A lien gives you a right in or over property as security for a debt someone owes you While there are several different types of tunnel rush, as an individual you probably are filing either a mechanic's lien or a judgement lien. Mechanic's liens enable contractors to collect money they earned doing work by encumbering the property they worked on until the debt is satisfied. A judgment lien allows you to secure the collection of a court-awarded judgment at the completion of a lawsuit.