TITLE 34.1 - UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE

 

ARTICLE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

PART 1 - SHORT TITLE, CONSTRUCTION, APPLICATION AND SUBJECT MATTER OF THE ACT

 

34.1-1-101.Short title.

 

 

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

34.1-1-102.Purposes; rules of construction; variation by agreement.

 

 

(a)This act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

 

(b)Underlying purposes and policies of this act are:

 

(i)To simplify, clarify and modernize the law governing commercial transactions;

 

(ii)To permit the continued expansion of commercial practices through custom usage and agreement of the parties;

 

(iii)To make uniform the law among the various jurisdictions.

 

(c)The effect of provisions of this act may be varied by agreement, except as otherwise provided in this act and except that the obligations of good faith, diligence, reasonableness and care prescribed by this act may not be disclaimed by agreement but the parties may by agreement determine the standards by which the performance of such obligations is to be measured if such standards are not manifestly unreasonable.

 

(d)The presence in certain provisions of this act of the words "unless otherwise agreed" or words of similar import does not imply that the effect of other provisions may not be varied by agreement under subsection (c).

 

(e)In this act unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(i)Words in the singular number include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(ii)Words of the masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter, and when the sense so indicates words of the neuter gender may refer to any gender.

 

34.1-1-103.Supplementary general principles of law applicable.

 

 

Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this act, the principles of law and equity, including the law merchant and the law relative to capacity to contract, principal and agent, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, bankruptcy, or other validating or invalidating cause shall supplement its provisions.

 

34.1-1-104.Construction against implicit repeal.

 

 

This act being a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter, no part of it shall be deemed to be impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if such construction can reasonably be avoided.

 

34.1-1-105.Territorial application of the act; parties' power to choose applicable law.

 

(a)Except as provided hereafter in this section, when a transaction bears a reasonable relation to this state and also to another state or nation the parties may agree that the law either of this state or of such other state or nation shall govern their rights and duties. Failing such agreement this act applies to transactions bearing an appropriate relation to this state.

 

(b)Where one (1) of the following provisions of this act specifies the applicable law, that provision governs and a contrary agreement is effective only to the extent permitted by the law (including the conflict of laws rules) so specified:

 

(i)Rights of creditors against sold goods. Section 34.1-2-402;

 

(ii)Applicability of the article on leases. Sections 34.1-2.A-105 and 34.1-2.A-106;

 

(iii)Applicability of the article on bank deposits and collections. Section 34.1-4-102;

 

(iv)Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 177, 2.

 

(v)Applicability of the article on investment securities. Section 34.1-8-110;

 

(vi)Policy and scope of the article on secured transactions. Section 34.1-9-109;

 

(vii)Governing law in the article on funds transfers.� Section 34.1-4.A-507;

 

(viii)Letters of credit.� Section 34.1-5-116;

 

(ix)Law governing perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of security interests and agricultural liens. Sections 34.1-9-301 through 34.1-9-307.

 

34.1-1-106.Remedies to be liberally administered.

 

 

(a)The remedies provided by this act shall be liberally administered to the end that the aggrieved party may be put in as good a position as if the other party had fully performed but neither consequential or special nor penal damages may be had except as specifically provided in this act or by other rule of law.

 

(b)Any right or obligation declared by this act is enforceable by action unless the provision declaring it specifies a different and limited effect.

 

34.1-1-107.Waiver or renunciation of claim or right after breach.

 

 

Any claim or right arising out of an alleged breach can be discharged in whole or in part without consideration by a written waiver or renunciation signed and delivered by the aggrieved party.

 

34.1-1-108.Severability.

 

 

If any provision or clause of this act or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

 

34.1-1-109.Section captions.

 

Section captions are parts of this act.

 

PART 2 - GENERAL DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION

 

34.1-1-201.General definitions.

 

(a)Subject to additional definitions contained in the� subsequent articles of this act which are� applicable to specific articles or parts thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this act:

 

(i)"Action" in the sense of a judicial proceeding� includes recoupment, counterclaim, setoff, suit in equity and any other proceedings� in which rights are determined;

 

(ii)"Aggrieved party" means a party entitled to resort� to a remedy;

 

(iii)"Agreement" means the bargain of the parties in� fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances� including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance as� provided in this act (sections 34.1-1-205 and 34.1-2-208). Whether an agreement has legal consequences is determined by the� provisions of this act, if applicable; otherwise by the law of contracts� (section 34.1-1-103). (Compare "Contract");

 

(iv)"Bank" means any person engaged in the business of banking;

 

(v)"Bearer" means the person in possession of an� instrument, document of title, or security payable to bearer or indorsed in blank;

 

(vi)"Bill of lading" means a document evidencing� the receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in the business of� transporting or forwarding goods, and includes an airbill. "Airbill"� means a document serving for air transportation as a bill of lading does� for marine or rail transportation, and includes an air consignment note� or air waybill;

 

(vii)"Branch" includes a separately incorporated� foreign branch of a bank;

 

(viii)"Burden of establishing" a fact means the burden� of persuading the triers of a fact that the existence of the fact is more probable� than its nonexistence;

 

(ix)"Buyer in ordinary course of business" means a person that buys goods in good faith, without knowledge that the sale violates the rights of another person in the goods, and in the ordinary course from a person, other than a pawnbroker, in the business of selling� goods of that kind. A person buys goods in the ordinary course if the sale to the person comports with the usual or customary practices in the kind of business in which the seller is engaged or with the seller's own usual or customary practices.� A person that sells oil, gas or other minerals at the wellhead or minehead is a person in the business of selling goods of that kind. A buyer in ordinary course of business may buy for cash, by exchange of other property, or on secured or unsecured credit, and may acquire goods or documents of title under a preexisting contract for sale. Only a buyer that takes possession of the goods or has a right to recover the goods from the seller under article 2 may be a buyer in ordinary course of business.� A person that acquires goods in a transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a money debt is not a buyer in ordinary course of business;

 

(x)"Conspicuous": a term or clause is conspicuous� when it is so written that a reasonable person against whom it is to operate� ought to have noticed it. A printed heading in capitals (as: NONNEGOTIABLE BILL OF LADING) is conspicuous. Language in the body of a form� is "conspicuous" if it is in larger or other contrasting type or color. But� in a telegram any stated term is "conspicuous". Whether a term or clause is� "conspicuous" or not is for decision by the court;

 

(xi)"Contract" means the total legal obligation which� results from the parties' agreement as affected by this act and any other� applicable rules of law. (Compare "agreement");

 

(xii)"Creditor" includes a general creditor, a secured� creditor, a lien creditor and any representative of creditors, including an� assignee for the benefit of creditors, a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver� in equity and an executor or administrator of an insolvent debtor's or� assignor's estate;

 

(xiii)"Defendant" includes a person in the position� of defendant in a cross-action or counterclaim;

 

(xiv)"Delivery" with respect to instruments, documents� of title, chattel paper or securities means voluntary transfer of possession;

 

(xv)"Document of title" includes bill of lading, dock� warrant, dock receipt, warehouse receipt or order for the delivery of goods,� and also any other document which in the regular course of business or� financing is treated as adequately evidencing that the person in possession� of it is entitled to receive, hold and dispose of the document and the� goods it covers. To be a document of title a document must purport to be issued� by or addressed to a bailee and purport to cover goods in the� bailee's possession which are either identified or are fungible portions of� an identified mass;

 

(xvi)"Fault" means wrongful act, omission or breach;

 

(xvii)"Fungible" with respect to goods or securities� means goods or securities of which any unit is, by nature or usage of trade,� the equivalent of any other like unit. Goods which are not fungible shall be deemed fungible for the purposes of this act to the extent that� under a particular agreement or document unlike units are treated as equivalents;

 

(xviii)"Genuine" means free of forgery or counterfeiting;

 

(xix)"Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct� or transaction concerned;

 

(xx)"Holder," with respect to a negotiable instrument, means the person in possession if the instrument is payable to bearer or, in the case of an instrument payable to an identified person, if the identified person is in possession. "Holder" with respect to a document of title means the person in possession if the goods are deliverable to bearer or to the order of the person in possession;

 

(xxi)To "honor" is to pay or to accept and pay, or where a credit so engages to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the credit;

 

(xxii)"Insolvency proceedings" includes any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other proceedings intended to liquidate or rehabilitate the estate of the person involved;

 

(xxiii)A person is "insolvent" who either has ceased to pay his� debts in the ordinary course of business or cannot pay his debts as they become due or is insolvent within the meaning of the federal bankruptcy law;

 

(xxiv)"Money" means a medium of exchange authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government and includes a monetary unit of account established by an intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two (2) or more nations;

 

(xxv)A person has "notice" of a fact when:

 

(A)He has actual knowledge of it; or

 

(B)He has received a notice or notification of it; or

 

(C)From all the facts and circumstances known to him at the time in question he has reason to know that it exists. A person "knows" or has "knowledge" of a fact when he has actual knowledge of it. "Discover" or "learn" or a word or phrase of similar import refers to knowledge rather than to reason to know. The time and circumstances under which a notice or notification may cease to be effective are not determined by this act.

 

(xxvi)A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or notification� to another by taking such steps as may be reasonably required to inform the� other in ordinary course whether or not such other actually comes to know� of it. A person "receives" a notice or notification when:

 

(A)It comes to his attention; or

 

(B)It is duly delivered at the place of business through� which the contract was made or at any other place held out by him as the place for receipt of such communications.

 

(xxvii)Notice, knowledge or a notice or notification received� by an organization is effective for a particular transaction from the� time when it is brought to the attention of the individual conducting that� transaction, and in any event from the time when it would have been brought to� his attention if the organization had exercised due diligence. An organization� exercises due diligence if it maintains reasonable routines for communicating significant information to the person conducting the transaction� and there is reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does� not require an individual acting for the organization to communicate� information unless such communication is part of his regular duties or unless� he has reason to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be� materially affected by the information;

 

(xxviii)"Organization" includes a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two (2) or more persons having a� joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity;

 

(xxix)"Party", as distinct from "third party", means a person who has engaged in a transaction or made an agreement within this act;

 

(xxx)"Person" includes an individual or an organization.� (See section 34.1-1-102);

 

(xxxi)"Presumption" or "presumed" means that the trier of� fact must find the existence of the fact presumed unless and until evidence is introduced which would support a finding of its nonexistence;

 

(xxxii)"Purchase" includes taking by sale, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, issue or reissue, gift or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in property;

 

(xxxiii)"Purchaser" means a person who takes by purchase;

 

(xxxiv)"Remedy" means any remedial right to which an aggrieved party is entitled with or without resort to a tribunal;

 

(xxxv)"Representative" includes an agent, an officer of a� corporation or association, and a trustee, executor or administrator of an estate,� or any other person empowered to act for another;

 

(xxxvi)"Rights" includes remedies;

 

(xxxvii)"Security interest" means an interest in personal property or fixtures which secures payment or performance of an obligation. The term also includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of accounts, chattel paper a payment intangible, or a promissory note in a transaction that is subject to article 9. The special property interest of a buyer of goods on identification of those goods to a contract for sale under� section 34.1-2-401 is not a "security interest", but a buyer may also acquire a "security interest" by complying with article 9. Except as otherwise provided in section 34.1-2-505, the right of a seller or lessor of goods under article 2 or 2A to retain or acquire possession of the goods is not a "security interest", but a seller or lessor may also acquire a "security interest" by complying with article 9.� The retention or reservation of title by a seller of goods notwithstanding shipment or delivery to the buyer (section 34.1-2-401) is limited in effect to a reservation of a "security interest":

 

(A)Whether a transaction creates a lease or security� interest is determined by the facts of each case; however, a transaction creates a security interest if the consideration� the lessee is to pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the goods is an obligation for� the term of the lease not subject to termination by the lessee, and:

 

(I)The original term of the lease is equal to or greater� than the remaining economic life of the goods;

 

(II)The lessee is bound to renew the lease for the� remaining economic life of the goods or is bound to become the owner of the goods;

 

(III)The lessee has an option to renew the lease for� the remaining economic life of the goods for no additional consideration or� nominal additional consideration upon compliance with the lease agreement, or;

 

(IV)The lessee has an option to become the owner of� the goods for no additional consideration or nominal additional consideration �upon compliance with the lease agreement.

 

(B)A transaction does not create a security interest� merely because it provides that:

 

(I)The present value of the consideration the lessee� is obligated to pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the goods� is substantially equal to or is greater than the fair market value of the goods at the time the lease is entered into;

 

(II)The lessee assumes risk of loss of the goods, or� agrees to pay taxes, insurance, filing, recording, or registration fees, or� service or maintenance costs with respect to the goods;

 

(III)The lessee has an option to renew the lease or to become the owner of the goods;

 

(IV)The lessee has an option to renew the lease for a� fixed rent that is equal to or greater than the reasonably predictable fair� market rent for the use of the goods for the term of the renewal at the time the option is to be performed; or

 

(V)The lessee has an option to become the owner of� the goods for a fixed price that is equal to or greater than the reasonably� predictable fair market value of the goods at the time the option is to be performed.

 

(C)For purposes of this paragraph (xxxvii):

 

(I)Additional consideration is not nominal if (1)� when the option to renew the lease is granted to the lessee the rent is stated to� be the fair market rent for the use of the goods for the term of the renewal determined at the time the option is to be performed, or (2)� when the option to become the owner of the goods is granted to the lessee the� price is stated to be the fair market value of the goods determined at the time� the option is to be performed.� Additional consideration is nominal if� it is less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of performing under the lease agreement if the option is not exercised;

 

(II)"Reasonably predictable" and "remaining economic� life of the goods" are to be determined with reference to the facts and� circumstances at the time the transaction is entered into; and

 

(III)"Present value" means the amount as of a date� certain of one (1) or more sums payable in the future, discounted to the date certain.�� The discount is determined by the interest rate specified by the parties if the rate is not manifestly unreasonable at the time the� transaction is entered into; otherwise, the discount is determined by a commercially� reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and circumstances of each case at the time the transaction was entered into.

 

(xxxviii)"Send" in connection with any writing or notice� means to deposit in the mail or deliver for transmission by any other usual means of communication with postage or cost of transmission provided for and properly addressed and in the case of an instrument to an address specified thereon or otherwise agreed, or if there be none to any address reasonable under the circumstances. The receipt of any writing or notice within the time at which it would have arrived if properly sent has the effect of a proper sending;

 

(xxxix)"Signed" includes any symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate a writing;

 

(xl)"Surety" includes guarantor;

 

(xli)"Telegram" includes a message transmitted by radio,� teletype, cable, any mechanical method of transmission, or the like;

 

(xlii)"Term" means that portion of an agreement which� relates to a particular matter;

 

(xliii)"Unauthorized" signature means one made without actual, implied, or apparent authority and includes a forgery;

 

(xliv)"Value": except as otherwise provided with respect� to negotiable instruments and bank collections (sections 34.1-3-303,� 34.1-4-208 and 34.1-4-209) a person gives "value" for rights if he acquires them:

 

(A)In return for a binding commitment to extend� credit or for the extension of immediately available credit whether or not� drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is provided for in the event of difficulties in collection; or

 

(B)As security for or in total or partial satisfaction� of a preexisting claim; or

 

(C)By accepting delivery pursuant to a preexisting contract for purchase; or

 

(D)Generally, in return for any consideration sufficient to support a simple contract.

 

(xlv)"Warehouse receipt" means a receipt issued by a person engaged in the business of storing goods for hire;

 

(xlvi)"Written" or "writing" includes printing, typewriting or any other intentional reduction to tangible form.

 

34.1-1-202.Prima facie evidence by third party documents.

 

 

A document in due form purporting to be a bill of lading, policy or certificate of insurance, official weigher's or inspector's certificate, consular invoice, or any other document authorized or required by the contract to be issued by a third party shall be prima facie evidence of its own authenticity and genuineness and of the facts stated in the document by the third party.

