3959 A public entity's failure to require a contractor on a public project to furnish a payment bond may make it liable to a subcontractor who is unable to collect from the contractor for work done on the project.
HEATHORN v COUNTY OF SAN MATEO (No Bond) 126 CA4 1526 [See: GovC 815.6; CivC 3247; Caldwell v Montoya 10 C4 972, T/AT 9/95; Haggis v City 22 C4 490, T/AT 4/00; Rankin v City of Murrieta 84 CA4 605, T/AT 12/00]
No guarantees.
Always check current status of cases before citing them.