The lien under section 2A:44-158 of this title shall not be affected in any way by the recovery of a judgment or the taking of a bill or note for the money due for labor or material; or by the processor having released, delivered, relinquished, shipped or surrendered property of the debtor without having been paid in full at the time of the release, delivery, relinquishment, shipment or surrender; or by any extension of credit by the processor to any person at any time. The lien may be enforced as though the judgment had not been recovered; the bill or note had not been taken; the goods had not been released, delivered, relinquished, shipped or surrendered without full payment; or the processor had not agreed to extend credit. The lien and the indebtedness under section 2A:44-158 of this title may be assigned without impairing the lien, and the lien may be enforced by the assignee directly, or on his behalf by the assignor, to the extent of the indebtedness so assigned.
N.J.S. § 2A:44-159