 

34.1-1-203.Obligation of good faith.

 

 

Every contract or duty within this act imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance or enforcement.

 

34.1-1-204.Time; reasonable time; "seasonably".

 

 

(a)Whenever this act requires any action to be taken within a reasonable time, any time which is not manifestly unreasonable may be fixed by agreement.

 

(b)What is a reasonable time for taking any action depends on the nature, purpose and circumstances of such action.

 

(c)An action is taken "seasonably" when it is taken at or within the time agreed or if no time is agreed at or within a reasonable time.

 

34.1-1-205.Course of dealing and usage of trade.

 

 

(a)A course of dealing is a sequence of previous conduct between the parties to a particular transaction which is fairly to be regarded as establishing a common basis of understanding for interpreting their expressions and other conduct.

 

(b)A usage of trade is any practice or method of dealing having such regularity of observance in a place, vocation or trade as to justify an expectation that it will be observed with respect to the transaction in question. The existence and scope of such a usage are to be proved as facts. If it is established that such a usage is embodied in a written trade code or similar writing the interpretation of the writing is for the court.

 

(c)A course of dealing between parties and any usage of trade in the vocation or trade in which they are engaged or of which they are or should be aware give particular meaning to and supplement or qualify terms of an agreement.

 

(d)The express terms of an agreement and an applicable course of dealing or usage of trade shall be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but when such construction is unreasonable express terms control both course of dealing and usage of trade and course of dealing controls usage of trade.

 

(e)An applicable usage of trade in the place where any part of performance is to occur shall be used in interpreting the agreement as to that part of performance.

 

(f)Evidence of a relevant usage of trade offered by one (1) party is not admissible unless and until he has given the other party such notice as the court finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise to the latter.

 

34.1-1-206.Statute of frauds for kinds of personal property not otherwise covered.

 

 

(a)Except in the cases described in subsection (b) of this section a contract for the sale of personal property is not enforceable by way of action or defense beyond five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) in amount or value of remedy unless there is some writing which indicates that a contract for sale has been made between the parties at a defined or stated price, reasonably identifies the subject matter, and is signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by his authorized agent.

 

(b)Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to contracts for the sale of goods (section 34.1-2-201) nor of securities (section 34.1-8-113) nor to security agreements (section 34.1-9-203).

 

34.1-1-207.Performance or acceptance under reservation of rights.

 

 

(a)A party who, with explicit reservation of rights, performs or promises performance or assents to performance in a manner demanded or offered by the other party does not thereby prejudice the rights reserved. Such words as "without prejudice", "under protest" or the like are sufficient.

 

(b)Subsection (a) does not apply to an accord and satisfaction.

 

34.1-1-208.Option to accelerate at will.

 

 

A term providing that one (1) party or his successor in interest may accelerate payment or performance or require collateral or additional collateral "at will" or "when he deems himself insecure" or in words of similar import shall be construed to mean that he shall have power to do so only if he in good faith believes that the prospect of payment or performance is impaired. The burden of establishing lack of good faith is on the party against whom the power has been exercised.

 

34.1-1-209.Subordinated obligations.

 

 

An obligation may be issued as subordinated to payment of another obligation of the person obligated, or a creditor may subordinate his right to payment of an obligation by agreement with either the person obligated or another creditor of the person obligated. Such a subordination does not create a security interest as against either the common debtor or a subordinated creditor. This section shall be construed as declaring the law as it existed prior to the enactment of this section and not as modifying it.

 

ARTICLE 2 - SALES

 

PART 1 - SHORT TITLE, GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND SUBJECT MATTER

 

34.1-2-101.Short title.

 

 

This article shall be known and may be cited as Uniform Commercial Code - Sales.

 

34.1-2-102.Scope; certain security and other transactions excluded from this article.

 

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, this article applies to transactions in goods; it does not apply to any transaction which although in the form of an unconditional contract to sell or present sale is intended to operate only as security transaction nor does this article impair or repeal any statute regulating sales to consumers, farmers or other specified classes of buyers.

 

34.1-2-103.Definitions and index of definitions.

 

(a)In this article unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(i)"Buyer" means a person who buys or contracts to buy goods;

 

(ii)"Good faith" in the case of a merchant means honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade;

 

(iii)"Receipt" of goods means taking physical possession of them;

 

(iv)"Seller" means a person who sells or contracts to sell goods.

 

(b)Other definitions applying to this article or to specified parts thereof, and the sections in which they appear are:

 

"Acceptance".��������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-606.

 

"Banker's credit".���������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-325.

 

"Between merchants".�������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-104.

 

"Cancellation".������������������������������������ W.S. 34.1-2-106(d).

 

"Commercial unit".���������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-105.

 

"Confirmed credit".��������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-325.

 

"Conforming to contract".��������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-106.

 

"Contract for sale".�������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-106.

 

"Cover".�������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-712.

 

"Entrusting".��������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-403.

 

"Financing agency".��������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-104.

 

"Future goods".������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-105.

 

"Goods".�������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-105.

 

"Identification".����������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-501.

 

"Installment contract".����������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-612.

 

"Letter of credit".��������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-325.

 

"Lot".���������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-105.

 

"Merchant".����������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-104.

 

"Overseas".����������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-323.

 

"Person in position of seller".��������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-707.

 

"Present sale".������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-106.

 

"Sale".��������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-106.

 

"Sale on approval".��������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-326.

 

"Sale or return".����������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-326.

 

"Termination".�������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-2-106.

 

(c)The following definitions in other articles apply to this article:

 

"Check".�������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-3-104.

 

"Consignee".���������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-7-102.

 

"Consignor".���������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-7-102.

 

"Consumer goods".����������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-9-102.

 

"Dishonor".����������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-3-502.

 

"Draft".�������������������������������������������� W.S. 34.1-3-104.

 

(d)In addition article 1 contains general definitions and principles of construction and interpretation applicable throughout this article.

 

34.1-2-104.Definitions: "Merchant"; "between merchants"; "financing agency".

 

 

(a)"Merchant" means a person who deals in goods of the kind or otherwise by his occupation holds himself out as having knowledge or skill peculiar to the practices or goods involved in the transaction or to whom such knowledge or skill may be attributed by his employment of an agent or broker or other intermediary who by his occupation holds himself out as having such knowledge or skill.

 

(b)"Financing agency" means a bank, finance company or other person who in the ordinary course of business makes advances against goods or documents of title or who by arrangement with either the seller or the buyer intervenes in ordinary course to make or collect payment due or claimed under the contract for sale, as by purchasing or paying the seller's draft or making advances against it or by merely taking it for collection whether or not documents of title accompany the draft. "Financing agency" includes also a bank or other person who similarly intervenes between persons who are in the position of seller and buyer in respect to the goods (section 34.1-2-707).

 

(c)"Between merchants" means in any transaction with respect to which both parties are chargeable with the knowledge or skill of merchants.

 

34.1-2-105.Definitions: Transferability; "goods"; "future" goods; "lot"; "commercial unit".

 

 

(a)"Goods" means all things (including specially manufactured goods) which are movable at the time of identification to the contract for sale other than the money in which the price is to be paid, investment securities (article 8) and things in action. "Goods" also includes the unborn young of animals and growing crops and other identified things attached to realty as described in the section on goods to be severed from realty (section 34.1-2-107).

 

(b)Goods must be both existing and identified before any interest in them can pass. Goods which are not both existing and identified are "future" goods. A purported present sale of future goods or of any interest therein operates as a contract to sell.

 

(c)There may be a sale of a part interest in existing identified goods.

 

(d)An undivided share in an identified bulk of fungible goods is sufficiently identified to be sold although the quantity of the bulk is not determined. Any agreed proportion of such a bulk or any quantity thereof agreed upon by number, weight or other measure may to the extent of the seller's interest in the bulk be sold to the buyer who then becomes an owner in common.

 

(e)"Lot" means a parcel or a single article which is the subject matter of a separate sale or delivery, whether or not it is sufficient to perform the contract.

 

(f)"Commercial unit" means such a unit of goods as by commercial usage is a single whole for purposes of sale and division of which materially impairs its character or value on the market or in use. A commercial unit may be a single article (as a machine) or a set of articles (as a suite of furniture or an assortment of sizes) or a quantity (as a bale, gross, or carload) or any other unit treated in use or in the relevant market as a single whole.

 

34.1-2-106.Definitions: "Contract"; "agreement"; "contract for sale"; "sale"; "present sale"; "conforming" to contract; "termination"; "cancellation".

 

 

(a)In this article unless the context otherwise requires "contract" and "agreement" are limited to those relating to the present or future sale of goods. "Contract for sale" includes both a present sale of goods and a contract to sell goods at a future time. A "sale" consists in the passing of title from the seller to the buyer for a price (section 34.1-2-401). A "present sale" means a sale which is accomplished by the making of the contract.

 

(b)Goods or conduct including any part of a performance are "conforming" or conform to the contract when they are in accordance with the obligations under the contract.

 

(c)"Termination" occurs when either party pursuant to a power created by agreement or law puts an end to the contract otherwise than for its breach. On "termination" all obligations which are still executory on both sides are discharged but any right based on prior breach or performance survives.

 

(d)"Cancellation" occurs when either party puts an end to the contract for breach by the other and its effect is the same as that of "termination" except that the cancelling party also retains any remedy for breach of the whole contract or any unperformed balance.

 

34.1-2-107.Goods to be severed from realty; recording.

 

 

(a)A contract for the sale of timber, minerals or the like or a structure or its materials to be removed from realty is a contract for the sale of goods within this article if they are to be severed by the seller but until severance a purported present sale thereof which is not effective as a transfer of an interest in land is effective only as a contract to sell.

 

(b)A contract for the sale apart from the land of growing crops or other things attached to realty and capable of severance without material harm thereto but not described in subsection (a) is a contract for the sale of goods within this article whether the subject matter is to be severed by the buyer or by the seller even though it forms part of the realty at the time of contracting, and the parties can by identification effect a present sale before severance.

 

(c)The provisions of this section are subject to any third party rights provided by the law relating to realty records, and the contract for sale may be executed and recorded as a document transferring an interest in land and shall then constitute notice to third parties of the buyer's rights under the contract for sale.

 

PART 2 - FORM, FORMATION AND READJUSTMENT OF CONTRACT

 

34.1-2-201.Formal requirements; statute of frauds.

 

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this section a contract for the sale of goods for the price of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless there is some writing sufficient to indicate that a contract for sale has been made between the parties and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by his authorized agent or broker. A writing is not insufficient because it omits or incorrectly states a term agreed upon but the contract is not enforceable under this paragraph beyond the quantity of goods shown in such writing.

 

(b)Between merchants if within a reasonable time a writing in confirmation of the contract and sufficient against the sender is received and the party receiving it has reason to know its contents, it satisfies the requirements of subsection (a) against such party unless written notice of objection to its contents is given within ten (10) days after it is received.

 

(c)A contract which does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) but which is valid in other respects is enforceable:

 

(i)If the goods are to be specially manufactured for the buyer and are not suitable for sale to others in the ordinary course of the seller's business and the seller, before notice of repudiation is received and under circumstances which reasonably indicate that the goods are for the buyer, has made either a substantial beginning of their manufacture or commitments for their procurement; or

 

(ii)If the party against whom enforcement is sought admits in his pleading, testimony or otherwise in court that a contract for sale was made, but the contract is not enforceable under this provision beyond the quantity of goods admitted; or

 

(iii)With respect to goods for which payment has been made and accepted or which have been received and accepted (section 34.1-2-606).

 

34.1-2-202.Final written expression; parol or extrinsic evidence.

 

 

(a)Terms with respect to which the confirmatory memoranda of the parties agree or which are otherwise set forth in a writing intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to such terms as are included therein may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior agreement or of a contemporaneous oral agreement but may be explained or supplemented:

 

(i)By course of dealing or usage of trade (section 34.1-1-205) or by course of performance (section 34.1-2-208); and

 

(ii)By evidence of consistent additional terms unless the court finds the writing to have been intended also as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement.

 

34.1-2-203.Seals inoperative.

 

 

The affixing of a seal to a writing evidencing a contract for sale or an offer to buy or sell goods does not constitute the writing a sealed instrument and the law with respect to sealed instruments does not apply to such a contract or offer.

 

34.1-2-204.Formation in general.

 

 

(a)A contract for sale of goods may be made in any manner sufficient to show agreement, including conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of such a contract.

 

(b)An agreement sufficient to constitute a contract for sale may be found even though the moment of its making is undetermined.

 

(c)Even though one (1) or more terms are left open a contract for sale does not fail for indefiniteness if the parties have intended to make a contract and there is a reasonably certain basis for giving an appropriate remedy.

 

34.1-2-205.Firm offers.

 

 

An offer by a merchant to buy or sell goods in a signed writing which by its terms gives assurance that it will be held open is not revocable, for lack of consideration, during the time stated or if no time is stated for a reasonable time, but in no event may such period of irrevocability exceed three (3) months, but any such term of assurance on a form supplied by the offeree must be separately signed by the offeror.

 

34.1-2-206.Offer and acceptance in formation of contract.

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or circumstances:

 

(i)An offer to make a contract shall be construed as inviting acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable in the circumstances;

 

(ii)An order or other offer to buy goods for prompt or current shipment shall be construed as inviting acceptance either by a prompt promise to ship or by the prompt or current shipment of conforming or nonconforming goods, but such a shipment of nonconforming goods does not constitute an acceptance if the seller seasonably notifies the buyer that the shipment is offered only as an accommodation to the buyer.

 

(b)Where the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of acceptance an offeror who is not notified of acceptance within a reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before an acceptance.

 

34.1-2-207.Additional terms in acceptance or confirmation.

 

 

(a)A definite and seasonable expression of acceptance or a written confirmation which is sent within a reasonable time operates as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those offered or agreed upon, unless acceptance is expressly made conditional on assent to the additional or different terms.

 

(b)The additional terms are to be construed as proposals for addition to the contract. Between merchants such terms become part of the contract unless:

 

(i)The offer expressly limits acceptance to the terms of the offer;

 

(ii)They materially alter it; or

 

(iii)Notification of objection to them has already been given or is given within a reasonable time after notice of them is received.

 

(c)Conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of a contract is sufficient to establish a contract for sale although the writings of the parties do not otherwise establish a contract. In such case the terms of the particular contract consist of those terms on which the writings of the parties agree, together with any supplementary terms incorporated under any other provisions of this act.

 

34.1-2-208.Course of performance or practical construction.

 

 

(a)Where the contract for sale involves repeated occasions for performance by either party with knowledge of the nature of the performance and opportunity for objection to it by the other, any course of performance accepted or acquiesced in without objection shall be relevant to determine the meaning of the agreement.

 

(b)The express terms of the agreement and any such course of performance, as well as any course of dealing and usage of trade, shall be construed whenever reasonable as consistent with each other; but when such construction is unreasonable, express terms shall control course of performance and course of performance shall control both course of dealing and usage of trade (section 34.1-1-205).

 

(c)Subject to the provisions of the next section on modification and waiver, such course of performance shall be relevant to show a waiver or modification of any term inconsistent with such course of performance.

 

34.1-2-209.Modification, rescission and waiver.

 

 

(a)An agreement modifying a contract within this article needs no consideration to be binding.

 

(b)A signed agreement which excludes modification or rescission except by a signed writing cannot be otherwise modified or rescinded, but except as between merchants such a requirement on a form supplied by the merchant must be separately signed by the other party.

 

(c)The requirements of the statute of frauds section of this article (section 34.1-2-201) must be satisfied if the contract as modified is within its provisions.

 

(d)Although an attempt at modification or rescission does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (b) or (c) it can operate as a waiver.

 

(e)A party who has made a waiver affecting an executory portion of the contract may retract the waiver by reasonable notification received by the other party that strict performance will be required of any term waived, unless the retraction would be unjust in view of a material change of position in reliance on the waiver.

