John M. Keltch, Inc. v. Don Hoyt, Inc.

John M. Keltch, Inc. brought this action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien. Old National Bank of Washington counterclaimed, asserting that it held a prior mortgage which constituted a paramount lien. Old National Bank held the mortgage under assignment from the Bank of Richland, which in turn had held it under assignment from the original mortgagee, Pacific Investment Company. The trial court found the mortgage lien of Old National Bank superior to the mechanic’s lien of Keltch, and from that judgment Keltch appeals. Other lien claimants were involved in this litigation at the trial court level;…