(a) No release of the cause or causes of action or of any judgment thereon or any covenant not to bring an action thereon shall be valid or effectual against the lien created by Code Section 44-14-470 unless the holder thereof shall join therein or execute a release of the lien; and the claimant or assignee of the lien may enforce the lien by an action against the person, firm, or corporation liable for the damages. If the claimant prevails in the action, the court may allow reasonable attorney's fees. The action shall be commenced against the person liable for the damages within one year after the date the liability is finally determined by a settlement, by a release, by a covenant not to bring an action, or by the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) No release or covenant not to bring an action which is made within ten days after the patient was discharged from the hospital shall be effective against the lien perfected in due time as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, regardless of whether the release, covenant not to bring an action, or settlement was made prior to the time of the filing of the lien as specified in Code Sections 44-14-470 and 44-14-471; provided, however, that any person, firm, or corporation which consummates a settlement, release, or covenant not to bring an action with the person to whom hospital service or treatment was furnished and which first procures therefrom an affidavit as prescribed in subsection (c) of this Code section shall not be bound or otherwise affected by the lien except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, regardless of when the settlement, release, or covenant not to bring an action was consummated.

(c) The affidavit shall affirm:

(1) That all hospital bills incurred for treatment for the injuries for which a settlement is made have been fully paid; and

(2) The county of residence of such affiant, if a resident of this state;

provided, however, that the person taking the affidavit shall not be protected thereby where the affidavit alleges the county of the affiant's residence and the lien of the claimant is at such time on file in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county and is recorded in the name of the patient as it appears in the affidavit.