Opinion ID: 6342604
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: Wilkinson, as buyer, and Ford, as seller, entered into a contract on August 30, 2019, for the purchase of commercial real estate located in Dawson County, Nebraska. The sale price was $325,000, and the transaction was set to close on November 20. Wilkinson sought an extension of the closing date, which was permitted by the parties’ contract assuming that Wilkinson advanced earnest money to Ford. That advance was made, and closing was set for December 4. On November 21, 2019, the real estate agent who had been representing both buyer and seller informed Wilkinson that the agreement had been declared void by Ford. During the same time period, the agent was communicating with PSK about the possibility of PSK purchasing the property. On November 21, 2019, Wilkinson delivered the full pur- chase price to the closing agent and notified the agent that - 478 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports WILKINSON DEVELOPMENT v. FORD & FORD INVESTMENTS Cite as 311 Neb. 476 it had done so. On November 22, a purchase agreement between PSK and Ford was signed at a price of $365,000, with closing set for November 26. There is evidence in the record indicating that at that time, Wilkinson was unaware of the negotiations or agreement Ford had reached with PSK. On November 25, 2019, Wilkinson filed a complaint for specific performance. On November 26, Wilkinson filed a notice of lis pendens with the Dawson County register of deeds. Also on November 26, Ford and PSK entered into a second purchase agreement with a closing date of December 17. On December 4, the closing agent for the PSK/Ford agreement informed the parties to that agreement that it could not offer title insurance because of the existence of the Wilkinson/Ford agreement. Ford was served with a summons for the specific performance complaint on December 6. PSK and Ford closed the sale for the property on December 16, 2019. On December 19, a partnership warranty deed from Ford to PSK was recorded with the Dawson County register of deeds. On March 4, 2021, the district court granted Wilkinson’s complaint for specific performance. Ford did not appeal this determination and does not appear in this appeal. On March 26, PSK sought vacation of the decree and an order of joinder. A hearing was held on that motion and evidence was offered. The district court denied PSK’s motion. PSK appeals. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR PSK assigns that the district court erred in determining that (1) joinder of PSK was not necessary to provide the court with subject matter jurisdiction; (2) the Nebraska lis pendens statute eliminated Wilkinson’s and the court’s obligation to join PSK; (3) knowledge of a third party’s interest in the subject property, acquired after the commencement of the action, does not give rise to the compulsory joinder requirement of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-323 (Reissue 2016); (4) PSK had no interest in the subject property so as to require joinder; (5) PSK knew a - 479 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports WILKINSON DEVELOPMENT v. FORD & FORD INVESTMENTS Cite as 311 Neb. 476 valid, binding contract existed between Ford and Wilkinson at the time it executed the PSK contract; and (6) PSK knew that Wilkinson had paid the full purchase price for the property to the escrow agent at the time it executed the PSK contract.