I'm no attorney, don't rely on me. Your friend needs a competent attorney. Recovery of fees can happen in some instances. Everything I know is based on Minnesota law. Other states could be different. An attorney trying to invalidate a lien for his client has many approaches. Mis-speling, improper filing, mistake in the legal description, not filed timely, etc. A lien is worthless without the ability to foreclose. The foreclosure process is fraught with booby traps. How much $ is at stake?