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THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE CHAPTERS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 1 THE UCC 2 HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD OF COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS 3 “The Uniform Commercial Code enables merchants to form contracts more quickly and easily. But along with this increased facility goes greater responsibility, since informal discussions may suddenly turn into… a contract.” 4 TOPIC COVERAGE • Sales • Ownership • Risk associated with ownership • Warranties • Performance 5 MORE TOPIC COVERAGE • Remedies • Negotiable instruments • Banks • Secured transactions 6 HISTORY FROM LAW MERCHANT TO THE UCC (In 60 seconds or less) 7 FIRST WHAT IS A LAW MERCHANT ? 8 THE UCC • • • • • • ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 2. SALE OF GOODS ARTICLE 2.A LEASES ARTICLE 3. NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ARTICLE 4. BANK DEPOSITS AND COLLECTIONS ARTICLE 4.A FUNDS TRANSFERS 9 THE UCC • ARTICLE 5. LETTERS OF CREDIT • ARTICLE 6. BULK TRANSFERS • ARTICLE 7. WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS, BILLS OF LADING, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS OF TITLE • ARTICLE 8. INVESTMENT SECURITIES • ARTICLE 9. SECURED TRANSACTIONS 10 PURPOSE OF THE UCC 1. To simplify, clarify and modernize the law of commercial transactions 2. To permit expansion of commercial transactions 3. To establish uniformity 11 12 SALES UNDER THE UCC • Article 2 Applies to the sale of goods • Article 2A Governs the leasing of goods. 13 MIXED CONTRACTS Involves both sales and services: • The UCC will govern if the predominant purpose is the sale of goods • Common law will control if the predominant purpose is service. 14 MERCHANT Someone who routinely deals in the particular goods involved, or who appears to have special knowledge or skill in those goods, or who uses agents with special knowledge or skill in those goods. 15 MERCHANT STANDARDS The UCC frequently holds a merchant to a higher standard of conduct than a non-merchant. 16 GOOD FAITH The UCC imposes a duty of good faith in the performance of all contracts. 17 UNCONSCIONABILITY A contract may be unconscionable if it is shockingly one-sided and fundamentally unfair. 18 CONTRACT FORMATION The law should reflect business reality! 19 FORMING A CONTRACT QUICK AND INFORMAL Three basic rules: 1. In any manner that shows agreement. 2. Moment of making is not crucial. 3. One or more terms may be left open 20 STATUTE OF FRAUDS A writing of some type is required for any sale for goods worth $500 or more: – Writing Sufficient to Indicate a Contract – Incorrect or Omitted Terms – Enforceable Only to Quality Stated 21 EXCEPTIONS However there are exceptions to the Statute of Frauds when two or more merchants make an oral contract 22 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES An oral contract may be enforceable even without a written memorandum, if: – Specialty manufacture for buyer, or – The defendant admits in court that there was a contract, or – The goods have been delivered or they have been paid for. 23 ADDED TERMS An acceptance that adds or alters terms will often create a contract. Click once to start self-building graphic. Offeree does NOT intend to accept NO CONTRACT OFFER Offeree intends to accept Accepts terms Adds terms Changes terms Contract Usually forms a contract Usually forms a contract Accepts IF offeror accepts new terms NO contract (is a new offer) 24 ADDITIONAL OR DIFFERENT TERMS • Additional: those that raise issues not covered in the offer. • Different: contradict terms in the offer. 25 OPEN TERMS • Open Prices: the parties may conclude a contract even though they have not settled the price. • Output and Requirements Contracts 26 MODIFICATION • An agreement modifying a contract needs no consideration to be binding. • The parties may agree to prohibit oral modification and insist that all modifications be in writing and signed. 27 PROPOSED REVISIONS TO UCC Numerous proposed revisions to UCC Article 2, have been under debate for over 5 years but are approaching final state. $5,000 vs. $500 Recognize web transactions 28 29 “The Code has reduced the importance of abstract terms, such as title, and replaced them with practical rules designed to enable business people to anticipate risk and protect against it.” 30 WHO OWNS IT?? The Code must sometimes determine the rightful owner when more than one person claims to own something or not own it. 31 EXISTENCE AND IDENTIFICATION – Goods must exist before title can pass. – Goods must be identified to the contract before title can pass. – The parties may agree in their contract how and when they will identify the goods. 32 WHEN TITLE PASSES Passing of Title: Title may pass in any manner on which the parties agree. 