Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: levying

A levy assesses damages for the immediate payment to a lawful creditor, i.e. you owe money to the state and it levies your bank account.

A lien (not "lein") is by a creditor to a debtor for future payment, i.e. have several personal injury cases where the doctors treating the injured client have liens on the case and will wait until the client is paid for their money.