 

34.1-2-210.Delegation of performance; assignment of rights.

 

(a)A party may perform his duty through a delegate unless otherwise agreed or unless the other party has a substantial interest in having his original promisor perform or control the acts required by the contract. No delegation of performance relieves the party delegating of any duty to perform or any liability for breach.

 

(b)Except as otherwise provided in section 34.1-9-406, unless otherwise agreed, all rights of either seller or buyer can be assigned except where the assignment would materially change the duty of the other party, or increase materially the burden or risk imposed on him by his contract, or impair materially his chance of obtaining return performance. A right to damages for breach of the whole contract or a right arising out of the assignor's due performance of his entire obligation can be assigned despite agreement otherwise.

 

(c)The creation, attachment, perfection or enforcement of a security interest in the seller's interest under a contract is not a transfer that materially changes the duty of or increases materially the burden or risk imposed on the buyer or impairs materially the buyer's chance of obtaining return performance within the purview of subsection (b) unless, and then only to the extent that, enforcement actually results in a delegation of material performance of the seller. Even in that event, the creation, attachment, perfection and enforcement of the security interest remain effective, but (1) the seller is liable to the buyer for damages caused by the delegation to the extent that the damages could not reasonably be prevented by the buyer, and (2) a court having jurisdiction may grant other appropriate relief, including cancellation of the contract for sale or an injunction against enforcement of the security interest or consummation of the enforcement.

 

(d)Unless the circumstances indicate the contrary a prohibition of assignment of "the contract" is to be construed as barring only the delegation to the assignee of the assignor's performance.

 

(e)An assignment of "the contract" or of "all my rights under the contract" or an assignment in similar general terms is an assignment of rights and unless the language or the circumstances (as in an assignment for security) indicate the contrary, it is a delegation of performance of the duties of the assignor and its acceptance by the assignee constitutes a promise by him to perform those duties. This promise is enforceable by either the assignor or the other party to the original contract.

 

(f)The other party may treat any assignment which delegates performance as creating reasonable grounds for insecurity and may without prejudice to his rights against the assignor demand assurances from the assignee (section 34.1-2-609).

 

PART 3 - GENERAL OBLIGATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONTRACT

 

34.1-2-301.General obligations of parties.

 

 

The obligation of the seller is to transfer and deliver and that of the buyer is to accept and pay in accordance with the contract.

 

34.1-2-302.Unconscionable contract or clause.

 

 

(a)If the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result.

 

(b)When it is claimed or appears to the court that the contract or any clause thereof may be unconscionable the parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its commercial setting, purpose and effect to aid the court in making the determination.

 

34.1-2-303.Allocation or division of risks.

 

 

Where this article allocates a risk or a burden as between the parties "unless otherwise agreed", the agreement may not only shift the allocation but may also divide the risk or burden.

 

34.1-2-304.Price payable in money, goods, realty, or otherwise.

 

 

(a)The price can be made payable in money or otherwise. If it is payable in whole or in part in goods each party is a seller of the goods which he is to transfer.

 

(b)Even though all or part of the price is payable in an interest in realty the transfer of the goods and the seller's obligations with reference to them are subject to this article, but not the transfer of the interest in realty or the transferor's obligations in connection therewith.

 

34.1-2-305.Open price term.

 

 

(a)The parties if they so intend can conclude a contract for sale even though the price is not settled. In such a case the price is a reasonable price at the time for delivery if:

 

(i)Nothing is said as to price; or

 

(ii)The price is left to be agreed by the parties and they fail to agree; or

 

(iii)The price is to be fixed in terms of some agreed market or other standard as set or recorded by a third person or agency and it is not so set or recorded.

 

(b)A price to be fixed by the seller or by the buyer means a price for him to fix in good faith.

 

(c)When a price left to be fixed otherwise than by agreement of the parties fails to be fixed through fault of one (1) party the other may at his option treat the contract as cancelled or himself fix a reasonable price.

 

(d)Where, however, the parties intend not to be bound unless the price be fixed or agreed and it is not fixed or agreed there is no contract. In such a case the buyer must return any goods already received or if unable so to do must pay their reasonable value at the time of delivery and the seller must return any portion of the price paid on account.

 

34.1-2-306.Output, requirements and exclusive dealings.

 

 

(a)A term which measures the quantity by the output of the seller or the requirements of the buyer means such actual output or requirements as may occur in good faith, except that no quantity unreasonably disproportionate to any stated estimate or in the absence of a stated estimate to any normal or otherwise comparable prior output or requirements may be tendered or demanded.

 

(b)A lawful agreement by either the seller or the buyer for exclusive dealing in the kind of goods concerned imposes unless otherwise agreed an obligation by the seller to use best efforts to supply the goods and by the buyer to use best efforts to promote their sale.

 

34.1-2-307.Delivery in single lot or several lots.

 

 

Unless otherwise agreed all goods called for by a contract for sale must be tendered in a single delivery and payment is due only on such tender but where the circumstances give either party the right to make or demand delivery in lots the price if it can be apportioned may be demanded for each lot.

 

34.1-2-308.Absence of specified place for delivery.

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)The place for delivery of goods is the seller's place of business or if he has none his residence; but

 

(ii)In a contract for sale of identified goods which to the knowledge of the parties at the time of contracting are in some other place, that place is the place for their delivery; and

 

(iii)Documents of title may be delivered through customary banking channels.

 

34.1-2-309.Absence of specific time provisions; notice of termination.

 

 

(a)The time for shipment or delivery or any other action under a contract if not provided in this article or agreed upon shall be a reasonable time.

 

(b)Where the contract provides for successive performance but is indefinite in duration it is valid for a reasonable time but unless otherwise agreed may be terminated at any time by either party.

 

(c)Termination of a contract by one (1) party except on the happening of an agreed event requires that reasonable notification be received by the other party and an agreement dispensing with notification is invalid if its operation would be unconscionable.

 

34.1-2-310.Open time for payment or running of credit; authority to ship under reservation.

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)Payment is due at the time and place at which the buyer is to receive the goods even though the place of shipment is the place of delivery; and

 

(ii)If the seller is authorized to send the goods he may ship them under reservation, and may tender the documents of title, but the buyer may inspect the goods after their arrival before payment is due unless such inspection is inconsistent with the terms of the contract (section 34.1-2-513); and

 

(iii)If delivery is authorized and made by way of documents of title otherwise than by subdivision (ii) then payment is due at the time and place at which the buyer is to receive the documents regardless of where the goods are to be received; and

 

(iv)Where the seller is required or authorized to ship the goods on credit the credit period runs from the time of shipment but postdating the invoice or delaying its dispatch will correspondingly delay the starting of the credit period.

 

34.1-2-311.Options and cooperation respecting performance.

 

 

(a)An agreement for sale which is otherwise sufficiently definite (section 34.1-2-204(c)) to be a contract is not made invalid by the fact that it leaves particulars of performance to be specified by one (1) of the parties. Any such specification must be made in good faith and within limits set by commercial reasonableness.

 

(b)Unless otherwise agreed specifications relating to assortment of the goods are at the buyer's option and except as otherwise provided in section 34.1-2-319(a)(iii) and (c) specifications or arrangements relating to shipment are at the seller's option.

 

(c)Where such specification would materially affect the other party's performance but is not seasonably made or where one party's cooperation is necessary to the agreed performance of the other but is not seasonably forthcoming, the other party in addition to all other remedies:

 

(i)Is excused for any resulting delay in his own performance; and

 

(ii)May also either proceed to perform in any reasonable manner or after the time for a material part of his own performance treat the failure to specify or to cooperate as a breach by failure to deliver or accept the goods.

 

34.1-2-312.Warranty of title and against infringement; buyer's obligation against infringement.

 

 

(a)Subject to subsection (b) there is in a contract for sale a warranty by the seller that:

 

(i)The title conveyed shall be good, and its transfer rightful; and

 

(ii)The goods shall be delivered free from any security interest or other lien or encumbrance of which the buyer at the time of contracting has no knowledge.

 

(b)A warranty under subsection (a) will be excluded or modified only by specific language or by circumstances which give the buyer reason to know that the person selling does not claim title in himself or that he is purporting to sell only such right or title as he or a third person may have.

 

(c)Unless otherwise agreed a seller who is a merchant regularly dealing in goods of the kind warrants that the goods shall be delivered free of the rightful claim of any third person by way of infringement or the like but a buyer who furnishes specifications to the seller must hold the seller harmless against any such claim which arises out of compliance with the specifications.

 

34.1-2-313.Express warranties by affirmation, promise, description, sample.

 

 

(a)Express warranties by the seller are created as follows:

 

(i)Any affirmation of fact or promise made by the seller to the buyer which relates to the goods and becomes part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the affirmation or promise;

 

(ii)Any description of the goods which is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the description;

 

(iii)Any sample or model which is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the whole of the goods shall conform to the sample or model.

 

(b)It is not necessary to the creation of an express warranty that the seller use formal words such as "warrant" or "guarantee" or that he have a specific intention to make a warranty, but an affirmation merely of the value of the goods or a statement purporting to be merely the seller's opinion or commendation of the goods does not create a warranty.

 

34.1-2-314.Implied warranty; merchantability; usage of trade.

 

 

(a)Unless excluded or modified (section 34.1-2-316), a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind. Under this section the serving for value of food or drink to be consumed either on the premises or elsewhere is a sale.

 

(b)Goods to be merchantable must be at least such as:

 

(i)Pass without objection in the trade under the contract description; and

 

(ii)In the case of fungible goods, are of fair average quality within the description; and

 

(iii)Are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used; and

 

(iv)Run, within the variations permitted by the agreement, of even kind, quality and quantity within each unit and among all units involved; and

 

(v)Are adequately contained, packaged, and labeled as the agreement may require; and

 

(vi)Conform to the promises or affirmations of fact made on the container or label if any.

 

(c)Unless excluded or modified (section 34.1-2-316) other implied warranties may arise from course of dealing or usage of trade.

 

34.1-2-315.Implied warranty; fitness for particular purpose.

 

Where the seller at the time of contracting has reason to know any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill or judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is unless excluded or modified under the next section an implied warranty that the goods shall be fit for such purpose.

 

34.1-2-316.Exclusion or modification of warranties.

 

 

(a)Words or conduct relevant to the creation of an express warranty and words or conduct tending to negate or limit warranty shall be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but subject to the provisions of this article on parol or extrinsic evidence (section 34.1-2-202) negation or limitation is inoperative to the extent that such construction is unreasonable.

 

(b)Subject to subsection (c), to exclude or modify the implied warranty of merchantability or any part of it the language must mention merchantability and in case of a writing must be conspicuous, and to exclude or modify any implied warranty of fitness the exclusion must be by a writing and conspicuous. Language to exclude all implied warranties of fitness is sufficient if it states, for example, that "There are no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof."

 

(c)Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section:

 

(i)Unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like "as is", "with all faults" or other language which in common understanding calls the buyer's attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty; and

 

(ii)When the buyer before entering into the contract has examined the goods or the sample or model as fully as he desired or has refused to examine the goods there is no implied warranty with regard to defects which an examination ought in the circumstances to have revealed to him; and

 

(iii)An implied warranty can also be excluded or modified by course of dealing or course of performance or usage of trade; and

 

(iv)The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale of human blood, blood plasma or other human tissue or organs from an individual or a blood bank or reservoir of such other tissues or organs. Such blood, blood plasma or tissue or organs shall not for the purpose of this article be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered as medical services;

 

(v)With respect to the sale of cattle, hogs, sheep and horses, there shall be no implied warranty that the cattle, hogs, sheep and horses are free from disease.

 

(d)Remedies for breach of warranty can be limited in accordance with the provisions of this article on liquidation or limitation of damages and on contractual modification of remedy (sections 34.1-2-718 and 34.1-2-719).

 

34.1-2-317.Cumulation and conflict of warranties express or implied.

 

 

(a)Warranties whether express or implied shall be construed as consistent with each other and as cumulative, but if such construction is unreasonable the intention of the parties shall determine which warranty is dominant. In ascertaining that intention the following rules apply:

 

(i)Exact or technical specifications displace an inconsistent sample or model or general language of description;

 

(ii)A sample from an existing bulk displaces inconsistent general language of description;

 

(iii)Express warranties displace inconsistent implied warranties other than an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.

 

34.1-2-318.Third party beneficiaries of warranties express or implied.

 

 

A seller's warranty whether express or implied extends to any person who may reasonably be expected to use, consume, or be affected by the goods and who is injured by breach of the warranty. A seller may not exclude or limit the operation of this section.

 

34.1-2-319.F.O.B. and F.A.S. terms.

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed the term F.O.B. (which means "free on board") at a named place, even though used only in connection with the stated price, is a delivery term under which:

 

(i)When the term is F.O.B. the place of shipment, the seller must at that place ship the goods in the manner provided in this article (section 34.1-2-504) and bear the expense and risk of putting them into the possession of the carrier; or

 

(ii)When the term is F.O.B. the place of destination, the seller must at his own expense and risk transport the goods to that place and there tender delivery of them in the manner provided in this article (section 34.1-2-503);

 

(iii)When under either subdivision (i) or (ii) the term is also F.O.B. vessel, car or other vehicle, the seller must in addition at his own expense and risk load the goods on board. If the term is F.O.B. vessel the buyer must name the vessel and in an appropriate case the seller must comply with the provisions of this article on the form of bill of lading (section 34.1-2-323).

 

(b)Unless otherwise agreed the term F.A.S. vessel (which means "free alongside") at a named port, even though used only in connection with the stated price, is a delivery term under which the seller must:

 

(i)At his own expense and risk deliver the goods alongside the vessel in the manner usual in that port or on a dock designated and provided by the buyer; and

 

(ii)Obtain and tender a receipt for the goods in exchange for which the carrier is under a duty to issue a bill of lading.

 

(c)Unless otherwise agreed in any case falling within subsection (a)(i) or (iii) or� subsection (b) the buyer must seasonably give any needed instructions for making delivery, including when the term is F.A.S. or F.O.B. the loading berth of the vessel and in an appropriate case its name and sailing date. The seller may treat the failure of needed instructions as a failure of cooperation under this article (section 34.1-2-311). He may also at his option move the goods in any reasonable manner preparatory to delivery or shipment.

 

(d)Under the term F.O.B. vessel or F.A.S. unless otherwise agreed the buyer must make payment against tender of the required documents and the seller may not tender nor the buyer demand delivery of the goods in substitution for the documents.

 

34.1-2-320.C.I.F. and C. & F. terms.

 

 

(a)The term C.I.F. means that the price includes in a lump sum the costs of goods and the insurance and freight to the named destination. The term C. & F. or C.F. means that the price so includes cost and freight to the named destination.

 

(b)Unless otherwise agreed and even though used only in connection with the stated price and destination, the term C.I.F. destination or its equivalent requires the seller at his own expense and risk to:

 

(i)Put the goods into the possession of a carrier at the port for shipment and obtain a negotiable bill or bills of lading covering the entire transportation to the named destination; and

 

(ii)Load the goods and obtain a receipt from the carrier (which may be contained in the bill of lading) showing that the freight has been paid or provided for; and

 

(iii)Obtain a policy or certificate of insurance, including any war risk insurance, of a kind and on terms then current at the port of shipment in the usual amount, in the currency of the contract, shown to cover the same goods covered by the bill of lading and providing for payment of loss to the order of the buyer or for the account of whom it may concern; but the seller may add to the price the amount of the premium for any such war risk insurance; and

 

(iv)Prepare an invoice of the goods and procure any other documents required to effect shipment or to comply with the contract; and

 

(v)Forward and tender with commercial promptness all the documents in due form and with any indorsement necessary to perfect the buyer's rights.

 

(c)Unless otherwise agreed the term C. & F. or its equivalent has the same effect and imposes upon the seller the same obligations and risks as a C.I.F. term except the obligation as to insurance.

