PARKWAY v. ZIVKOVIC

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF ARIZONA DIVISION ONE DIVISION ONE FILED: 6/13/2013 RUTH A. WILLINGHAM, CLERK BY: mjt PARKWAY BANK AND TRUST COMPANY ) No. 1 CA-CV 12-0612 an Illinois banking association, ) ) DEPARTMENT A Plaintiff/Appellee, ) ) O P I N I O N v. ) ) JOSEPH ZIVKOVIC and DEANNA ) ZIVKOVIC, husband and wife; ) EQUINOX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ) an Illinois corporation, ) ) Defendants/Appellants. ) ) Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. CV 2011-004866 The Honorable George H. Foster, Jr., Judge VACATED AND REMANDED Charles L. Firestein, P.C. by Charles L. Firestein Phoenix and Leighton & Abdo, PLLC By Nicholas C. Abdo Jason D. Leighton Joshua W. Leighton Attorneys for Appellant Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. by Michael A. Bosco, Jr. Kevin P. Nelson Paul D. Cardon Attorneys for Appellee Scottsdale Phoenix H A L L, Judge ¶1 This deficiency (A.R.S.) waived appeal presents protections section by the the afforded 33-814(G) trustor. issue by (Supp. whether Arizona 2012) Because Revised may we the be anti- Statutes prospectively conclude that such protections serve an important public purpose and may not be waived, we vacate the partial summary judgment for Parkway Bank and Trust Company (Parkway) and remand for proceedings consistent with this Opinion. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ¶2 21, The following facts are not disputed. 2006, Parkway Development provided Corporation an $894,703.85 (Equinox), an the loan, Parkway. Equinox executed a loan Illinois which Joseph Zivkovic acts as President. On November to Equinox corporation of As consideration for promissory note in favor of On the same date, Zivkovic and his wife executed a Deed of Trust and Assignment of Rents to a property in Mesa, Arizona (the property) in favor of Parkway. contained a provision that expressly The Deed of Trust waived all rights or defenses arising from anti-deficiency law. ¶3 In May 2009, Parkway and Joseph Zivkovic renegotiated the terms of the loan to Equinox. Zivkovic executed a promissory 2 note On May 21, 2009, Joseph in favor of Parkway, becoming the named borrower for the $894,703.85 loan originally extended to Equinox. The promissory note provided that Joseph Zivkovic would make interest only payments each month and the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest would be paid in full upon maturity, on May 21, 2010. The promissory note also incorporated by reference the 2006 Deed of Trust and Assignment of Rents and contained a provision choosing the law of Illinois as the governing law. As additional security, Equinox executed a commercial guaranty in favor of Parkway, guaranteeing full performance of promissory note. Joseph Zivkovic s obligations under the On the same date, Deanna Zivkovic executed a modification of Deed of Trust removing her name from the 2006 document. ¶4 21, 2010. Joseph Zivkovic failed to pay the amount due on May On July 22, 2010, Parkway declared Joseph Zivkovic in default on the loan. On December 9, 2010, the property was sold through a trustee s sale. Parkway was the successful bidding party with a bid of $675,000. ¶5 On March 8, 2011, Parkway filed a complaint against the Zivkovics and Equinox seeking (1) a deficiency judgment for the remaining balance due, including principal, interest, late charges [in the amount of] $277,966.06, and (2) damages for waste relating to damage to the property allegedly caused by the Zivkovics before they vacated the property. 3 Soon thereafter, the parties each filed a motion for partial summary judgment on the deficiency judgment claim. Parkway argued that, applying Illinois law, as expressly chosen by the parties in the 2009 promissory note, the deficiency (the difference between the amount realized at the trustee s sale and the amount owed on the loan) (1987) was recoverable. ( [F]oreclosure mortgagee s rights, if See of any, 735 a Ill. mortgage to obtain against any person for a deficiency. ). Comp. does a Stat. not personal 5/15-1511 affect a judgment The Zivkovics, on the other hand, argued Arizona law applies to the action and the deficiency is not recoverable pursuant to A.R.S. § 33-814(G) (barring an action to recover any difference between the amount obtained by [trustee s] sale and the amount of the indebtedness for qualifying properties). ¶6 The superior court granted Parkway s motion and denied the Zivkovics motion. Finding that the parties did not dispute any material facts, namely that the deed of trust was foreclosed by a non-judicial sale and the successful bid reflected the fair market value of the property, the court held, in relevant part: Illinois law applies to this case because the parties voluntarily chose it. All of the factors under the law, including the Restatement, have been satisfied to establish [t]he parties agreed that Illinois law would govern the substantive matters attendant to the right to a deficiency. 