Opinion ID: 2207252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Priority Issue.

Text: This suit to force reconveyance of the land was filed before Harry gave his mortgage to the bank to secure a preexisting indebtedness. Iowa Code section 617.11 (1987) provides: When so indexed [as lis pendens said action shall be considered pending so as to charge all third persons with notice of its pendency, and while pending no interest can be acquired by third persons in the subject matter thereof as against the plaintiff's rights. The brothers' amended petition was filed on July 28, 1987, and was indexed in the lis pendens records of Pottawattamie County. The bank's mortgage was not taken until December 1987, several months later. The bank's mortgage, therefore, was taken with constructive notice of the pendency of the brothers' claim of interest in the land, and the bank may not acquire an interest superior to the brothers' claim, if it is established at trial. See Iowa Code § 617.11. We reverse and remand this case for a new trial. REVERSED AND REMANDED.