 

(d)Under the term C.I.F. or C. & F. unless otherwise agreed the buyer must make payment against tender of the required documents and the seller may not tender nor the buyer demand delivery of the goods in substitution for the documents.

 

34.1-2-321.C.I.F. or C. & F.; "net landed weights"; "payment on arrival"; warranty of condition on arrival.

 

 

(a)Under a contract containing a term C.I.F. or C. & F.:

 

(i)Where the price is based on or is to be adjusted according to "net landed weights", "delivered weights", "out turn" quantity or quality or the like, unless otherwise agreed the seller must reasonably estimate the price. The payment due on tender of the documents called for by the contract is the amount so estimated, but after final adjustment of the price a settlement must be made with commercial promptness;

 

(ii)An agreement described in subdivision (a)(i) or any warranty of quality or condition of the goods on arrival places upon the seller the risk of ordinary deterioration, shrinkage and the like in transportation but has no effect on the place or time of identification to the contract for sale or delivery or on the passing of the risk of loss;

 

(iii)Unless otherwise agreed where the contract provides for payment on or after arrival of the goods the seller must before payment allow such preliminary inspection as is feasible; but if the goods are lost delivery of the documents and payment are due when the goods should have arrived.

 

34.1-2-322.Delivery "ex-ship".

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed a term for delivery of goods "ex-ship" (which means from the carrying vessel) or in equivalent language is not restricted to a particular ship and requires delivery from a ship which has reached a place at the named port of destination where goods of the kind are usually discharged.

 

(b)Under such a term unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)The seller must discharge all liens arising out of the carriage and furnish the buyer with a direction which puts the carrier under a duty to deliver the goods; and

 

(ii)The risk of loss does not pass to the buyer until the goods leave the ship's tackle or are otherwise properly unloaded.

 

34.1-2-323.Form of bill of lading required in overseas shipment; "overseas".

 

 

(a)Where the contract contemplates overseas shipment and contains a term C.I.F. or C. & F. or F.O.B. vessel, the seller unless otherwise agreed must obtain a negotiable bill of lading stating that the goods have been loaded on board or, in the case of a term C.I.F. or C. & F., received for shipment.

 

(b)Where in a case within subsection (a) a bill of lading has been issued in a set of parts, unless otherwise agreed if the documents are not to be sent from abroad the buyer may demand tender of the full set, otherwise only one (1) part of the bill of lading need be tendered. Even if the agreement expressly requires a full set:

 

(i)Due tender of a single part is acceptable within the provisions of this article on cure of improper delivery (section 34.1-2-508(a)); and

 

(ii)Even though the full set is demanded, if the documents are sent from abroad the person tendering an incomplete set may nevertheless require payment upon furnishing an indemnity which the buyer in good faith deems adequate.

 

(c)A shipment by water or by air or a contract contemplating such shipment is "overseas" insofar as by usage of trade or agreement it is subject to the commercial financing or shipping practices characteristic of international deep water commerce.

 

34.1-2-324."No arrival, no sale" term.

 

 

(a)Under a term "no arrival, no sale" or terms of like meaning, unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)The seller must properly ship conforming goods and if they arrive by any means he must tender them on arrival but he assumes no obligation that the goods will arrive unless he has caused the nonarrival; and

 

(ii)Where without fault of the seller the goods are in part lost or have so deteriorated as no longer to conform to the contract or arrive after the contract time, the buyer may proceed as if there had been casualty to identified goods (section 34.1-2-613).

 

34.1-2-325."Letter of credit" term; "confirmed credit".

 

 

(a)Failure of the buyer seasonably to furnish an agreed letter of credit is a breach of the contract for sale.

 

(b)The delivery to seller of a proper letter of credit suspends the buyer's obligation to pay. If the letter of credit is dishonored, the seller may on seasonable notification to the buyer require payment directly from him.

 

(c)Unless otherwise agreed the term "letter of credit" or "banker's credit" in a contract for sale means an irrevocable credit issued by a financing agency of good repute and, where the shipment is overseas, of good international repute. The term "confirmed credit" means that the credit must also carry the direct obligation of such an agency which does business in the seller's financial market.

 

34.1-2-326.Sale on approval and sale or return; consignment sales and rights of creditors.

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed, if delivered goods may be returned by the buyer even though they conform to the contract, the transaction is:

 

(i)A "sale on approval" if the goods are delivered primarily for use; and

 

(ii)A "sale or return" if the goods are delivered primarily for resale.

 

(b)Goods held on approval are not subject to the claims of the buyer's creditors until acceptance, goods held on sale or return are subject to such claims while in the buyer's possession.

 

(c)Repealed By Laws 2001, Ch. 137, � 4.

 

(d)Any "or return" term of a contract for sale is to be treated as a separate contract for sale within the statute of frauds section of this article (section 34.1-2-201) and as contradicting the sale aspect of the contract within the provisions of this article on parol or extrinsic evidence (section 34.1-2-202).

 

34.1-2-327.Special incidents of sale on approval and sale or return.

 

 

(a)Under a sale on approval unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)Although the goods are identified to the contract the risk of loss and the title do not pass to the buyer until acceptance; and

 

(ii)Use of the goods consistent with the purpose of trial is not acceptance but failure seasonably to notify the seller of election to return the goods is acceptance, and if the goods conform to the contract acceptance of any part is acceptance of the whole; and

 

(iii)After due notification of election to return, the return is at the seller's risk and expense but a merchant buyer must follow any reasonable instructions.

 

(b)Under a sale or return unless otherwise agreed:

 

(i)The option to return extends to the whole or any commercial unit of the goods while in substantially their original condition, but must be exercised seasonably; and

 

(ii)The return is at the buyer's risk and expense.

 

34.1-2-328.Sale by auction.

 

 

(a)In a sale by auction if goods are put up in lots each lot is the subject of a separate sale.

 

(b)A sale by auction is complete when the auctioneer so announces by the fall of the hammer or in other customary manner. Where a bid is made while the hammer is falling in acceptance of a prior bid the auctioneer may in his discretion reopen the bidding or declare the goods sold under the bid on which the hammer was falling.

 

(c)Such a sale is with reserve unless the goods are in explicit terms put up without reserve. In an auction with reserve the auctioneer may withdraw the goods at any time until he announces completion of the sale. In an auction without reserve, after the auctioneer calls for bids on an article or lot, that article or lot cannot be withdrawn unless no bid is made within a reasonable time. In either case a bidder may retract his bid until the auctioneer's announcement of completion of the sale, but a bidder's retraction does not revive any previous bid.

 

(d)If the auctioneer knowingly receives a bid on the seller's behalf or the seller makes or procures such a bid, and notice has not been given that liberty for such bidding is reserved, the buyer may at his option avoid the sale or take the goods at the price of the last good faith bid prior to the completion of the sale. This subsection shall not apply to any bid at a forced sale.

 

PART 4 - TITLE, CREDITORS AND GOOD FAITH PURCHASERS

 

34.1-2-401.Passing of title; reservation for security; limited application of this section.

 

 

(a)Each provision of this article with regard to the rights, obligations and remedies of the seller, the buyer, purchasers or other third parties applies irrespective of title to the goods except where the provision refers to such title. Insofar as situations are not covered by the other provisions of this article and matters concerning title become material the following rules apply:

 

(i)Title to goods cannot pass under a contract for sale prior to their identification to the contract (section 34.1-2-501), and unless otherwise explicitly agreed the buyer acquires by their identification a special property as limited by this act. Any retention or reservation by the seller of the title (property) in goods shipped or delivered to the buyer is limited in effect to a reservation of a security interest. Subject to these provisions and to the provisions of the article on secured transactions (article 9), title to goods passes from the seller to the buyer in any manner and on any conditions explicitly agreed on by the parties;

 

(ii)Unless otherwise explicitly agreed title passes to the buyer at the time and place at which the seller completes his performance with reference to the physical delivery of the goods, despite any reservation of a security interest and even though a document of title is to be delivered at a different time or place; and in particular and despite any reservation of a security interest by the bill of lading:

 

(A)If the contract requires or authorizes the seller to send the goods to the buyer but does not require him to deliver them at destination, title passes to the buyer at the time and place of shipment; but

 

(B)If the contract requires delivery at destination, title passes on tender there.

 

(iii)Unless otherwise explicitly agreed where delivery is to be made without moving the goods:

 

(A)If the seller is to deliver a document of title, title passes at the time when and the place where he delivers such documents; or

 

(B)If the goods are at the time of contracting already identified and no documents are to be delivered, title passes at the time and place of contracting.

 

(iv)A rejection or other refusal by the buyer to receive or retain the goods, whether or not justified, or a justified revocation of acceptance revests title to the goods in the seller. Such revesting occurs by operation of law and is not a "sale".

 

34.1-2-402.Rights of seller's creditors against sold goods.

 

 

(a)Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), rights of unsecured creditors of the seller with respect to goods which have been identified to a contract for sale are subject to the buyer's rights to recover the goods under this article (sections 34.1-2-502 and 34.1-2-716).

 

(b)A creditor of the seller may treat a sale or an identification of goods to a contract for sale as void if as against him a retention of possession by the seller is fraudulent under any rule of law of the state where the goods are situated, except that retention of possession in good faith and current course of trade by a merchant-seller for a commercially reasonable time after a sale or identification is not fraudulent.

 

(c)Nothing in this article shall be deemed to impair the rights of creditors of the seller:

 

(i)Under the provisions of the article on secured transactions (article 9); or

 

(ii)Where identification to the contract or delivery is made not in current course of trade but in satisfaction of or as security for a preexisting claim for money, security or the like and is made under circumstances which under any rule of law of the state where the goods are situated would apart from this article constitute the transaction a fraudulent transfer or voidable preference.

 

34.1-2-403.Power to transfer; good faith purchase of goods; "entrusting".

 

 

(a)A purchaser of goods acquires all title which his transferor has or had power to transfer except that a purchaser of a limited interest acquires rights only to the extent of the interest purchased. A person with voidable title has power to transfer a good title to a good faith purchaser for value. When goods have been delivered under a transaction of purchase the purchaser has such power even though:

 

(i)The transferor was deceived as to the identity of the purchaser; or

 

(ii)The delivery was in exchange for a check which is later dishonored; or

 

(iii)It was agreed that the transaction was to be a "cash sale"; or

 

(iv)The delivery was procured through fraud punishable as larcenous under the criminal law.

 

(b)Any entrusting of possession of goods to a merchant who deals in goods of that kind gives him power to transfer all rights of the entruster to a buyer in ordinary course of business.

 

(c)"Entrusting" includes any delivery and any acquiescence in retention of possession regardless of any condition expressed between the parties to the delivery of acquiescence and regardless of whether the procurement of the entrusting or the possessor's disposition of the goods have been such as to be larcenous under the criminal law.

 

(d)The rights of other purchasers of goods and of lien creditors are governed by the articles on secured transactions (article 9) and documents of title (article 7).

 

PART 5 - PERFORMANCE

 

34.1-2-501.Insurable interest in goods; manner of identification of goods.

 

 

(a)The buyer obtains a special property and an insurable interest in goods by identification of existing goods as goods to which the contract refers even though the goods so identified are nonconforming and he has an option to return or reject them. Such identification can be made at any time and in any manner explicitly agreed to by the parties. In the absence of explicit agreement identification occurs:

 

(i)When the contract is made if it is for the sale of goods already existing and identified;

 

(ii)If the contract is for the sale of future goods other than those described in subdivision (iii), when goods are shipped, marked or otherwise designated by the seller as goods to which the contract refers;

 

(iii)When the crops are planted or otherwise become growing crops or the young are conceived if the contract is for the sale of unborn young to be born within twelve (12) months after contracting or for the sale of crops to be harvested within twelve (12) months or the next normal harvest season after contracting whichever is longer.

 

(b)The seller retains an insurable interest in goods so long as title to or any security interest in the goods remains in him and where the identification is by the seller alone he may until default or insolvency or notification to the buyer that the identification is final substitute other goods for those identified.

 

(c)Nothing in this section impairs any insurable interest recognized under any other statute or rule of law.

 

34.1-2-502.Buyer's right to goods on seller's repudiation, failure to deliver or insolvency.

 

(a)Subject to subsections (b) and (c) and even though the goods have not been shipped a buyer who has paid a part or all of the price of goods in which he has a special property under the provisions of the immediately preceding section may on making and keeping good a tender of any unpaid portion of their price recover them from the seller if:

 

(i)In the case of goods bought for personal, family or household purposes, the seller repudiates or fails to deliver as required by the contract; or

 

(ii)In all cases, the seller becomes insolvent within ten (10) days after receipt of the first installment on their price.

 

(b)The buyer's right to recover the goods under paragraph (a)(i) vests upon acquisition of a special property, even if the seller had not then repudiated or failed to deliver.

 

(c)If the identification creating his special property has been made by the buyer he acquires the right to recover the goods only if they conform to the contract for sale.

 

34.1-2-503.Manner of seller's tender of delivery.

 

 

(a)Tender of delivery requires that the seller put and hold conforming goods at the buyer's disposition and give the buyer any notification reasonably necessary to enable him to take delivery. The manner, time and place for tender are determined by the agreement and this article, and in particular:

 

(i)Tender must be at a reasonable hour, and if it is of goods they must be kept available for the period reasonably necessary to enable the buyer to take possession; but

 

(ii)Unless otherwise agreed the buyer must furnish facilities reasonably suited to the receipt of the goods.

 

(b)Where the case is within the next section respecting shipment tender requires that the seller comply with its provisions.

 

(c)Where the seller is required to deliver at a particular destination tender requires that he comply with subsection (a) and also in any appropriate case tender documents as described in subsections (d) and (e) of this section.

 

(d)Where goods are in the possession of a bailee and are to be delivered without being moved:

 

(i)Tender requires that the seller either tender a negotiable document of title covering such goods or procure acknowledgment by the bailee of the buyer's right to possession of the goods; but

 

(ii)Tender to the buyer of a nonnegotiable document of title or of a written direction to the bailee to deliver is sufficient tender unless the buyer seasonably objects, and receipt by the bailee of notification of the buyer's rights fixes those rights as against the bailee and all third persons; but risk of loss of the goods and of any failure by the bailee to honor the nonnegotiable document of title or to obey the direction remains on the seller until the buyer has had a reasonable time to present the document or direction, and a refusal by the bailee to honor the document or to obey the direction defeats the tender.

 

(e)Where the contract requires the seller to deliver documents:

 

(i)He must tender all such documents in correct form except as provided in this article with respect to bills of lading in a set (section 34.1-2-323(b)); and

 

(ii)Tender through customary banking channels is sufficient and dishonor of a draft accompanying the documents constitutes nonacceptance or rejection.

 

34.1-2-504.Shipment by seller.

 

 

(a)Where the seller is required or authorized to send the goods to the buyer and the contract does not require him to deliver them at a particular destination, then unless otherwise agreed he must:

 

(i)Put the goods in the possession of such a carrier and make such a contract for their transportation as may be reasonable having regard to the nature of the goods and other circumstances of the case; and

 

(ii)Obtain and promptly deliver or tender in due form any document necessary to enable the buyer to obtain possession of the goods or otherwise required by the agreement or by usage of trade; and

 

(iii)Promptly notify the buyer of the shipment.

 

(b)Failure to notify the buyer under subdivision (a)(iii) or to make a proper contract under subdivision (a)(i) is a ground for rejection only if material delay or loss ensues.

 

34.1-2-505.Seller's shipment under reservation.

 

 

(a)Where the seller has identified goods to the contract by or before shipment:

 

(i)His procurement of a negotiable bill of lading to his own order or otherwise reserves in him a security interest in the goods. His procurement of the bill to the order of a financing agency or of the buyer indicates in addition only the seller's expectation of transferring that interest to the person named;

 

(ii)A nonnegotiable bill of lading to himself or his nominee reserves possession of the goods as security but except in a case of conditional delivery (section 34.1-2-507(b)) a nonnegotiable bill of lading naming the buyer as consignee reserves no security interest even though the seller retains possession of the bill of lading.