33 INSURABLE INTEREST When you have a legal right in something – A buyer obtains an insurable interest when the goods are identified to the contract. – The seller retains an insurable interest in goods as long as she has either title to the goods or a security interest in them. 34 BONA FIDE PURCHASER BFP A person who purchases in good faith 35 SELLER HAS IMPERFECT TITLE »Can be in the form of a void title which is no title at all. »Or can be a voidable title gives limited rights in the goods, inferior to those of the owner. 36 HOW TO BECOME A BFP When a person with voidable title has power to transfer valid title for value to a good faith purchaser, a BFP and the BFP shows: 1. He gave value for the goods and 2. He acted in good faith THE BFP OWNS THE GOODS! 37 ENTRUSTMENT Entrusting means delivering goods to a merchant or permitting the merchant to retain them. Be careful! 38 A CREDITOR Someone with a financial stake in the goods the merchant is selling 39 CREDITOR’S RIGHTS Depends upon if it is an – Ordinary Sales Or a – Bulk Sales 40 RETURNABLE GOODS May play a role in creditors rights depending on they being a • Sale on Approval, or being subject to • Sale or Return 41 RISK OF LOSS The parties may allocate the risk of loss any way they wish. Problems arise if the parties fail to allocate the risk 42 SHIPPING TERMS • • • • • FOB place of shipment FOB place of destination FAS a named vessel CIF C&F 43 BAILMENT When one person or company is legally holding goods for the benefit of another. CREATES SPECIAL PROBLEMS IF AGREEMENT BREACHED 44 45 PRODUCT LIABILITY When goods cause injury, there is a question of product liability. 46 PRODUCT LIABILITY ISSUES There are three main issues related to product liability cases: –Warranty –Negligence –Strict Liability 47 EXPRESS WARRANTIES An express warranty is one that the seller creates with his words or actions. 48 IMPLIED WARRANTIES Are created by the Code itself, not by any act or statement of the seller. 49 MERCHANTABILITY Merchantability means that goods are fit for their intended ordinary purpose. 50 IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY Unless excluded or modified, a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale, if the seller is a merchant of goods of that kind. 51 IMPLIED WARRANTIES (cont’d) Implied Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose 52 IMPLIED WARRANTIES (cont’d) The seller of goods warrants that her title is valid 53 IMPLIED WARRANTIES (cont’d) A merchant warrants that the goods are free of any rightful claim of copyright, patent, or trademark infringement. 54 DISCLAIMERS Disclaimer: a statement that a particular warranty does not apply. – Oral Express Warranties – Written Express Warranties 55 DISCLAIMERS (cont’d) Three other rules: –General rule –Remedy Limitations –Consequential Damages 56 PROPOSED UCC REVISIONS Sellers attempting to limit warranties would be required to use very explicit language, conspicuously placed. 57 PRIVITY When two parties contract, they are in privity. 58 FACTORS THAT LIMIT THE SELLER’S RESPONSIBILITY • Buyer’s Misconduct • Statute of Limitations and Notice of Breach 59 NEGLIGENCE • In negligence cases, plaintiffs most often raise one or more of these claims: – Negligent design – Negligent manufacture – Failure to warn 60 HOWEVER Where a sales contract includes proper disclaimers or remedy limitations, a buyer barred from a negligence case may have no remedy at all. 61 STRICT LIABILITY Need not prove that the defendant’s conduct was unreasonable. 62 STRICT LIABILITY (cont’d) Strict liability may be imposed if: – The defective condition is unreasonably dangerous to the user. – Seller is in business to sell this product. – The product reaches the user without substantial change. 63 STRICT LIABILITY (cont’d) Strict liability may be imposed EVEN if: – The seller exercised all reasonable care. – There is no contractual relationship. 64 CONTEMPORARY TRENDS Strict liability may be imposed based on design, manufacture or failure to warn. 65 CONTEMPORARY TRENDS (cont’d) Tests to measure design and warning cases include: • Consumer expectation • Risk-utility tests 66 LEGISLATION • Lemon Laws • Consumer Protection Laws • Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act 67 68 “Performance and remedy under the Code reflect contemporary commercial practices but also demand a satisfactory level of sensible, ethical behavior.” 69 GOOD FAITH The Code requires good faith in the performance and enforcement of every contract. 70 CONFORMING GOODS • Conforming goods satisfy the contract terms. • Non-conforming goods do not. 71 SELLER’S OBLIGATION The seller must tender the goods, which means to make conforming goods, available to the buyer. 72 PERFECT TENDER RULE – Under the perfect tender rule, the buyer may reject the goods if they fail in any respect to conform to the contract. – Parties may limit the effect of the perfect tender rule by agreeing to accept imperfection in the goods. 73 RESTRICTIONS ON THE PERFECT TENDER RULE • Usage of trade • Course of dealing • Course of performance 74 CURE When the buyer rejects non-conforming goods, the seller has the right to cure, by delivering conforming goods before the contract deadline. 75 DESTRUCTION OF GOODS • If identified goods are totally destroyed before risk passes to the buyer, the contract is void. • If identified goods are partially destroyed, the buyer may choose whether to accept the goods at a reduced price or void the contract. 