NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE 

## A RIZONA 

## C OURT OF 

## A PPEALS

D IVISION O NE

AMERICAN WEST BANK, et al., Plaintiffs/Appellees ,

v.
SANDY G. KELLIN, Defendant/Appellant

.

No. 1 CA

- CV 18

- 0060

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County

No. CV2014

- 095947 The Honorable Margaret Benny , Judge Pro Tempore

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. , Phoenix By Steven D. Jerome, Benjamin W. Reeves, James G. Florentine Counsel for Plaintiff

s/Appellees

Clark Hill PLC , Scottsdale By Ryan J. Lorenz Counsel for Defendant/Appellant FILED 11-27-2018AWB, et al. v. KELLIN Decision of the Court

2 MEMORANDUM DECISION Judge Maria Elena Cruz delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Diane M. Johnsen and Judge Randall M. Howe joined.

C R U Z , Judge:
¶1 Sandy G. Kellin (“Kellin”) appeals the superior court’s order granting a writ of execution against a home in Carefree in satisfaction of a judgment issued in Utah , and domesticated in Arizona , in favor of Banner Bank (“Banner”), the successor

- in

- interest of American West Bank (“AWB”) . For the following reason s, we affirm the court’s order.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY ¶2 In October 2007 Kellin executed a promissory note payable to Far West Bank, a division of AWB, in the principal sum of $1,120,000. A month later, Kellin and another man exe cuted a second promissory note in the principal sum of $958,000. As collateral for the two notes, Kellin executed deeds of trust on real property located in Utah. Kellin’ s wife, Robyn Kellin (“Wife”) , did not sign the promissory notes or the deeds of tru st. Ke llin defaulted under the notes. ¶3 Upon Kellin’s default, AWB foreclosed on the Utah real property subject to the deed of trust, then obtained a deficiency judgment against Kellin in the amount o f $1,285,777.89, plus interest. ¶4 While the proceedings in Utah were pending, Kellin and Wife completed various transfers of a home in Carefree (“Carefree Property”). The most recent of those transactions was a conveyance from themselves to SRK, LLC, for ten dollars. Kellin and Wife own SRK. ¶5 Banner properly dome sticated its Utah deficiency judgment in Arizona pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 12

- 1702

. Banner then moved in the superior court of Arizona to obtain a writ of special execution to foreclose on its judgment lien on the Carefree Property. In support of its request for a writ, Banner argued that (1) it had a valid unsatisfied judgment against Kellin ; (2) Banner was entitled under A.R.S. § 12

- 1551 to have the writ of execution issue d against the Carefree Property; and (3) the tra nsfers between Kellin, Wife, and SRK were fraudulent under A.R.S. §§ 44

- 1004(A)(1)

- (2) , and 44

- 1005

.AWB, et al. v. KELLIN Decision of the Court

3 ¶6 The superior court ruled Kellin was subject to a valid judgment, then issued the writ of execution against SRK and ordered the judgment lien against the Ca refree Property be foreclosed and sold. The court also ruled the transfers of the Carefree Property between Kellin, Wife, and SRK were fraudulent under A.R.S

. §§ 44

- 1004(A)(1)

- ( 2) and 44

- 1005 , and that Banner therefore was entitled to avoid the transfers under A.R.S. §§ 44

- 1007 and 12

- 1635

. Kellin now appeals; we have jurisdiction under A.R.S. § 12

- 2101(A)(2)

. DISCUSSION ¶7 The first issue is whether the debt underlying the domesticated judgment is enforceable against the community

. ¶8 Kellin asserts the Carefree Property is owned by the community , and argues that A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C) prevents execution because Wife did not sign the notes on which the Utah judgment was based