 

(b)When shipment by the seller with reservation of a security interest is in violation of the contract for sale it constitutes an improper contract for transportation within the preceding section but impairs neither the rights given to the buyer by shipment and identification of the goods to the contract nor the seller's powers as a holder of a negotiable document.

 

34.1-2-506.Rights of financing agency.

 

 

(a)A financing agency by paying or purchasing for value a draft which relates to a shipment of goods acquires to the extent of the payment or purchase and in addition to its own rights under the draft and any document of title securing it any rights of the shipper in the goods including the right to stop delivery and the shipper's right to have the draft honored by the buyer.

 

(b)The right to reimbursement of a financing agency which has in good faith honored or purchased the draft under commitment to or authority from the buyer is not impaired by subsequent discovery of defects with reference to any relevant document which was apparently regular on its face.

 

34.1-2-507.Effect of seller's tender; delivery on condition.

 

 

(a)Tender of delivery is a condition to the buyer's duty to accept the goods, unless otherwise agreed, to his duty to pay for them. Tender entitles the seller to acceptance of the goods and to payment according to the contract.

 

(b)Where payment is due and demanded on the delivery to the buyer of goods or documents of title, his right as against the seller to retain or dispose of them is conditional upon his making the payment due.

 

34.1-2-508.Cure by seller of improper tender or delivery; replacement.

 

 

(a)Where any tender or delivery by the seller is rejected because nonconforming and the time for performance has not yet expired, the seller may seasonably notify the buyer of his intention to cure and may then within the contract time make a conforming delivery.

 

(b)Where the buyer rejects a nonconforming tender which the seller had reasonable grounds to believe would be acceptable with or without money allowance the seller may if he seasonably notifies the buyer have a further reasonable time to substitute a conforming tender.

 

34.1-2-509.Risk of loss in the absence of breach.

 

 

(a)Where the contract requires or authorizes the seller to ship the goods by carrier:

 

(i)If it does not require him to deliver them at a particular destination, the risk of loss passes to the buyer when the goods are duly delivered to the carrier even though the shipment is under reservation (section 34.1-2-505); but

 

(ii)If it does require him to deliver them at a particular destination and the goods are there duly tendered while in the possession of the carrier, the risk of loss passes to the buyer when the goods are there duly so tendered as to enable the buyer to take delivery.

 

(b)Where the goods are held by a bailee to be delivered without being moved, the risk of loss passes to the buyer:

 

(i)On his receipt of a negotiable document of title covering the goods; or

 

(ii)On acknowledgment by the bailee of the buyer's right to possession of the goods; or

 

(iii)After his receipt of a nonnegotiable document of title or other written direction to deliver, as provided in section 34.1-2-503(d)(ii).

 

(c)In any case not within subsection (a) or (b), the risk of loss passes to the buyer on his receipt of the goods if the seller is a merchant; otherwise the risk passes to the buyer on tender of delivery.

 

(d)The provisions of this section are subject to contrary agreement of the parties and to the provisions of this article on sale on approval (section 34.1-2-327) and on effect of breach on risk of loss (section 34.1-2-510).

 

34.1-2-510.Effect of breach on risk of loss.

 

 

(a)Where a tender or delivery of goods so fails to conform to the contract as to give a right of rejection the risk of their loss remains on the seller until cure or acceptance.

 

(b)Where the buyer rightfully revokes acceptance he may to the extent of any deficiency in his effective insurance coverage treat the risk of loss as having rested on the seller from the beginning.

 

(c)Where the buyer as to conforming goods already identified to the contract for sale repudiates or is otherwise in breach before risk of their loss has passed to him, the seller may to the extent of any deficiency in his effective insurance coverage treat the risk of loss as resting on the buyer for a commercially reasonable time.

 

34.1-2-511.Tender of payment by buyer; payment by check.

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed tender of payment is a condition to the seller's duty to tender and complete any delivery.

 

(b)Tender of payment is sufficient when made by any means or in any manner current in the ordinary course of business unless the seller demands payment in legal tender and gives any extension of time reasonably necessary to procure it.

 

(c)Subject to the provisions of this act on the effect of an instrument on an obligation, payment by check is conditional and is defeated as between the parties by dishonor of the check on due presentment.

 

34.1-2-512.Payment by buyer before inspection.

 

(a)Where the contract requires payment before inspection nonconformity of the goods does not excuse the buyer from so making payment unless:

 

(i)The nonconformity appears without inspection; or

 

(ii)Despite tender of the required documents the circumstances would justify injunction against honor under this act (section 34.1-5-109(b)).

 

(b)Payment pursuant to subsection (a) does not constitute an acceptance of goods or impair the buyer's right to inspect or any of his remedies.

 

34.1-2-513.Buyer's right to inspection of goods.

 

 

(a)Unless otherwise agreed and subject to subsection (c), where goods are tendered or delivered or identified to the contract for sale, the buyer has a right before payment or acceptance to inspect them at any reasonable place and time and in any reasonable manner. When the seller is required or authorized to send the goods to the buyer, the inspection may be after their arrival.

 

(b)Expenses of inspection must be borne by the buyer but may be recovered from the seller if the goods do not conform and are rejected.

 

(c)Unless otherwise agreed and subject to the provisions of this article on C.I.F. contracts (section 34.1-2-321(a)(iii)), the buyer is not entitled to inspect the goods before payment of the price when the contract provides:

 

(i)For delivery "C.O.D." or on other like terms; or

 

(ii)For payment against documents of title, except where such payment is due only after the goods are to become available for inspection.

 

(d)A place or method of inspection filed by the parties is presumed to be exclusive but unless otherwise expressly agreed it does not postpone identification or shift the place for delivery or for passing the risk of loss. If compliance becomes impossible, inspection shall be as provided in this section unless the place or method fixed was clearly intended as an indispensable condition failure of which avoids the contract.

 

34.1-2-514.When documents deliverable on acceptance; when on payment.

 

 

Unless otherwise agreed documents against which a draft is drawn are to be delivered to the drawee on acceptance of the draft if it is payable more than three (3) days after presentment; otherwise, only on payment.

 

34.1-2-515.Preserving evidence of goods in dispute.

 

 

(a)In furtherance of the adjustment of any claim or dispute:

 

(i)Either party on reasonable notification to the other and for the purpose of ascertaining the facts and preserving evidence has the right to inspect, test and sample the goods including such of them as may be in the possession or control of the other; and

 

(ii)The parties may agree to a third party inspection or survey to determine the conformity or condition of the goods and may agree that the findings shall be binding upon them in any subsequent litigation or adjustment.

 

PART 6 - BREACH, REPUDIATION AND EXCUSE

 

34.1-2-601.Buyer's rights on improper delivery.

 

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of this article on breach in installment contracts (section 34.1-2-612) and unless otherwise agreed under the sections on contractual limitations of remedy (sections 34.1-2-718 and 34.1-2-719) if the goods or the tender of delivery fail in any respect to conform to the contract, the buyer may:

 

(i)Reject the whole; or

 

(ii)Accept the whole; or

 

(iii)Accept any commercial unit or units and reject the rest.

 

34.1-2-602.Manner and effect of rightful rejection.

 

 

(a)Rejection of goods must be within a reasonable time after their delivery or tender. It is ineffective unless the buyer seasonably notifies the seller.

 

(b)Subject to the provisions of the two (2) following sections on rejected goods (sections 34.1-2-603 and 34.1-2-604):

 

(i)After rejection any exercise of ownership by the buyer with respect to any commercial unit is wrongful as against the seller; and

 

(ii)If the buyer has before rejection taken physical possession of goods in which he does not have a security interest under the provisions of this article (section 34.1-2-711(c)), he is under a duty after rejection to hold them with reasonable care at the seller's disposition for a time sufficient to permit the seller to remove them; but

 

(iii)The buyer has no further obligation with regard to goods rightfully rejected.

 

(c)The seller's rights with respect to goods wrongfully rejected are governed by the provisions of this article on seller's remedies in general (section 34.1-2-703).

 

34.1-2-603.Merchant buyer's duties as to rightfully rejected goods.

 

 

(a)Subject to any security interest in the buyer (section 34.1-2-711(c)), when the seller has no agent or place of business at the market of rejection a merchant buyer is under a duty after rejection of goods in his possession or control to follow any reasonable instructions received from the seller with respect to the goods and in the absence of such instructions to make reasonable efforts to sell them for the seller's account if they are perishable or threaten to decline in value speedily. Instructions are not reasonable if on demand indemnity for expenses is not forthcoming.

 

(b)When the buyer sells goods under subsection (a), he is entitled to reimbursement from the seller or out of the proceeds for reasonable expenses of caring for and selling them, and if the expenses include no selling commission then to such commission as is usual in the trade or if there is none to a reasonable sum not exceeding ten percent (10%) on the gross proceeds.

 

(c)In complying with this section the buyer is held only to good faith and good faith conduct hereunder is neither acceptance nor conversion nor the basis of an action for damages.

 

34.1-2-604.Buyer's options as to salvage of rightfully rejected goods.

 

 

Subject to the provisions of the immediately preceding section on perishables if the seller gives no instructions within a reasonable time after notification of rejection the buyer may store the rejected goods for the seller's account or reship them to him or resell them for the seller's account with reimbursement as provided in the preceding section. Such action is not acceptance or conversion.

 

34.1-2-605.Waiver of buyer's objections by failure to particularize.

 

 

(a)The buyer's failure to state in connection with rejection a particular defect which is ascertainable by reasonable inspection precludes him from relying on the unstated defect to justify rejection or to establish breach:

 

(i)Where the seller could have cured it if stated seasonably; or

 

(ii)Between merchants when the seller has after rejection made a request in writing for a full and final written statement of all defects on which the buyer proposes to rely.

 

(b)Payment against documents made without reservation of rights precludes recovery of the payment for defects apparent on the face of the documents.

 

34.1-2-606.What constitutes acceptance of goods.

 

 

(a)Acceptance of goods occurs when the buyer:

 

(i)After a reasonable opportunity to inspect the goods signifies to the seller that the goods are conforming or that he will take or retain them in spite of their nonconformity; or

 

(ii)Fails to make an effective rejection (section 34.1-2-602(a)), but such acceptance does not occur until the buyer has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect them; or

 

(iii)Does any act inconsistent with the seller's ownership; but if such act is wrongful as against the seller it is an acceptance only if ratified by him.

 

(b)Acceptance of a part of any commercial unit is acceptance of that entire unit.

 

34.1-2-607.Effect of acceptance; notice of breach; burden of establishing breach after acceptance; notice of claim or litigation to person answerable over.

 

 

(a)The buyer must pay at the contract rate for any goods accepted.

 

(b)Acceptance of goods by the buyer precludes rejection of the goods accepted and if made with knowledge of a nonconformity cannot be revoked because of it unless the acceptance was on the reasonable assumption that the nonconformity would be seasonably cured but acceptance does not of itself impair any other remedy provided by this article for nonconformity.

 

(c)Where a tender has been accepted:

 

(i)The buyer must within a reasonable time after he discovers or should have discovered any breach notify the seller of breach or be barred from any remedy; and

 

(ii)If the claim is one for infringement or the like (section 34.1-2-312(c)) and the buyer is sued as a result of such a breach he must so notify the seller within a reasonable time after he receives notice of the litigation or be barred from any remedy over for liability established by the litigation.

 

(d)The burden is on the buyer to establish any breach with respect to the goods accepted.

 

(e)Where the buyer is sued for breach of a warranty or other obligation for which his seller is answerable over:

 

(i)He may give his seller written notice of the litigation. If the notice states that the seller may come in and defend and that if the seller does not do so he will be bound in any action against him by his buyer by any determination of fact common to the two (2) litigations, then unless the seller after seasonable receipt of the notice does come in and defend he is so bound;

 

(ii)If the claim is one for infringement or the like (section 34.1-2-312(c)) the original seller may demand in writing that his buyer turn over to him control of the litigation including settlement or else be barred from any remedy over and if he also agrees to bear all expense and to satisfy any adverse judgment, then unless the buyer after seasonable receipt of the demand does turn over control the buyer is so barred.

 

(f)The provisions of subsections (c), (d) and (e) apply to any obligation of a buyer to hold the seller harmless against infringement or the like (section 34.1-2-312(c)).

 

34.1-2-608.Revocation of acceptance in whole or in part.

 

 

(a)The buyer may revoke his acceptance of a lot or commercial unit whose nonconformity substantially impairs its value to him if he has accepted it:

 

(i)On the reasonable assumption that its nonconformity would be cured and it has not been seasonably cured; or

 

(ii)Without discovery of such nonconformity if his acceptance was reasonably induced either by the difficulty of discovery before acceptance or by the seller's assurances.

 

(b)Revocation of acceptance must occur within a reasonable time after the buyer discovers or should have discovered the ground for it and before any substantial change in condition of the goods which is not caused by their own defects. It is not effective until the buyer notifies the seller of it.

 

(c)A buyer who so revokes has the same rights and duties with regard to the goods involved as if he had rejected them.

 

34.1-2-609.Right to adequate assurance of performance.

 

 

(a)A contract for sale imposes an obligation on each party that the other's expectation of receiving due performance will not be impaired. When reasonable grounds for insecurity arise with respect to the performance of either party the other may in writing demand adequate assurance of due performance and until he receives such assurance may if commercially reasonable suspend any performance for which he has not already received the agreed return.

 

(b)Between merchants the reasonableness of grounds for insecurity and the adequacy of any assurance offered shall be determined according to commercial standards.

 

(c)Acceptance of any improper delivery or payment does not prejudice the aggrieved party's right to demand adequate assurance of further performance.

 

(d)After receipt of a justified demand failure to provide within a reasonable time not exceeding thirty (30) days such assurance of due performance as is adequate under the circumstances of the particular case is a repudiation of the contract.

 

34.1-2-610.Anticipatory repudiation.

 

 

(a)When either party repudiates the contract with respect to a performance not yet due the loss of which will substantially impair the value of the contract to the other, the aggrieved party may:

 

(i)For a commercially reasonable time await performance by the repudiating party; or

 

(ii)Resort to any remedy for breach (section 34.1-2-703 or section 34.1-2-711), even though he has notified the repudiating party that he would await the latter's performance and has urged retraction; and

 

(iii)In either case suspend his own performance or proceed in accordance with the provisions of this article on the seller's right to identify goods to the contract notwithstanding breach or to salvage unfinished goods (section 34.1-2-704).

 

34.1-2-611.Retraction of anticipatory repudiation.

 

 

(a)Until the repudiating party's next performance is due he can retract his repudiation unless the aggrieved party has since the repudiation cancelled or materially changed his position or otherwise indicated that he considers the repudiation final.

 

(b)Retraction may be by any method which clearly indicates to the aggrieved party that the repudiating party intends to perform, but must include any assurance justifiably demanded under the provisions of this article (section 34.1-2-609).

 

(c)Retraction reinstates the repudiating party's rights under the contract with due excuse and allowance to the aggrieved party for any delay occasioned by the repudiation.

 

34.1-2-612."Installment contract"; breach.

 

 

(a)An "installment contract" is one which requires or authorizes the delivery of goods in separate lots to be separately accepted, even though the contract contains a clause "each delivery is a separate contract" or its equivalent.

 

(b)The buyer may reject any installment which is nonconforming if the nonconformity substantially impairs the value of that installment and cannot be cured or if the nonconformity is a defect in the required documents; but if the nonconformity does not fall within subsection (c) and the seller gives adequate assurance of its cure the buyer must accept that installment.

 

(c)Whenever nonconformity or default with respect to one (1) or more installments substantially impairs the value of the whole contract there is a breach of the whole. But the aggrieved party reinstates the contract if he accepts a nonconforming installment without seasonably notifying of cancellation or if he brings an action with respect only to past installments or demands performance as to future installments.