76 COMMERCIAL IMPRACTICABILITY A supervening event excuses performance of a contract, if the event was not within the parties’ contemplation when they made the agreement. 77 BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS (and a Few Rights) • The buyer must provide adequate facilities to receive the goods. • Right to inspection • Right to partially accept 78 BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS (and a Few Rights) – (cont’d) May revoke acceptance only if the nonconformity substantially impairs the value and only if he had a legitimate reason for the initial acceptance. 79 BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS (and a Few Rights) – (cont’d) • May reject non-conforming goods by notifying seller within a reasonable time. 80 BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS (and a Few Rights) – (cont’d) May reject a nonconforming installment, only if it substantially impairs the value of that installment and cannot be cured. 81 REMEDIES: ASSURANCE When there are reasonable grounds for insecurity, a party may: – demand written assurance of performance from the other party, and – until he receives it, generally may suspend his own performance. 82 REMEDIES: REPUDIATION • A party repudiates a contract by indicating that it will not perform. • When either party repudiates the contract, the other party may: – for a reasonable time await performance or – resort to any remedy for breach of contract. 83 SELLER’S REMEDIES • Cancel the contract • Stop or refuse delivery • Identify goods to the contract • Resale 84 BUYER’S REMEDIES • Cancel the contract • Recover money paid • Cover • Accept NonConforming Goods 85 Buyer’s Remedies (cont’d) • Obtain Incidental and Consequential Damages • Obtain Specific Performance • Obtain Liquidated Damages 86 DAMAGE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS • A court generally will not enforce a limitation that leaves the injured party with no remedy. • A court will not enforce an unconscionable exclusion of consequential damages. 87 PROPOSED UCC REVISIONS • Good Faith • Seller’s damages • Buyer’s damages 88 89 COMMERCIAL PAPER • Commercial paper is a contract to pay money. • It can be: – A Substitute for Money – A Loan of Money 90 PROMISSORY NOTE The possessor of a piece of commercial paper has an unconditional right to be paid, as long as: – the paper is negotiable; – it has been negotiated to the possessor; – the possessor is a holder in due course; and – the issuer cannot claim any of the limited number of “real” defenses. 91 TYPES OF NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS • Note (also called a promissory note) is a promise to pay money. • Draft is an order directing someone else to pay money for you 92 RIGHTS • The possessor of non-negotiable commercial paper has the same rights-no more, no less--as the person who made the original contract. • The possessor of negotiable commercial paper has more rights than the person who made the original contract. 93 REQUIREMENTS FOR NEGOTIABILITY The Instrument Must: – Be in Writing. – Be Signed by the Maker or Drawer. – Contain an Unconditional Promise or Order to Pay. 94 REQUIREMENTS FOR NEGOTIABILITY (cont’d) – State a Definite Amount of Money. – Be Payable on Demand or at a Definite Time. – Be Payable to Order or to Bearer. 95 DEFINITIONS • Trade acceptance • Sight draft • Time draft • Order paper • Bearer paper 96 INTERPRETATION OF AMBIGUITIES When terms contradict, three rules apply: – Words take precedence over numbers. – Handwritten terms prevail over typewritten terms. – Typed terms prevail over printed terms. 97 NEGOTIATION Negotiation means that an instrument has been transferred to the holder by someone other than the issuer. 98 INDORSEMENT An indorsement is the signature of the payee. – Blank Indorsement – Special Indorsement – Restrictive Indorsement 99 HOLDER IN DUE COURSE A holder in due course has an automatic right to receive payment for a negotiable instrument (unless issuer can claim one of a few “real” defenses). 100 NOTICE OF OUTSTANDING CLAIMS OR OTHER DEFECTS • The instrument is overdue • The instrument is dishonored • The instrument is altered, forged, or incomplete • The holder has notice of certain claims or disputes 101 SHELTER RULE • Under the shelter rule, the transferor of an instrument passes on all of his rights. • When a holder in due course transfers an instrument, the recipient acquires all the same rights even if he is made a holder in due course himself. 102 DEFENSES Real and personal defenses are valid against an ordinary holder; only real defenses can be used against a holder in due course. 103 DEFENSES (cont’d) Real Defenses – Forgery, Bankruptcy, Minority, Alteration Duress, Mental Incapacity, Illegality, and Fraud in the Execution 104 DEFENSES (cont’d) Personal Defenses – Breach of Contract, Lack of Consideration, Prior Payment, Unauthorized Completion, Fraud in the Inducement and Non-Delivery 105 CLAIMS IN RECOUPMENT A claim in recoupment is a refusal to pay the full amount of the instrument because the payee owes the issuer another debt. Issuer subtracts the prior debt from the payoff of the current instrument. 