4 ¶7 Thereafter, the superior court reduced its minute entry ruling to a signed Rule 54(b) judgment awarding Parkway $283,360.33 plus interest, Zivkovics timely appealed. attorneys fees and costs. The We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-2101(A)(1) (Supp. 2012). DISCUSSION ¶8 granting The Zivkovics contend that the superior court erred by partial summary judgment in favor of Parkway. Specifically, the Zivkovics argue that the superior court erred by finding that Illinois law governed the action rather than Arizona law. ¶9 A court shall grant summary judgment when there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and [] the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. 56(a). 1 produced Summary in judgment support of the Ariz. R. Civ. P. should be granted if the facts claim or defense have so little probative value, given the quantum of evidence required, that reasonable people could not agree with the conclusion advanced by the proponent of the claim or defense. Orme Sch. v. Reeves, 166 Ariz. 301, 309, 802 P.2d 1000, 1008 (1990). If the evidence would allow a jury to resolve a material issue in favor of either party, summary judgment is improper. 1 United Bank of Former Arizona Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) has been renumbered as Rule 56(a), substituting the word dispute for issue. 5 Ariz. v. Allyn, 167 Ariz. 191, 195, 805 P.2d 1012, 1016 (App. 1990). ¶10 In reviewing a summary judgment, our task is to determine de novo whether any genuine issues of material fact exist and whether the trial court incorrectly applied the law. L. Harvey Concrete, Inc. v. Agro Constr. & Supply Co., 189 Ariz. 178, 180, 939 P.2d 811, 813 (App. 1997). the light most favorable judgment was entered. to the party We review the facts in against whom summary Riley, Hoggatt & Suagee v. English, 177 Ariz. 10, 12-13, 864 P.2d 1042, 1044-45 (1993). ¶11 Whether a creditor may bring an action on a deficiency judgment is a matter of substantive law. Lane Holdings, (1992). As Inc., a 173 Ariz. substantive 203, 206, matter, a Cardon v. Cotton 841 P.2d deficiency 198, 201 action is governed by Arizona choice of law rules, meaning we look to the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws as our guide in resolving choice of law questions. is governed by the law applicable Id. to A deficiency action the underlying debt. Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 229, cmt. e. The rules for ascertaining the state whose local law governs the underlying debt are set forth in Restatement (Second) §§ 18788. ¶12 Id. "If a contract includes a specific choice-of-law provision, we must determine whether that choice is valid and 6 effective under Restatement § 187." Swanson v. The Image Bank, Inc., 206 Ariz. 264, 266, ¶ 6, 77 P.3d 439, 441 (2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Choice-of-law issues are questions of law, which we decide de novo." ¶13 Id. Section 187(1) of the Restatement (Second) provides: The law of the state chosen by the parties to govern their contractual rights and duties will be applied if the particular issue is one which the parties could have resolved by an explicit provision in their agreement directed to that issue. The parties agree that Illinois law allows a party to waive anti-deficiency Arizona law protection. likewise allows Thus, a we waiver. must If decide so, Illinois choice-of-law provision is controlling. the whether parties' See Cardon, 173 Ariz. at 208, 841 P.2d at 203 (finding that, because the parties could have contractually prohibited a default judgment under Arizona or California law, the parties' contractual choice to apply California substantive law was dispositive); see also Restatement (Second) § 187 cmt. c (explaining "there is no need [] to determine the state of the applicable law" when the issue "would be decided the same way by the relevant local laws of [] the potentially interested states"). ¶14 waive If, however, Arizona law does not permit parties to anti-deficiency protections contractually, the court applies the "local law of the state selected by application" of the balancing test set forth in Restatement (Second) § 188 to 7 determine whether particular issue the by parties explicit (Second) § 187 cmt. c. could have agreement. resolved See this Restatement Under A.R.S. § 33-814(G), deficiency judgments are not permitted after a trustee's sale if the trust property is two and one-half acres or less and is utilized for either a single one-family or a single two-family dwelling. ¶15 Whether Arizona law bars a party from prospectively waiving its statutory anti-deficiency protections is a question of first impression. 