 

34.1-2-613.Casualty to identified goods.

 

 

(a)Where the contract requires for its performance goods identified when the contract is made, and the goods suffer casualty without fault of either party before the risk of loss passes to the buyer, or in a proper case under a "no arrival, no sale" term (section 34.1-2-324) then:

 

(i)If the loss is total the contract is voided; and

 

(ii)If the loss is partial or the goods have so deteriorated as no longer to conform to the contract the buyer may nevertheless demand inspection and at his option either treat the contract as avoided or accept the goods with due allowance from the contract price for the deterioration or the deficiency in quantity but without further right against the seller.

 

34.1-2-614.Substituted performance.

 

 

(a)Where without fault of either party the agreed berthing, loading, or unloading facilities fail or an agreed type of carrier becomes unavailable or the agreed manner of delivery otherwise becomes commercially impracticable but a commercially reasonable substitute is available, such substitute performance must be tendered and accepted.

 

(b)If the agreed means or manner of payment fails because of domestic or foreign governmental regulation, the seller may withhold or stop delivery unless the buyer provides a means or manner of payment which is commercially a substantial equivalent. If delivery has already been taken, payment by the means or in the manner provided by the regulation discharges the buyer's obligation unless the regulation is discriminatory, oppressive or predatory.

 

34.1-2-615.Excuse by failure of presupposed conditions.

 

 

(a)Except so far as a seller may have assumed a greater obligation and subject to the preceding section on substituted performance:

 

(i)Delay in delivery or nondelivery in whole or in part by a seller who complies with subdivisions (ii) and (iii) is not a breach of his duty under a contract for sale if performance as agreed has been made impracticable by the occurrence of a contingency the nonoccurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made or by compliance in good faith with any applicable foreign or domestic governmental regulation or order whether or not it later proves to be invalid;

 

(ii)Where the causes mentioned in subdivision (i) affect only a part of the seller's capacity to perform, he must allocate production and deliveries among his customers but may at his option include regular customers not then under contract as well as his own requirements for further manufacture. He may so allocate in any manner which is fair and reasonable;

 

(iii)The seller must notify the buyer seasonably that there will be delay or nondelivery and, when allocation is required under subdivision (ii), of the estimated quota thus made available for the buyer.

 

34.1-2-616.Procedure on notice claiming excuse.

 

 

(a)Where the buyer receives notification of a material or indefinite delay of an allocation justified under the preceding section he may by written notification to the seller as to any delivery concerned, and where the prospective deficiency substantially impairs breach of installment contracts (section 34.1-2-612), then also as to the whole:

 

(i)Terminate and thereby discharge any unexecuted portion of the contract; or

 

(ii)Modify the contract by agreeing to take his available quota in substitution.

 

(b)If after receipt of such notification from the seller the buyer fails so to modify the contract within a reasonable time not exceeding thirty (30) days the contract lapses with respect to any deliveries affected.

 

(c)The provisions of this section may not be negated by agreement except insofar as the seller has assumed a greater obligation under the preceding section.

 

PART 7 - REMEDIES

 

34.1-2-701.Remedies for breach of collateral contracts not impaired.

 

 

Remedies for breach of any obligation or promise collateral or ancillary to a contract for sale are not impaired by the provisions of this article.

 

34.1-2-702.Seller's remedies on discovery of buyer's insolvency.

 

 

(a)Where the seller discovers the buyer to be insolvent he may refuse delivery except for cash including payment for all goods theretofore delivered under the contract, and stop delivery under this article (section 34.1-2-705).

 

(b)Where the seller discovers that the buyer has received goods on credit while insolvent he may reclaim the goods upon demand made within ten (10) days after the receipt, but if misrepresentation of solvency has been made to the particular seller in writing within three (3) months before delivery the ten (10) day limitation does not apply. Except as provided in this subsection the seller may not base a right to reclaim goods on the buyer's fraudulent or innocent misrepresentation of solvency or of intent to pay.

 

(c)The seller's right to reclaim under subsection (b) is subject to the rights of a buyer in ordinary course or other good faith purchaser under this article (section 34.1-2-403). Successful reclamation of goods excludes all other remedies with respect to them.

 

34.1-2-703.Seller's remedies in general.

 

 

(a)Where the buyer wrongfully rejects or revokes acceptance of goods or fails to make a payment due on or before delivery or repudiates with respect to a part or the whole, then with respect to any goods directly affected and, if the breach is of the whole contract (section 34.1-2-612), then also with respect to the whole undelivered balance, the aggrieved seller may:

 

(i)Withhold delivery of such goods;

 

(ii)Stop delivery by any bailee as hereafter provided (section 34.1-2-705);

 

(iii)Proceed under the next section respecting goods still unidentified to the contract;

 

(iv)Resell and recover damages as hereafter provided (section 34.1-2-706);

 

(v)Recover damages for nonacceptance (section 34.1-2-708) or in a proper case the price (section 34.1-2-709);

 

(vi)Cancel.

 

34.1-2-704.Seller's right to identify goods to the contract notwithstanding breach or to salvage unfinished goods.

 

 

(a)An aggrieved seller under the preceding section may:

 

(i)Identify to the contract conforming goods not already identified if at the time he learned of the breach they are in his possession or control;

 

(ii)Treat as the subject of resale goods which have demonstrably been intended for the particular contract even though those goods are unfinished.

 

(b)Where the goods are unfinished an aggrieved seller may in the exercise of reasonable commercial judgment for the purpose of avoiding loss and of effective realization either complete the manufacture and wholly identify the goods to the contract or cease manufacture and resell for scrap or salvage value or proceed in any other reasonable manner.

 

34.1-2-705.Seller's stoppage of delivery in transit or otherwise.

 

 

(a)The seller may stop delivery of goods in the possession of a carrier or other bailee when he discovers the buyer to be insolvent (section 34.1-2-702) and may stop delivery of carload, truckload, planeload or larger shipments of express or freight when the buyer repudiates or fails to make a payment due before delivery or if for any other reason the seller has a right to withhold or reclaim the goods.

 

(b)As against such buyer the seller may stop delivery until:

 

(i)Receipt of the goods by the buyer; or

 

(ii)Acknowledgment to the buyer by any bailee of the goods except a carrier that the bailee holds the goods for the buyer; or

 

(iii)Such acknowledgment to the buyer by a carrier by reshipment or as warehouseman; or

 

(iv)Negotiation to the buyer of any negotiable document of title covering the goods.

 

(c) �(i)To stop delivery the seller must so notify as to enable the bailee by reasonable diligence to prevent delivery of the goods;

 

(ii)After such notification the bailee must hold and deliver the goods according to the directions of the seller but the seller is liable to the bailee for any ensuing charges or damages;

 

(iii)If a negotiable document of title has been issued for goods the bailee is not obliged to obey a notification to stop until surrender of the document;

 

(iv)A carrier who has issued a nonnegotiable bill of lading is not obliged to obey a notification to stop received from a person other than the consignor.

 

34.1-2-706.Seller's resale including contract for resale.

 

 

(a)Under the conditions stated in section 34.1-2-703 on seller's remedies, the seller may resell the goods concerned or the undelivered balance thereof. Where the resale is made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner the seller may recover the difference between the resale price and the contract price together with any incidental damages allowed under the provisions of this article (section 34.1-2-710), but less expenses saved in consequence of the buyer's breach.

 

(b)Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) or unless otherwise agreed resale may be at public or private sale including sale by way of one (1) or more contracts to sell or of identification to an existing contract of the seller. Sale may be as a unit or in parcels and at any time and place and on any terms but every aspect of the sale including the method, manner, time, place and terms must be commercially reasonable. The resale must be reasonably identified as referring to the broken contract, but it is not necessary that the goods be in existence or that any or all of them have been identified to the contract before the breach.

 

(c)Where the resale is at private sale the seller must give the buyer reasonable notification of his intention to resell.

 

(d)Where the resale is at public sale:

 

(i)Only identified goods can be sold except where there is a recognized market for a public sale of futures in goods of the kind; and

 

(ii)It must be made at a usual place or market for public sale if one is reasonably available and except in the case of goods which are perishable or threaten to decline in value speedily the seller must give the buyer reasonable notice of the time and place of the resale; and

 

(iii)If the goods are not to be within the view of those attending the sale the notification of sale must state the place where the goods are located and provide for their reasonable inspection by prospective bidders; and

 

(iv)The seller may buy.

 

(e)A purchaser who buys in good faith at a resale takes the goods free of any rights of the original buyer even though the seller fails to comply with one (1) or more of the requirements of this section.

 

(f)The seller is not accountable to the buyer for any profit made on any resale. A person in the position of a seller (section 34.1-2-707) or a buyer who has rightfully rejected or justifiably revoked acceptance must account for any excess over the amount of his security interest, as hereinafter defined (section 34.1-2-711(c)).

 

34.1-2-707."Person in the position of a seller".

 

 

(a)A "person in the position of a seller" includes as against a principal an agent who has paid or become responsible for the price of goods on behalf of his principal or anyone who otherwise holds a security interest or other right in goods similar to that of a seller.

 

(b)A person in the position of a seller may as provided in this article withhold or stop delivery (section 34.1-2-705) and resell (section 34.1-2-706) and recover incidental damages (section 34.1-2-710).

 

34.1-2-708.Seller's damages for nonacceptance or repudiation.

 

 

(a)Subject to subsection (b) and to the provisions of this article with respect to proof of market price (section 34.1-2-723), the measure of damages for nonacceptance or repudiation by the buyer is the difference between the market price at the time and place for tender and the unpaid contract price together with any incidental damages provided in this article (section 34.1-2-710), but less expenses saved in consequence of the buyer's breach.

 

(b)If the measure of damages provided in subsection (a) is inadequate to put the seller in as good a position as performance would have done then the measure of damages is the profit (including reasonable overhead) which the seller would have made from full performance by the buyer, together with any incidental damages provided in this article (section 34.1-2-710), due allowance for costs reasonably incurred and due credit for payments or proceeds of resale.

 

34.1-2-709.Action for the price.

 

 

(a)When the buyer fails to pay the price as it becomes due the seller may recover, together with any incidental damages under the next section, the price:

 

(i)Of goods accepted or of conforming goods lost or damaged within a commercially reasonable time after risk of their loss has passed to the buyer; and

 

(ii)Of goods identified to the contract if the seller is unable after reasonable effort to resell them at a reasonable price or the circumstances reasonably indicate that such effort will be unavailing.

 

(b)Where the seller sues for the price he must hold for the buyer any goods which have been identified to the contract and are still in his control except that if resale becomes possible he may resell them at any time prior to the collection of the judgment. The net proceeds of any such resale must be credited to the buyer and payment of the judgment entitles him to any goods not resold.

 

(c)After the buyer has wrongfully rejected or revokes acceptance of the goods or has failed to make a payment due or has repudiated (section 34.1-2-610), a seller who is held not entitled to the price under this section shall nevertheless be awarded damages for nonacceptance under the preceding section.

 

34.1-2-710.Seller's incidental damages.

 

 

Incidental damages to an aggrieved seller include any commercially reasonable charges, expenses or commissions incurred in stopping delivery, in the transportation, care and custody of goods after the buyer's breach, in connection with return or resale of the goods or otherwise resulting from the breach.

 

34.1-2-711.Buyer's remedies in general; buyer's security interest in rejected goods.

 

 

(a)Where the seller fails to make delivery or repudiates or the buyer rightfully rejects or justifiably revokes acceptance then with respect to any goods involved, and with respect to the whole if the breach goes to the whole contract (section 34.1-2-612), the buyer may cancel and whether or not he has done so may in addition to recovering so much of the price as has been paid:

 

(i)"Cover" and have damages under the next section as to all the goods affected whether or not they have been identified to the contract; or

 

(ii)Recover damages for nondelivery as provided in this article (section 34.1-2-713).

 

(b)Where the seller fails to deliver or repudiates the buyer may also:

 

(i)If the goods have been identified recover them as provided in this article (section 34.1-2-502); or

 

(ii)In a proper case obtain specific performance or replevy the goods as provided in this article (section 34.1-2-716).

 

(c)On rightful rejection or justifiable revocation of acceptance a buyer has a security interest in goods in his possession or control for any payments made on their price and any expenses reasonably incurred in their inspection, receipt, transportation, care and custody and may hold such goods and resell them in like manner as an aggrieved seller (section 34.1-2-706).

 

34.1-2-712."Cover"; buyer's procurement of substitute goods.

 

 

(a)After a breach within the preceding section the buyer may "cover" by making in good faith and without unreasonable delay any reasonable purchase of or contract to purchase goods in substitution for those due from the seller.

 

(b)The buyer may recover from the seller as damages the difference between the cost of cover and the contract price together with any incidental or consequential damages as hereinafter defined (section 34.1-2-715), but less expenses saved in consequence of the seller's breach.

 

(c)Failure of the buyer to effect cover within this section does not bar him from any other remedy.

 

34.1-2-713.Buyer's damages for nondelivery or repudiation.

 

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of this article with respect to proof of market price (section 34.1-2-723), the measure of damages for nondelivery or repudiation by the seller is the difference between the market price at the time when the buyer learned of the breach and the contract price together with any incidental and consequential damages provided in this article (section 34.1-2-715), but less expenses saved in consequence of the seller's breach.

 

(b)Market price is to be determined as of the place for tender or, in cases of rejection after arrival or revocation of acceptance, as of the place of arrival.

 

34.1-2-714.Buyer's damages for breach in regard to accepted goods.

 

 

(a)Where the buyer has accepted goods and given notification (section 34.1-2-607) he may recover as damages for any nonconformity of tender the loss resulting in the ordinary course of events from the seller's breach as determined in any manner which is reasonable.

 

(b)The measure of damages for breach of warranty is the difference at the time and place of acceptance between the value of the goods accepted and the value they would have had if they had been as warranted, unless special circumstances show proximate damages of a different amount.

 

(c)In a proper case any incidental and consequential damages under the next section may also be recovered.

 

34.1-2-715.Buyer's incidental and consequential damages.

 

 

(a)Incidental damages resulting from the seller's breach include expenses reasonably incurred in inspection, receipt, transportation and care and custody of goods rightfully rejected, any commercially reasonable charges, expenses or commissions in connection with effecting cover and any other reasonable expense incident to the delay or other breach.

 

(b)Consequential damages resulting from the seller's breach include:

 

(i)Any loss resulting from general or particular requirements and needs of which the seller at the time of contracting had reason to know and which could not reasonably be prevented by cover or otherwise; and

 

(ii)Injury to person or property proximately resulting from any breach of warranty.

 

34.1-2-716.Buyer's right to specific performance or replevin.

 

(a)Specific performance may be decreed where the goods are unique or in other proper circumstances.

 

(b)The decree for specific performance may include such terms and conditions as to payment of the price, damages, or other relief as the court may deem just.

 

(c)The buyer has a right of replevin for goods identified to the contract if after reasonable effort he is unable to effect cover for such goods or the circumstances reasonably indicate that such effort will be unavailing or if the goods have been shipped under reservation and satisfaction of the security interest in them has been made or tendered. In the case of goods bought for personal, family or household purposes, the buyer's right of replevin vests upon acquisition of a special property, even if the seller had not then repudiated or failed to deliver.

 

34.1-2-717.Deduction of damages from the price.

 

 

The buyer on notifying the seller of his intention to do so may deduct all or any part of the damages resulting from any breach of the contract from any part of the price still due under the same contract.

 

34.1-2-718.Liquidation or limitation of damages; deposits.

 

 

(a)Damages for breach by either party may be liquidated in the agreement but only at an amount which is reasonable in the light of the anticipated or actual harm caused by the breach, the difficulties of proof of loss, and the inconvenience or nonfeasibility of otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy. A term fixing unreasonably large liquidated damages is void as a penalty.