106 CONSUMER EXCEPTION • A consumer credit contract is one in which the seller is also the lender. • In such cases, the Federal Trade Commission requires a specifically-worded notice to be included on the contract, making it non-negotiable. 107 108 “It is never wise to play an important game without understanding the rules. The rules of negotiable instruments are complex, but important because this game is played by virtually everyone.” 109 LIABILITY • Signature liability – liability of someone who has signed a document. • Warranty liability -- liability of someone who has received payment. 110 PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY LIABILITY • Someone with primary liability must pay unless he has a valid defense. • Someone with secondary liability must pay only if the person with primary liability does not pay. 111 THE LAW OF LIABILITY The holder of an instrument must first try to get payment from the party with primary liability before making demands against a party with secondary liability. 112 THE PAYMENT PROCESS • • • • Presentment Payment, or Dishonor Notice of Dishonor 113 SIGNATURE LIABILITY • The maker is primarily liable. • The drawer of a check has secondary liability. • The bank (drawee) is not liable to the holder and owes no damages to the holder for refusing to pay the check. • Indorsers are secondarily liable. 114 SIGNATURE LIABILITY -INDORSERS • Indorsers are not liable if: – they write the words “without recourse” next to their signature on the instrument, – a bank certifies the check, – the check is presented for payment more than 30 days after the indorsement, or – the check is dishonored and the indorser is not notified within 30 days. 115 ACCOMMODATION PARTY An accommodation party (sometimes called a co-signer or guarantor) is someone who adds their signature to an instrument in a capacity other than issuer, acceptor or indorser, in order to be liable for the instrument. 116 ACCOMMODATION PARTY (NOT ME!) An accommodation party has the same liability to the holder as the person for whom she signed. 117 AGENT To avoid personal liability when signing an instrument, an agent must: – indicate that they are signing as an agent and – give the name of the principal. 118 PRINCIPAL LIABILITY The principal is liable if the agent signs correctly, the agent signs just her own name, or the agent signs only the name of the principal. 119 RULES OF WARRANTY LIABILITY • The culprit is always liable. • The drawee bank is liable if it pays a check on which the drawer’s name is forged. • In any other case of wrongdoing, a person who first acquires an instrument from a culprit is ultimately liable to anyone else who pays value for it. 120 TRANSFER WARRANTIES • When someone transfers an instrument, they warrant that: – They are the holder of the instrument, – All signatures are authentic and authorized, – The instrument has not been altered, – No defense can be asserted against them, and – As far as they know the issuer is solvent. 121 PRESENTMENT WARRANTIES Apply to someone who demands payment for an instrument from the maker, drawee, or anyone else liable. 122 PRESENTER WARRANTIES • Anyone who presents a promissory note for payment warrants only that he is a holder of the instrument. • Presenter warrants that: – He is a holder – The check has not been altered, and – He has no reason to believe the drawer’s signature is forged. 123 OTHER LIABILITY RULES • • • • Conversion Liability Imposter Rule Fictitious Payee Rule Employee Indorsement Rule 124 NEGLIGENCE I Anyone negligent in creating or paying an unauthorized instrument is liable to an innocent third party. 125 NEGLIGENCE II Anyone careless in paying an unauthorized instrument is liable. 126 NEGLIGENCE III Anyone careless in allowing a forged or altered instrument to be created is also liable. 127 CRIMES • Bouncing a check • Check Kiting • Forgery 128 DISCHARGE Discharge means that liability on an instrument terminates. By Payment By Agreement By Cancellation By Certification By Alteration 129 DISCHARGE OF AN INDORSER OR ACCOMMODATION PARTY The UCC provides that virtually any change in an instrument that harms an indorser or accommodation party also discharges them unless they consent to the change. 130 131 “This area of law is important because virtually everyone has written a check or used an ATM and because the law regarding these transactions is changing rapidly.” 132 WHO’S WHO • • • • • Depositary Bank Payor Bank Intermediary Bank Collecting Bank. Presenting Bank 133 BANK’S DUTY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION • A bank is not required to provide a monthly statement, but most do. • A statement (if provided) must disclose: – – – – Interest rate paid Amount of interest earned Fees imposed by the bank The number of days covered by the statement 134 MORE DUTIES When an account is opened (and in ads), the bank must disclose: – Interest rate paid – How long this rate will be in effect – Requirements to earn the advertised rate – Fees or penalties imposed by the bank 135 THE BANK’S DUTY TO PAY A bank must pay a check if the check is authorized by the customer and complies with the terms of the checking account agreement. 