Costly to Remove
Under California law, homeowners typically have only two options to remove a lien:
- The filer voluntarily withdraws it, or
- The homeowner challenges it in court — a process that can take time and cost thousands of dollars in legal fees.
Josephat said the liens have effectively blocked her ability to sell her property while the dispute continues.
Criminal Investigation Underway
Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed they have active criminal investigations into the filings.
Ortiz declined an interview request but told reporters via text messages that she believed the homeowners damaged her property and claimed she had performed cleaning work for years.
Court documents also show that a deed previously linked to Ortiz involving Josephat’s home was later voided by a court.
Warning to Property Owners
Josephat said she is speaking out to warn other homeowners to regularly check county records to ensure no fraudulent claims have been filed against their property.
“This could happen to anyone,” she said.