2 statutes, however, prospectively Brunsoman waive v. (explaining have concluded anti-deficiency Scarlett, the anti-deficiency Other states with similar anti-deficiency 465 that a debtor protections. N.W.2d rights and defenses judgment law would be 162, 167 granted largely may not See, e.g., (N.D. 1991) debtors by illusory the if a prospective creditor could compel a prospective debtor to waive them at the time the mortgage is executed); Chemical Bank v. Belk, 255 S.E.2d allowing a debtor statutes would 421, to violate 427 waive (N.C. App. 1979) protections important 2 public of (holding that anti-deficiency policy concerns); Although Parkway relies on Tanque Verde Anesthesiologists, L.T.D. Profit Sharing Plan v. Proffer Group, Inc., 172 Ariz. 311, 836 P.2d 1021 (App. 1992), to argue that Arizona case law permits prospective waivers of anti-deficiency protections, the case does not stand for that proposition. Instead, Tanque Verde contemplates that, after default, a party may, as part of default negotiations, agree to pay a deficiency remaining after sale of the property at issue. Id. at 313-14, 836 P.2d at 102324. Thus, Tanque Verde is inapposite here. 8 Freedland v. Greco, 289 P.2d 463, 465 (Cal. 1955) (same); Stretch v. Murphy, 112 P.2d 1018, 1021 (Or. 1941) (same). But see Segal v. Emmes Capital, L.L.C., 155 S.W.3d 267, 280 (Tex. App. 2004) (concluding debtors prospective waiver of statutory right to challenge fair market value of property at foreclosure sale did not violate public policy, noting that Texas statutory scheme differs materially from other states that bar deficiency judgments entirely in that Texas permits a creditor to seek a deficiency judgment subject to the debtor s right to seek a valuation of the property and an offset). ¶16 policy Arizona courts have similarly noted significant public concerns statutes. addressed through Arizona's anti-deficiency The statutes were intended to "protect [] consumers from financial ruin" and "eliminat[e] . . . hardships resulting to consumers who, when purchasing a home, fail to realize the extent to which they are subjecting assets besides the home to legal process." Helvetica Servicing, Inc. v. Pasquan, 229 Ariz. 493, 496, ¶ 9, 277 P.3d 198, 201 (App. 2012) (internal quotation omitted). inadequate The anti-deficiency statutes "allocate the risk of security" to lenders, overvaluation of the collateral." "thereby discouraging Id. at ¶ 30. Additionally, "[i]f inadequacy of the security results, not from overvaluing, but from a decline in property values during a general or local depression, [the anti-deficiency 9 statutes] prevent the aggravation of the downturn that would result if defaulting purchasers were burdened with large personal liability." Id. at 500-01, ¶ 30, 277 P.3d at 205-06 (internal quotation omitted). 3 ¶17 Given the public policy concerns underlying Arizona's anti-deficiency statutes, we conclude that permitting a prospective waiver of anti-deficiency protections would violate a policy choice made by the Arizona Legislature. 4 Accordingly, 3 Parkway asserts that the scope of protection afforded by the anti-deficiency statutes is limited to borrowers of purchasemoney mortgages, not persons, such as the Zivkovics, who acquired and then subsequently encumbered a property with a loan obligation. The parties do not dispute that the property subject to the Deed of Trust is less than two and one-half acres and was utilized, at the time of the default, as a single-family residence. Thus, there is no question that the property falls within the parameters of A.R.S. § 33-814(G). Moreover, as reflected in the plain language of the statute, the protections of A.R.S. § 33-814(G) appl[y] to all deeds of trust foreclosed by a trustee s sale whether or not they secure purchase money obligations. Tanque Verde, 172 Ariz. at 313, 836 P.2d at 1023 (citing Baker v. Gardner, 160 Ariz. 98, 770 P.2d 766 (1989)). 