136 NO PAYMENT REQUIRED A bank is not required to pay a check on an overdrawn account, but may choose to do so. 137 WRONGFUL DISHONOR If a bank violates its duty and wrongfully dishonors an authorized check, it is liable to the customer for all actual and consequential damages. 138 DIFFICULT SITUATIONS FOR A BANK • The Death of a Customer • Incompetent Customers 139 INVALID INSTRUMENTS • Forgery • Alteration • Completion 140 DATING ON CHECKS • Stale Checks • Post-dated Checks 141 STOP PAYMENT ORDERS As a general rule, if a bank pays a check over a stop payment order, it is liable to the customer for the loss he suffers. 142 ELECTRONIC BANKING Today’s consumers have options for banking that were barely imagined a generation ago: – – – – Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) Point of Sale terminals Automatic deposit systems Bill payment over the telephone lines or by internet 143 ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER ACT OF 1978 Employers may require all employees to accept payment by electronic transfer (direct deposit), but may not require that it go to a particular bank. 144 MORE Electronic fund transfer cards (ATM, debit, etc.) sent without a customer’s request must be invalid until the consumer activates it. 145 AND MORE • Preauthorized transfers must be authorized in writing. • Errors – If reported within 60 days, a bank must investigate an error within the next 10 days or provisionally credit the account until the investigation can take place. 146 AND STILL MORE! • Limited Consumer Liability for Unauthorized Transactions (stolen ATM card) • Bank’s Liability 147 GOOD GRIEF! • System Malfunctions • Disclosure 148 WIRE TRANSFERS • A wire transfer is a type of payment order that “pushes” money out of the issuer’s account into the payee’s. • The originator is the person who sends the payment order; the beneficiary receives the payment order. 149 BANK ERRORS • Bank Sends the Wrong Amount • Bank Sends Money to the Wrong Person 150 PRIVACY Banks and other financial institutions must disclose to consumers any nonpublic information they wish to reveal to third parties. 151 152 “Secured transactions are essential to modern commerce but create pitfalls for the unknowing. A person doing business in ignorance of Article 9 risks losing goods and money.” 153 REVISED ARTICLE 9 • Governs secured transactions in personal property. • Applies to any transaction intended to create a security interest in personal property or fixtures. • About ½ of all UCC lawsuits involve Article 9. 154 DEFINITIONS • Fixtures • Security interest • Secured party • Collateral 155 MORE DEFINITIONS • Debtor • Obligor • Security agreement • Default • Repossession. 156 And More Definitions • Perfection • Financing statement • Record • Authenticate 157 ATTACHMENT OF A SECURITY INTEREST In order to obtain a security interest, an attachment must take place by the two parties making a security agreement and either: (1) it is in writing, describes the collateral, and is signed by the debtor, or . 158 STILL ATTACHING (2) the secured party has possession of the collateral • The secured party gave value in order to get the security agreement. • The debtor has rights in the collateral. 159 FUTURE PROPERTY The parties may agree that the security interest attaches to after-acquired (future) property which are items the debtor obtains after the parties made their security agreement. 160 PERFECTION • Perfection guarantees the collateral’s availability in case of default. • Methods of Perfecting Filing a financing statement Possession of the collateral Purchase money security interest in consumer goods (PMSI) 161 PROTECTION OF BUYERS Generally, once a security interest is perfected, it remains effective regardless of whether the collateral is sold, exchanged, or transferred. 162 BUYERS IN ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS – One who buys goods in good faith from a seller who routinely deals in such goods. – A BIOC takes the goods free of a security interest created by his seller even though the security interest is perfected. 163 PROTECTION OF BUYERS (cont'd) • Buyers of Consumer Goods • Buyers of Chattel Paper, Instruments, and Documents 164 LIENS A lien is a security interest created by law (rather than by agreement). UCC does not cover. 165 DEFAULT AND TERMINATION • Default: when debtor fails to make payments due or enters bankruptcy. • Taking Possession of the Collateral 166 DISPOSITION OF COLLATERAL • A secured party may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the collateral in any commercially reasonable manner. • Right of Redemption 167 PROCEEDING TO JUDGMENT Upon default, a secured party may sue the debtor for the full debt instead of seizing the collateral. 168 THE END AND WHEN THE DEBT IS PAID THE SECURITY AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED JUST LIKE THIS LECTURE! 169