California Code, Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 5393

When suit has been brought to collect the amount due upon any assessment, the plaintiff shall file with the superintendent of streets a written notice of the pendency of the action showing the particular assessments affected by the action.  After the filing of the notice, the superintendent of streets shall not receive any money on account of the assessment, and he shall have no authority to cancel the assessment or give any discharge thereof without the written consent of the owner of the assessment until judgment has been rendered in the action or the same has been dismissed and the street superintendent shall omit from the list of properties provided to be sent to the tax collector, any property upon which the assessment described in the notice is a lien.