4 Citing San Francisco Securities Corp. v. Phoenix Motor Co., Inc., 25 Ariz. 531, 220 P. 229 (1923), Parkway contends that the anti-deficiency statutes provide only a personal benefit and therefore may be waived. In San Francisco, the supreme court explained that "statutory provisions designed solely for the benefit of individuals may be waived by the persons for whose benefit they are designed." Id. at 536, 220 P. 231. As explained in ¶ 16, supra, Arizona's anti-deficiency statutes have a broad public purpose and reflect a legislative determination that lenders, rather than borrowers, should bear the risk of loans secured by overvalued property. See Stretch, 112 P.2d at 1021 ( The [anti-deficiency] statute here involved is not one creating a merely personal privilege which may be waived. It is an inhibition against the court s rendering a certain kind of judgment[.] ). Therefore, because the antideficiency statutes were established for a public purpose, they cannot be contravened by private agreement. Cadle Co. 10 because the parties could not have contractually waived the Zivkovics statutory anti-deficiency protections under Arizona law, 5 we must determine the "local law of the state selected by application of the rule of § 188." Restatement (Second) § 187 cmt. c. ¶18 Section 188(2) of the Restatement (Second) sets forth five factors to be taken into account . . . to determine the law applicable to an issue: (a) the place of contracting, (b) the place of performance, negotiation (d) the of the location contract, of the (c) subject the place matter of of the contract, and (e) the domicil[e], residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties. factors are to be evaluated according to their importance with respect to the particular issue." These relative Restatement (Second) § 188(2). ¶19 On appeal, as in the superior court, Parkway argues that the Restatement (Second) § 188 factors favor application of Illinois law. This argument is premised on Parkway s claim that II. v. Harvey, 83 Cal. App. 4th 927, 932 (2000); see also City of Glendale v. Coquat, 46 Ariz. 478, 483, 52 P.2d 1178, 1180 (1935) ( It is apparently universally held that where a right has been given to an individual not alone for his private benefit but, as a matter of public policy, in the interest of the state, it may not be waived by anyone. ). 5 Neither party specifically briefed, and, therefore, we do not address, whether Equinox in its role as guarantor on the 2009 promissory note could contractually waive anti-deficiency protections. See A.R.S. § 33-814(A), (C). 11 the factors should be considered as they existed in 2006, at the time the original promissory note was executed. The superior court the found, without explanation, that all of factors establish that Illinois law governs. ¶20 The complaint, promissory note. however, is predicated on the 2009 Moreover, although Parkway argues the 2009 promissory note is merely an extension of the 2006 promissory note, there are material differences between the documents that demonstrate the 2009 promissory note is a separate contract with distinct terms. 6 borrower under For example, Joseph Zivkovic is the designated the 2009 promissory note and identified borrower in the 2006 promissory note. the security also differs under the notes. 6 Equinox is the The nature of As an inducement for In its answering brief, Parkway contends that the Zivkovics admitted the 2009 promissory note was merely an extension of the 2006 promissory note and therefore the Zivkovics are foreclosed from arguing the Restatement (Second) § 188 factors should be considered as they existed in 2009. As support for this claim, Parkway cites its separate statement of facts, which it contends asserted that the 2009 promissory note was a mere extension of the 2006 promissory note, and the Zivkovics subsequent failure to specifically dispute that allegation in a controverting statement of facts. Parkway s characterization of the facts alleged in its separate statement of facts is, at best, a mischaracterization of the record. In its statement of facts, Parkway stated Parkway provided a loan to Joseph Zivkovic in the principal amount of $894,703.85 on May 21, 2009. Contrary to Parkway s appellate argument, this factual assertion does not allege that the 2009 promissory note is merely an extension of the 2006 promissory note. Therefore, the Zivkovics did not admit that the 2009 promissory note was an extension by failing to challenge that allegation in a controverting statement of facts. 