 

(b)Where the seller justifiably withholds delivery of goods because of the buyer's breach, the buyer is entitled to restitution of any amount by which the sum of his payment exceeds:

 

(i)The amount to which the seller is entitled by virtue of terms liquidating the seller's damages in accordance with subsection (a); or

 

(ii)In the absence of such terms, twenty percent (20%) of the value of the total performance for which the buyer is obligated under the contract or five hundred dollars ($500.00), whichever is smaller.

 

(c)The buyer's right to restitution under subsection (b) is subject to offset to the extent that the seller establishes:

 

(i)A right to recover damages under the provisions of this article other than subsection (a); and

 

(ii)The amount or value of any benefits received by the buyer directly or indirectly by reason of the contract.

 

(d)Where a seller has received payment in goods their reasonable value or the proceeds of their resale shall be treated as payments for the purposes of subsection (b); but if the seller has notice of the buyer's breach before reselling goods received in part performance, his resale is subject to the conditions laid down in this article on resale by an aggrieved seller (section 34.1-2-706).

 

34.1-2-719.Contractual modification or limitations of remedy.

 

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section and of the preceding section on liquidation and limitation of damages:

 

(i)The agreement may provide for remedies in addition to or in substitution for those provided in this article and may limit or alter the measure of damages recoverable under this article, as by limiting the buyer's remedies to return of the goods and repayment of the price or to repair and replacement of nonconforming goods or parts; and

 

(ii)Resort to a remedy as provided is optional unless the remedy is expressly agreed to be exclusive, in which case it is the sole remedy.

 

(b)Where circumstances cause an exclusive or limited remedy to fail of its essential purpose, remedy may be had as provided in this act.

 

(c)Consequential damages may be limited or excluded unless the limitation or exclusion is unconscionable. Limitation of consequential damages for injury to the person in the case of consumer goods is prima facie unconscionable but limitation of damages where the loss is commercial is not.

 

34.1-2-720.Effect of "cancellation" or "rescission" on claims for antecedent breach.

 

 

Unless the contrary intention clearly appears, expressions of "cancellation" or "rescission" of the contract or the like shall not be construed as a renunciation or discharge of any claim in damages for an antecedent breach.

 

34.1-2-721.Remedies for fraud.

 

 

Remedies for material misrepresentation or fraud include all remedies available under this article for nonfraudulent breach. Neither rescission or a claim for rescission of the contract for sale nor rejection or return of the goods shall bar or be deemed inconsistent with a claim for damages or other remedy.

 

34.1-2-722.Who can sue third parties for injury to goods.

 

 

(a)Where a third party so deals with goods which have been identified to a contract for sale as to cause actionable injury to a party to that contract:

 

(i)A right of action against the third party is in either party to the contract for sale who has title to or a security interest or a special property or an insurable interest in the goods; and if the goods have been destroyed or converted a right of action is also in the party who either bore the risk of loss under the contract for sale or has since the injury assumed that risk as against the other;

 

(ii)If at the time of the injury the party plaintiff did not bear the risk of loss as against the other party to the contract for sale and there is no arrangement between them for disposition of the recovery, his suit or settlement is, subject to his own interest, as a fiduciary for the other party to the contract;

 

(iii)Either party may with the consent of the other sue for the benefit of whom it may concern.

 

34.1-2-723.Proof of market price: Time and place.

 

 

(a)If an action based on anticipatory repudiation comes to trial before the time for performance with respect to some or all of the goods, any damages based on market price (section 34.1-2-708 or section 34.1-2-713) shall be determined according to the price of such goods prevailing at the time when the aggrieved party learned of the repudiation.

 

(b)If evidence of a price prevailing at the times or places described in this article is not readily available the price prevailing within any reasonable time before or after the time described or at any other place which in commercial judgment or under usage of trade would serve as a reasonable substitute for the one described may be used, making any proper allowance for the cost of transporting the goods to or from such other place.

 

(c)Evidence of a relevant price prevailing at a time or place other than the one described in this article offered by one (1) party is not admissible unless and until he has given the other party such notice as the court finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise.

 

34.1-2-724.Admissibility of market quotations.

 

 

Whenever the prevailing price or value of any goods regularly bought and sold in any established commodity market is in issue, reports in official publications or trade journals or in newspapers or periodicals of general circulation published as the reports of such market shall be admissible in evidence. The circumstances of the preparation of such a report may be shown to affect its weight but not its admissibility.

 

34.1-2-725.Statute of limitations in contracts for sale.

 

 

(a)An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one (1) year but may not extend it.

 

(b)A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered.

 

(c)Where an action commenced within the time limited by subsection (a) is so terminated as to leave available a remedy by another action for the same breach such other action may be commenced after the expiration of the time limited and within six (6) months after the termination of the first action unless the termination resulted from voluntary discontinuance or from dismissal for failure or neglect to prosecute.

 

(d)This section does not alter the law on tolling of the statute of limitations nor does it apply to causes of action which have accrued before this act becomes effective.

 

ARTICLE 2.A - LEASES

 

PART 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

34.1-2.A-101.Short title.

 

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Commercial Code - Leases.

 

34.1-2.A-102.Scope.

 

This article applies to any transaction, regardless of form, that creates a lease.

 

34.1-2.A-103.Definitions and index of definitions.

 

(a)In this article unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(i)"Buyer in ordinary course of business" means a person who in good faith and without knowledge that the sale to him is in violation of the ownership rights or security interest or leasehold interest of a third party in the goods, buys in ordinary course from a person in the business of selling goods of that kind but does not include a pawnbroker.� "Buying" may be for cash or by exchange of other property or on secured or unsecured credit and includes receiving goods or documents of title under a pre-existing contract for sale but does not include a transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a money debt;

 

(ii)"Cancellation" occurs when either party puts an end to the lease contract for default by the other party;

 

(iii)"Commercial unit" means such a unit of goods as by commercial usage is a single whole for purposes of lease and division of which materially impairs its character or value on the market or in use.� A commercial unit may be a single article, as a machine, or a set of articles, as a suite of furniture or a line of machinery, or a quantity, as a gross or carload, or any other unit treated in use or in the relevant market as a single whole;

 

(iv)"Conforming" goods or performance under a lease contract means goods or performance that are in accordance with the obligations under the lease contract;

 

(v)"Consumer lease" means a lease that a lessor regularly engaged in the business of leasing or selling makes to a lessee who is an individual and who takes under the lease primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose, if the total payments to be made under the lease contract, excluding payments for options to renew or buy, do not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00);

 

(vi)"Fault" means wrongful act, omission, breach, or default;

 

(vii)"Finance lease" means a lease with respect to which:

 

(A)The lessor does not select, manufacture, or supply the goods;

 

(B)The lessor acquires the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods in connection with the lease; and

 

(C)One of the following occurs:

 

(I)The lessee receives a copy of the contract by which the lessor acquired the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods before signing the lease contract;

 

(II)The lessee's approval of the contract by which the lessor acquired the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods is a condition to effectiveness of the lease contract;

 

(III)The lessee, before signing the lease contract, receives an accurate and complete statement designating the promises and warranties, and any disclaimers of warranties, limitations or modifications of remedies, or liquidated damages, including those of a third party, such as the manufacturer of the goods, provided to the lessor by the person supplying the goods in connection with or as part of the contract by which the lessor acquired the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods; or

 

(IV)If the lease is not a consumer lease, the lessor, before the lessee signs the lease contract, informs the lessee in writing (1) of the identity of the person supplying the goods to the lessor, unless the lessee has selected that person and directed the lessor to acquire the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods from that person, (2) that the lessee is entitled under this article to the promises and warranties, including those of any third party, provided to the lessor by the person supplying the goods in connection with or as part of the contract by which the lessor acquired the goods or the right to possession and use of the goods, and (3) that the lessee may communicate with the person supplying the goods to the lessor and receive an accurate and complete statement of those promises and warranties, including any disclaimers and limitations of them or of remedies.

 

(viii)"Goods" means all things that are movable at the time of identification to the lease contract, or are fixtures (section 34.1-2.A-309), but the term does not include money, documents, instruments, accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, or minerals or the like, including oil and gas, before extraction.� The term also includes the unborn young of animals;

 

(ix)"Installment lease contract" means a lease contract that authorizes or requires the delivery of goods in separate lots to be separately accepted, even though the lease contract contains a clause "each delivery is a separate lease" or its equivalent;

 

(x)"Lease" means a transfer of the right to possession and use of goods for a term in return for consideration, but a sale, including a sale on approval or a sale or return, or retention or creation of a security interest is not a lease.� Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term includes a sublease;

 

(xi)"Lease agreement" means the bargain, with respect to the lease, of the lessor and the lessee in fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance as provided in this article.� Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term includes a sublease agreement;

 

(xii)"Lease contract" means the total legal obligation that results from the lease agreement as affected by this article and any other applicable rules of law.� Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term includes a sublease contract;

 

(xiii)"Leasehold interest" means the interest of the lessor or the lessee under a lease contract;

 

(xiv)"Lessee" means a person who acquires the right to possession and use of goods under a lease.� Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term includes a sublessee;

 

(xv)"Lessee in ordinary course of business" means a person who in good faith and without knowledge that the lease to him is in violation of the ownership rights or security interest or leasehold interest of a third party in the goods leases in ordinary course from a person in the business of selling or leasing goods of that kind but does not include a pawnbroker.� "Leasing" may be for cash or by exchange of other property or on secured or unsecured credit and includes receiving goods or documents of title under a pre-existing lease contract but does not include a transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a money debt;

 

(xvi)"Lessor" means a person who transfers the right to possession and use of goods under a lease. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term includes a sublessor;

 

(xvii)"Lessor's residual interest" means the lessor's interest in the goods after expiration, termination, or cancellation of the lease contract;

 

(xviii)"Lien" means a charge against or interest in goods to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation, but the term does not include a security interest;

 

(xix)"Lot" means a parcel or a single article that is the subject matter of a separate lease or delivery, whether or not it is sufficient to perform the lease contract;

 

(xx)"Merchant lessee" means a lessee that is a merchant with respect to goods of the kind subject to the lease;

 

(xxi)"Present value" means the amount as of a date certain of one (1) or more sums payable in the future, discounted to the date certain.� The discount is determined by the interest rate specified by the parties if the rate was not manifestly unreasonable at the time the transaction was entered into; otherwise, the discount is determined by a commercially reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and circumstances of each case at the time the transaction was entered into;

 

(xxii)"Purchase" includes taking by sale, lease, mortgage, security interest, pledge, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in goods;

 

(xxiii)"Sublease" means a lease of goods the right to possession and use of which was acquired by the lessor as a lessee under an existing lease;

 

(xxiv)"Supplier" means a person from whom a lessor buys or leases goods to be leased under a finance lease;

 

(xxv)"Supply contract" means a contract under which a lessor buys or leases goods to be leased;

 

(xxvi)"Termination" occurs when either party pursuant to a power created by agreement or law puts an end to the lease contract otherwise than for default.

 

(b)Other definitions applying to this article and the sections in which they appear are:

 

"Accessions".���������������������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-310(a).

 

"Construction mortgage".���������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-309(a)(iv).

 

"Encumbrance".��������������������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-309(a)(v).

 

"Fixtures"������������������������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-309(a)(i).

 

"Fixture filing".����������������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-309(a)(ii).

 

"Purchase money lease".���������������������� Section 34.1-2.A-309(a)(iii).

 

(c)The following definitions in other articles apply to this article:

 

"Account".������������������������������������� Section 34.1-9-102(a)(ii).

 

"Between merchants".��������������������������� Section 34.1-2-104(c).

 

"Buyer".��������������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-103(a)(i).

 

"Chattel paper".������������������������������� Section 34.1-9-102(a)(xi).

 

"Consumer goods".���������������������������� Section 34.1-9-102(a)(xxiii).

 

"Document".������������������������������������ Section 34.1-9-102(a)(xxx).

 

"Entrusting".���������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-403(c).

 

"General intangible".������������������������� Section 34.1-9-102(a)(xlii).

 

"Good faith".���������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-103(a)(ii).

 

"Instrument".�������������������������������� Section 34.1-9-102(a)(xlvii).

 

"Merchant".������������������������������������ Section 34.1-2-104(a).

 

"Mortgage".������������������������������������ Section 34.1-9-105(a)(x).

 

"Pursuant to commitment".���������������������� Section 34.1-9-105(a)(xi).

 

"Receipt".������������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-103(a)(iii).

 

"Sale".���������������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-106(a).

 

"Sale on approval".���������������������������� Section 34.1-2-326.

 

"Sale or return".������������������������������ Section 34.1-2-326.

 

"Seller".�������������������������������������� Section 34.1-2-103(a)(iv).

 

(d)In addition, article 1 contains general definitions and principles of construction and interpretation applicable throughout this article.

 

34.1-2.A-104.Leases subject to other law.

 

(a)A lease, although subject to this article, is also subject to any applicable:

 

(i)Certificate of title statute of this state;

 

(ii)Certificate of title statute of another jurisdiction (section 34.1-2.A-105); or

 

(iii)Consumer protection statute of this state, or final consumer protection decision of a court of this state existing on the effective date of this article.

 

(b)In case of conflict between this article, other than sections 34.1-2.A-105, 34.1-2.A-304(c), and 34.1-2.A-305(c), and a statute or decision referred to in subsection (a), the statute or decision controls.

 

(c)Failure to comply with an applicable law has only the effect specified therein.

 

34.1-2.A-105.Territorial application of article to goods covered by certificate of title.

 

Subject to the provisions of sections 34.1-2.A-304(c) and 34.1-2.A-305(c), with respect to goods covered by a certificate of title issued under a statute of this state or of another jurisdiction, compliance and the effect of compliance or noncompliance with a certificate of title statute are governed by the law (including the conflict of laws rules) of the jurisdiction issuing the certificate until the earlier of (1) surrender of the certificate, or (2) four months after the goods are removed from that jurisdiction and thereafter until a new certificate of title is issued by another jurisdiction.

 

34.1-2.A-106.Limitation on power of parties to consumer lease to choose applicable law and judicial forum.

 

 

 

(a)If the law chosen by the parties to a consumer lease is that of a jurisdiction other than a jurisdiction in which the lessee resides at the time the lease agreement becomes enforceable or within thirty (30) days thereafter or in which the goods are to be used, the choice is not enforceable.

 

(b)If the judicial forum chosen by the parties to a consumer lease is a forum that would not otherwise have jurisdiction over the lessee, the choice is not enforceable.

 

34.1-2.A-107.Waiver or renunciation of claim or right after default.

 

Any claim or right arising out of an alleged default or breach of warranty may be discharged in whole or in part without consideration by a written waiver or renunciation signed and delivered by the aggrieved party.

 

34.1-2.A-108.Unconscionability.

 

(a)If the court as a matter of law finds a lease contract or any clause of a lease contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the lease contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the lease contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result.

 

(b)With respect to a consumer lease, if the court as a matter of law finds that a lease contract or any clause of a lease contract has been induced by unconscionable conduct or that unconscionable conduct has occurred in the collection of a claim arising from a lease contract, the court may grant appropriate relief.

 

(c)Before making a finding of unconscionability� under subsection (a) or (b), the court, on its own motion or that of a party, shall afford the parties a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to the setting, purpose, and effect of the lease contract or clause thereof, or of the conduct.

 

(d)In an action in which the lessee claims unconscionability with respect to a consumer lease:

 

(i)If the court finds unconscionability under subsection (a) or (b), the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the lessee;

 

(ii)If the court does not find unconscionability and the lessee claiming unconscionability has brought or maintained an action he knew to be groundless, the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the party against whom the claim is made;

 

(iii)In determining attorney's fees, the amount of the recovery on behalf of the claimant under subsections (a) and (b) is not controlling.

 

34.1-2.A-109.Option to accelerate at will.