. 1 Section 25

- 214(C) states, “Either spouse separately may . . . bind the community , except that joinder of both spouses is required in . . . [a]ny transaction for the acquisition, disposition or encumbrance of an interest in real property” and “any transaction of guara nty, indemnity or suretyship.” ¶9 In support of his contention, Kellin fi rst cites Rackmaster Sys., Inc. v. Maderia , 219 Ariz. 60 (App. 2008) , and other cases involving guaranty obligations executed by one , but not both , spouses. See A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C)

. But the obligations here did not arise out of a guaranty Kellin executed without Wife , and Kellin does not argue otherwise

. ¶10 Kellin also argues that § 25

- 214(C) applies because the notes he signed were secured by deeds of trust on real property in Utah , and the notes and the deeds of trust must be viewed as parts of the same tra nsaction . But the judgment entered against him arose from the notes he signed, not from the deeds of trust. Promissory notes and deeds of trust are not one and the same. Instead, they are “distinct instruments that serve different purposes.” Hogan v. W ashington Mut. Bank, N.A. , 230 Ariz. 584, 587 , ¶ 10 (2012) . Contrary to Kellin ’ s argument, p romissory n otes do not

1 Appellee Banner filed a motion to dismiss the appeal arguing Kellin lacks standing to challenge execution of the writ under A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C) , and further arguing Wife and SRK waived their rights to challenge the appealed order. Assuming without deciding that Kellin has standing to bring this appeal, because we determine A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C) is inapplicable, we deny the motion as moot.AWB, et al. v. KELLIN Decision of the Court

4 convey interests in real property. “T he note is a contract that evi dences the loan and the obligor’ s duty to repay. ” Id. “ The trust deed transfers an interest in real property, securing the repayment of the money owed under the note. ” Id. See A.R.S. §§ 33

- 801(4) , - 801(8),

- 801(9),

- 805,

- 807(A)

. ¶11 Because none of the statutory exceptions apply, the notes Kellin executed necessarily fall und er the general principle that “ [ e ] ither spouse separately may

. . . bind the community [

. ] ” A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C)

. I n fact, “[i] t is well settled in this State that execution of a note by the husband, in the absence of any evidence that the obligation was no t a community one, binds the community composed of the husband and wife.” Bainum v. Roundy , 21 Ariz. App. 534, 536 (1974) ( citation omitted) . Kellin acknowledges the presumption that a debt assumed by one spouse during a marriage is a community debt . However, aside from his arguments under A.R.S. § 25

- 214 , which we find unpersuasive , Kellin does not argue why that presumption does not apply here. ¶12 Kellin admits the deficiency judgment at issue here arises from the promissory notes he signed while mar ried to Wife. AWB sued Kellin on the promissory notes after AWB had foreclosed on the deeds of trust. The foreclosure in Utah extinguished the deeds of trust , and a deficiency remained under the promissory notes. The satisfaction of the resulting defici ency judgment , separate from the deeds of trust, is what the superior court ordered when it issued the writ of execution for the sale of a community asset, the Carefree Property. The notes Kellin signed documented a transaction in which he borrowed money and promised to repay it. Because the notes did not constitute a transaction for the acquisition, disposition or encumbrance of an interest in real property , and because he did not , by signing the notes , offer a guaranty, indemnity or suretyship , the prot ections of A.R.S. § 25

- 214(C) do not apply here. Therefore, we conclude the debt incurred by Kellin when he signed the promissory notes is enforceable against the community. ¶13 Having determined the debt is enforceable against the community, next we turn to the question of whether the superior court properly ruled that Banner may force the sale of the Care free Property to apply the proceeds towards satisfaction of the judgment

. ¶14 Kellin argues the superior court violated his due process rights by ruling transfe rs of the Carefree Property between Kellin, Wife, and SRK were fraudulent under A.R.S. §§ 44

- 1004(A)(1)

- (2), and 44

- 1005

. Constitutional challenges of due process violations are issues of law , which we review de novo

. Mack v. Cruikshank , 196 Ariz. 541, 5 4 4 , ¶ 6 (App. 1999)