12 the 2009 loan, Equinox executed a commercial guarantee. In addition, Deanna Zivkovic was removed from the deed of trust a material change to the underlying collateral. Therefore, the Restatement (Second) § 188 analysis requires evaluation of the factors as they existed at the time the 2009 promissory note was executed. ¶21 The parties do not dispute that Joseph Zivkovic negotiated the terms of the 2009 promissory note with the CEO of Parkway in Arizona. Nor do the parties dispute that Joseph Zivkovic, the only named borrower, executed the promissory note in Arizona. first Thus, contrary to the superior court s finding, the and second Restatement (Second) § 188 factors favor application of Arizona law. ¶22 In addition, Joseph Zivkovic made payments on the promissory note in Arizona, the property is located in Arizona, and Joseph Zivkovic was a resident of Arizona at the time the promissory note was executed. Other factors, such as Parkway s incorporation as an Illinois banking institution and Equinox's location, favor application of Illinois law. is split factors. and weigh on the three remaining Thus, the evidence Restatement (Second) § 188 Therefore, we remand to the superior court to reassess the Restatement (Second) § 188 factors, as they existed at the time the 2009 promissory note was executed, and determine which local law applies. 13 ¶23 Because finding all of we the conclude the Restatement superior (Second) § court 188 erred factors by favor Illinois law, we need not reach the Zivkovics additional claim that a deficiency judgment action is barred under application of Restatement (Second) § 187(2). 7 Upon remand, however, should the superior court determine the Restatement (Second) § 188 factors favor application of Arizona law, the court would then need to apply Restatement (Second) § 187(2). Under that subsection, the parties choice of Illinois law applies unless: (1) Illinois has no substantial relationship to the parties or the transaction, Restatement (Second) § 187(2)(a), or (2) application of Illinois law is contrary to a fundamental Arizona policy and Arizona has a materially greater interest in the anti-deficiency determination than Illinois, Restatement (Second) § 187(2)(b). As clearly demonstrated from the record, and not disputed by the parties, Illinois has a substantial relationship to the parties and the transaction and Restatement (Second) § 187(2)(a) has been met. See ABF Capital Corp. v. Osley, 414 F.3d 1061, 1065 (9th Cir. 2005) ( A substantial relationship exists where one of the parties is domiciled or incorporated in the chosen state. ). The relative interest of the states and the extent to which Illinois law is contrary to a fundamental policy of Arizona, 7 Likewise, we do not reach the Zivkovics alternative claim that, under Illinois law, the marital community is not subject to liability for the deficiency judgment. 14 however, are issues for the superior court to determine, in the first instance. See In re Zukerkorn, 484 B.R. 182, 193 (Bankr. 9th Cir. 2012) (explaining the public policy exception set forth in § 187(2) requires something more than the law of the other state be different ); Jackson v. Pasadena Receivables, Inc., 921 A.2d 799, 805 (Md. 2007) (concluding a conflict between the law of Maryland with the law of another jurisdiction does not, alone, render the [law of the other jurisdiction] contrary to Maryland public jurisdiction is policy such that unenforceable the under law of Restatement the other (Second) § 187(2)). ¶24 Without citation to authority, Parkway has requested an award of attorneys' fees against the Zivkovics and Equinox for this appeal. A general request that [a party] be awarded attorneys fees does not constitute a claim pursuant to statute, decisional law or contract as required by Arizona Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 21(c)(1). Ezell v. Quon, 224 Ariz. 532, 539, 233 P.3d 645, 652 (App. 2010) (internal quotation omitted). Therefore, we deny Parkway s request. 15 CONCLUSION ¶25 For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the partial summary judgment and remand for proceedings consistent with this Opinion. _/s/______________________________ PHILIP HALL, Judge CONCURRING: _/s/___________________________________ JON W. THOMPSON, Presiding Judge _/s/___________________________________ KENT E. CATTANI, Judge Judge Philip Hall was a sitting member of this court when the matter was assigned to this panel of the court. He retired effective May 31, 2013. In accordance with the authority granted by Article 6, Section 3, of the Arizona Constitution and pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-145, the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court has designated Judge Hall as a judge pro tempore in the Court of Appeals, Division One, for the purpose of participating in the resolution of cases assigned to this panel during his term in office. 16

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