.AWB, et al. v. KELLIN Decision of the Court

5 ¶15 To satisfy the requirements under the Constitution, due process “at a minimum requires notice and an opportunity to be heard

. ” Wohlstrom v. Buchanan , 180 Ariz. 389, 392 (1994) (citation omitted). A party must at least have “a chance to offer evidence and confront adverse witnesses.” Cruz v. Garcia , 240 Ariz. 233, 236, ¶ 11 (App. 2016)

. Kellin was afforded these rights before the superior court ruled finding the transfers fraudulent

. ¶16 In Banner’s original motion for an issuance of a writ of special execution, Banner argued the transfers of the Carefree Property between Kellin, Wife , and SRK were fraudulent. Kellin was served with the motion and chose not to respond to the specific allegation of fraudulent transfers under §§ 44

- 1004(A )(1)

- (2), and 44

- 1005

. Due process requirements were satisfied when Kellin was put on notice of Banner’s claims and was given the opportunity to respond. Wohlstrom , 180 Ariz. at 392

. ¶17 Kellin also argues the court’s order finding the transfers fraudulent is defective because Banner did not follow the proper procedure to avoid the transfers set forth under A.R.S. § 44

- 1007(A)(1) , by first applying for a writ of garnishment. Whether the statute requires that a creditor seeking to sa tisfy its claim must first apply for a writ of garnishment is a question of law. We review de novo a superior court ’ s interpretation of a statute and its conclusions of law. Milner v. Colonial Tr. Co

. , 198 Ariz. 24, 26 (App. 2000)

. When the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, a court should not look beyond the language, but rather “simply ‘apply it without using other means of construction,’ assuming that the legislature has said what it means.” Hughes v. Jorgenson , 203 Ariz. 71, 73, ¶ 11 (2 002) , quoting UNUM Life Ins. Co. v. Craig , 200 Ariz. 327, 330 , ¶ 12 (2001)

. ¶18 Section 44

- 1 0 07(A)(1)

- (2) states,

A. In an action for relief against a transfer or obligation under this article, a creditor, subject to the limitations in §§ 44

- 1008 and 44

- 1009, may obtain one or more of the following remedies: 1. Garnishment against the fraudulent transferee or the recipient of the fraudulent obligation, in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law in obtaining such remedy.
2. Avoidance of the transfer or obligation to the extent

ne cessary to satisfy the creditor’ s claim.AWB, et al. v. KELLIN Decision of the Court

6 ¶19 The language “may obtain one or more of the following remedies” is unambiguous. The creditor may choose to pursue one or several of the enumerated remedies. Nothing within the statute su ggests a creditor must apply for a writ of garnishment before it may avail itself of the remedy of avoidance of the transfer. The superior court did not specify the section of A.R.S. § 44

- 1007(A)(1) under wh ich it ruled, but stated, “the B ank is entitled under §§ 44

- 1007 and 12

- 1635 to a void the transfers to the extent necessary to allow the issuance [sic] a special writ of execution against SRK for the foreclosure of the judgment lien heretofore recorded against the Carefree Property so that the Property may be sold and the proceeds applied to the Judgment .” (Emphasis added )

. W hether the superior court afforded Banner the option of any remedy under § 44

- 1007 or ruled under § 44

- 1007(A)(2) , an interpretation strongly supported by the fact that the court’s ruling references the sale of the Carefree Property in satisfaction of the judgment, the court ’ s order declaring the transfers fraudulent is supported by the evidence in the record and the court ’ s findings of fact that the various transfers of title betwe en and among Kellin, Wife , and SRK without reasonable equivalent of value evidenced fraudule nt intent. As such, we affirm.

CONCLUSION ¶20 For the forgoing reasons, we affirm the superior court’s ruling. Kellin’s requests for fees and costs under A.R.S. §§ 12

- 341.01 , - 3 49 , and

- 350 are denied. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 12

- 341.01 , we award Banner its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs on appeal, subject to compliance with ARCAP 21

.