 

 

(a)A term providing that one party or his successor in interest may accelerate payment or performance or require collateral or additional collateral "at will" or "when he deems himself insecure" or in words of similar import must be construed to mean that he has power to do so only if he in good faith believes that the prospect of payment or performance is impaired.

 

(b)With respect to a consumer lease, the burden of establishing good faith under subsection (a) is on the party who exercised the power; otherwise the burden of establishing lack of good faith is on the party against whom the power has been exercised.

 

PART 2 - FORMATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF LEASE CONTRACT

 

34.1-2.A-201.Statute of frauds.

 

(a)A lease contract is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless:

 

(i)The total payments to be made under the lease contract, excluding payments for options to renew or buy, are less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00); or

 

(ii)There is a writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by that party's authorized agent, sufficient to indicate that a lease contract has been made between the parties and to describe the goods leased and the lease term.

 

(b)Any description of leased goods or of the lease term is sufficient and satisfies subsection (a)(ii), whether or not it is specific, if it reasonably identifies what is described.

 

(c)A writing is not insufficient because it omits or incorrectly states a term agreed upon, but the lease contract is not enforceable under subsection (a)(ii) beyond the lease term and the quantity of goods shown in the writing.

 

(d)A lease contract that does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (a), but which is valid in other respects, is enforceable:

 

(i)If the goods are to be specially manufactured or obtained for the lessee and are not suitable for lease or sale to others in the ordinary course of the lessor's business, and the lessor, before notice of repudiation is received and under circumstances that reasonably indicate that the goods are for the lessee, has made either a substantial beginning of their manufacture or commitments for their procurement;

 

(ii)If the party against whom enforcement is sought admits in that party's pleading, testimony or otherwise in court that a lease contract was made, but the lease contract is not enforceable under this provision beyond the quantity of goods admitted; or

 

(iii)With respect to goods that have been received and accepted by the lessee.

 

(e)The lease term under a lease contract referred to in subsection (d) is:

 

(i)If there is a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by that party's authorized agent specifying the lease term, the term so specified;

 

(ii)If the party against whom enforcement is sought admits in that party's pleading, testimony, or otherwise in court a lease term, the term so admitted; or

 

(iii)A reasonable lease term.

 

34.1-2.A-202.Final written expression: parol or extrinsic evidence.

 

(a)Terms with respect to which the confirmatory memoranda of the parties agree or which are otherwise set forth in a writing intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to such terms as are included therein may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior agreement or of a contemporaneous oral agreement but may be explained or supplemented:

 

(i)By course of dealing or usage of trade or by course of performance; and

 

(ii)By evidence of consistent additional terms unless the court finds the writing to have been intended also as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement.

 

34.1-2.A-203.Seals inoperative.

 

The affixing of a seal to a writing evidencing a lease contract or an offer to enter into a lease contract does not render the writing a sealed instrument and the law with respect to sealed instruments does not apply to the lease contract or offer.

 

34.1-2.A-204.Formation in general.

 

(a)A lease contract may be made in any manner sufficient to show agreement, including conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of a lease contract.

 

(b)An agreement sufficient to constitute a lease contract may be found although the moment of its making is undetermined.

 

(c)Although one (1) or more terms are left open, a lease contract does not fail for indefiniteness if the parties have intended to make a lease contract and there is a reasonably certain basis for giving an appropriate remedy.

 

34.1-2.A-205.Firm offers.

 

An offer by a merchant to lease goods to or from another person in a signed writing that by its terms gives assurance it will be held open is not revocable, for lack of consideration, during the time stated or, if no time is stated, for a reasonable time, but in no event may the period of irrevocability exceed three (3) months.� Any such term of assurance on a form supplied by the offeree must be separately signed by the offeror.

 

34.1-2.A-206.Offer and acceptance in formation of lease contract.

 

(a)Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or circumstances, an offer to make a lease contract must be construed as inviting acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable in the circumstances.

 

(b)If the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of acceptance, an offeror who is not notified of acceptance within a reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before acceptance.

 

34.1-2.A-207.Course of performance or practical construction.

 

(a)If a lease contract involves repeated occasions for performance by either party with knowledge of the nature of the performance and opportunity for objection to it by the other, any course of performance accepted or acquiesced in without objection is relevant to determine the meaning of the lease agreement.

 

(b)The express terms of a lease agreement and any course of performance, as well as any course of dealing and usage of trade, must be construed whenever reasonable as consistent with each other; but if that construction is unreasonable, express terms control course of performance, course of performance controls both course of dealing and usage of trade, and course of dealing controls usage of trade.

 

(c)Subject to the provisions of section 34.1-2.A-208 on modification and waiver, course of performance is relevant to show a waiver or modification of any term inconsistent with the course of performance.

 

34.1-2.A-208.Modification, rescission and waiver.

 

(a)An agreement modifying a lease contract needs no consideration to be binding.

 

(b)A signed lease agreement that excludes modification or rescission except by a signed writing may not be otherwise modified or rescinded, but, except as between merchants, such a requirement on a form supplied by a merchant must be separately signed by the other party.

 

(c)Although an attempt at modification or rescission does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (b), it may operate as a waiver.

 

(d)A party who has made a waiver affecting an executory portion of a lease contract may retract the waiver by reasonable notification received by the other party that strict performance will be required of any term waived, unless the retraction would be unjust in view of a material change of position in reliance on the waiver.

 

34.1-2.A-209.Lessee under finance lease as beneficiary of supply contract.

 

(a)The benefit of a supplier's promises to the lessor under the supply contract and of all warranties, whether express or implied, including those of any third party provided in connection with or as part of the supply contract, extends to the lessee to the extent of the lessee's leasehold interest under a finance lease related to the supply contract, but is subject to the terms of the warranty and of the supply contract and all defenses or claims arising therefrom.

 

(b)The extension of the benefit of a� supplier's promises and of warranties to the lessee (section 34.1-2.A-209(a)) does not: (1) modify the rights and obligations of the parties to the supply contract, whether arising therefrom or otherwise; or (2) impose any duty or liability under the supply contract on the lessee.

 

(c)Any modification or rescission of the supply contract by the supplier and the lessor is effective between the supplier and the lessee unless, before the modification or rescission, the supplier has received notice that the lessee has entered into a finance lease related to the supply contract. If the modification or rescission is effective between the supplier and the lessee, the lessor is deemed to have assumed, in addition to the obligations of the lessor to the lessee under the lease contract, promises of the supplier to the lessor and warranties that were so modified or rescinded as they existed and were available to the lessee before modification or rescission.

 

(d)In addition to the extension of the benefit of the supplier's promises and of warranties to the lessee under subsection (a), the lessee retains all rights that the lessee may have against the supplier which arise from an agreement between the lessee and the supplier or under other law.

 

34.1-2.A-210.Express warranties.

 

(a)Express warranties by the lessor are created as follows:

 

(i)Any affirmation of fact or promise made by the lessor to the lessee which relates to the goods and becomes part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods will conform to the affirmation or promise;

 

(ii)Any description of the goods which is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods will conform to the description;

 

(iii)Any sample or model that is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the whole of the goods will conform to the sample or model.

 

(b)It is not necessary to the creation of an express warranty that the lessor use formal words, such as "warrant" or "guarantee," or that the lessor have a specific intention to make a warranty, but an affirmation merely of the value of the goods or a statement purporting to be merely the lessor's opinion or commendation of the goods does not create a warranty.

 

34.1-2.A-211.Warranties against interference and against infringement; lessee's obligation against infringement.

 

(a)There is in a lease contract a warranty that for the lease term no person holds a claim to or interest in the goods that arose from an act or omission of the lessor, other than a claim by way of infringement or the like, which will interfere with the lessee's enjoyment of its leasehold interest.

 

(b)Except in a finance lease there is in a lease contract by a lessor who is a merchant regularly dealing in goods of the kind a warranty that the goods are delivered free of the rightful claim of any person by way of infringement or the like.

 

(c)A lessee who furnishes specifications to a lessor or a supplier shall hold the lessor and the supplier harmless against any claim by way of infringement or the like that arises out of compliance with the specifications.

 

34.1-2.A-212.Implied warranty of merchantability.

 

(a)Except in a finance lease, a warranty that the goods will be merchantable is implied in a lease contract if the lessor is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind.

 

(b)Goods to be merchantable must be at least such as:

 

(i)Pass without objection in the trade under the description in the lease agreement;

 

(ii)In the case of fungible goods, are of fair average quality within the description;

 

(iii)Are fit for the ordinary purposes for which goods of that type are used;

 

(iv)Run, within the variation permitted by the lease agreement, of even kind, quality and quantity within each unit and among all units involved;

 

(v)Are adequately contained, packaged and labeled as the lease agreement may require; and

 

(vi)Conform to any promises or affirmations of fact made on the container or label.

 

(c)Other implied warranties may arise from course of dealing or usage of trade.

 

34.1-2.A-213.Implied warranty of fitness for particular purpose.

 

Except in a finance lease, if the lessor at the time the lease contract is made has reason to know of any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the lessee is relying on the lessor's skill or judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is in the lease contract an implied warranty that the goods will be fit for that purpose.

 

34.1-2.A-214.Exclusion or modification of warranties.

 

(a)Words or conduct relevant to the creation of an express warranty and words or conduct tending to negate or limit a warranty must be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but, subject to the provisions of section 34.1-2.A-202 on parol or extrinsic evidence, negation or limitation is inoperative to the extent that the construction is unreasonable.

 

(b)Subject to subsection (c), to exclude or modify the implied warranty of merchantability or any part of it the language must mention "merchantability," be by a writing, and be conspicuous.� Subject to subsection (c), to exclude or modify any implied warranty of fitness the exclusion must be by a writing and be conspicuous. Language to exclude all implied warranties of fitness is sufficient if it is in writing, is conspicuous and states, for example, "There is no warranty that the goods will be fit for a particular purpose."

 

(c)Notwithstanding subsection (b), but subject to subsection (d):

 

(i)Unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like "as is," or "with all faults," or by other language that in common understanding calls the lessee's attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty, if in writing and conspicuous;

 

(ii)If the lessee before entering into the lease contract has examined the goods or the sample or model as fully as desired or has refused to examine the goods, there is no implied warranty with regard to defects that an examination ought in the circumstances to have revealed; and

 

(iii)An implied warranty may also be excluded or modified by course of dealing, course of performance, or usage of trade.

 

(d)To exclude or modify a warranty against interference or against infringement (section 34.1-2.A-211) or any part of it, the language must be specific, be by a writing, and be conspicuous, unless the circumstances, including course of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade, give the lessee reason to know that the goods are being leased subject to a claim or interest of any person.

 

34.1-2.A-215.Cumulation and conflict of warranties express or implied.

 

(a)Warranties, whether express or implied, must be construed as consistent with each other and as cumulative, but if that construction is unreasonable, the intention of the parties determines which warranty is dominant.� In ascertaining that intention the following rules apply:

 

(i)Exact or technical specifications displace an inconsistent sample or model or general language of description;

 

(ii)A sample from an existing bulk displaces inconsistent general language of description;

 

(iii)Express warranties displace inconsistent implied warranties other than an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.

 

34.1-2.A-216.Third-party beneficiaries of express and implied warranties.

 

A warranty to or for the benefit of a lessee under this article, whether express or implied, extends to any person who may reasonably be expected to use, consume, or be affected by the goods and who is injured by breach of the warranty.� The operation of this section may not be excluded, modified, or limited with respect to injury to the person of an individual to whom the warranty extends, but an exclusion, modification, or limitation of the warranty, including any with respect to rights and remedies, effective against the lessee is also effective against the beneficiary designated under this section.

 

34.1-2.A-217.Identification.

 

(a)Identification of goods as goods to which a lease contract refers may be made at any time and in any manner explicitly agreed to by the parties.� In the absence of explicit agreement, identification occurs:

 

(i)When the lease contract is made if the lease contract is for a lease of goods that are existing and identified;

 

(ii)When the goods are shipped, marked, or otherwise designated by the lessor as goods to which the lease contract refers, if the lease contract is for a lease of goods that are not existing and identified; or

 

(iii)When the young are conceived, if the lease contract is for a lease of unborn young of animals.

 

34.1-2.A-218.Insurance and proceeds.

 

(a)A lessee obtains an insurable interest when existing goods are identified to the lease contract even though the goods identified are nonconforming and the lessee has an option to reject them.

 

(b)If a lessee has an insurable interest only by reason of the lessor's identification of the goods, the lessor, until default or insolvency or notification to the lessee that identification is final, may substitute other goods for those identified.

 

(c)Notwithstanding a lessee's insurable interest under subsections (a) and (b), the lessor retains an insurable interest until an option to buy has been exercised by the lessee and risk of loss has passed to the lessee.

 

(d)Nothing in this section impairs any insurable interest recognized under any other statute or rule of law.

 

(e)The parties by agreement may determine that one (1) or more parties have an obligation to obtain and pay for insurance covering the goods and by agreement may determine the beneficiary of the proceeds of the insurance.

 

34.1-2.A-219.Risk of loss.

 

(a)Except in the case of a finance lease, risk of loss is retained by the lessor and does not pass to the lessee.� In the case of a finance lease, risk of loss passes to the lessee.

 

(b)Subject to the provisions of this article on the effect of default on risk of loss (section 34.1-2.A-220), if risk of loss is to pass to the lessee and the time of passage is not stated, the following rules apply:

 

(i)If the lease contract requires or authorizes the goods to be shipped by carrier:

 

(A)And it does not require delivery at a particular destination, the risk of loss passes to the lessee when the goods are duly delivered to the carrier; but

 

(B)If it does require delivery at a particular destination and the goods are there duly tendered while in the possession of the carrier, the risk of loss passes to the lessee when the goods are there duly so tendered as to enable the lessee to take delivery.

 

(ii)If the goods are held by a bailee to be delivered without being moved, the risk of loss passes to the lessee on acknowledgment by the bailee of the lessee's right to possession of the goods;

 

(iii)In any case not within paragraph (i) or (ii), the risk of loss passes to the lessee on the lessee's receipt of the goods if the lessor, or, in the case of a finance lease, the supplier, is a merchant; otherwise the risk passes to the lessee on tender of delivery.

 

34.1-2.A-220.Effect of default on risk of loss.

 

(a)Where risk of loss is to pass to the lessee and the time of passage is not stated:

 

(i)If a tender or delivery of goods so fails to conform to the lease contract as to give a right of rejection, the risk of their loss remains with the lessor, or, in the case of a finance lease, the supplier, until cure or acceptance;

 

(ii)If the lessee rightfully revokes acceptance, he, to the extent of any deficiency in his effective insurance coverage, may treat the risk of loss as having remained with the lessor from the beginning.

 

(b)Whether or not risk of loss is to pass to the lessee, if the lessee as to conforming goods already identified to a lease contract repudiates or is otherwise in default under the lease contract, the lessor, or, in the case of a finance lease, the supplier, to the extent of any deficiency in his effective insurance coverage may treat the risk of loss as resting on the lessee for a commercially reasonable time.

 

34.1-2.A-221.Casualty to identified goods.

 

(a)If a lease contract requires goods identified when the lease contract is made, and the goods suffer casualty without fault of the lessee, the lessor or the supplier before delivery, or the goods suffer casualty before risk of loss passes to the lessee pursuant to the lease agreement or section 34.1-2.A-219, then:

 

(i)If the loss is total, the lease contract is avoided; and

 

(ii)If the loss is partial or the goods have so deteriorated as to no longer conform to the lease contract, the lessee may nevertheless demand inspection and at his option either treat the lease contract as avoided or, except in a finance lease that is not a consumer lease, accept the goods with due allowance from the rent payable for the balance of the lease term for the deterioration or the deficiency in quantity but without further right against the lessor.

 

PART 3 - EFFECT OF LEASE CONTRACT

 

34.1-2.A-301.Enforceability of lease contract.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this article, a lease contract is effective and enforceable according to its terms between the parties, against purchasers of the goods and against creditors of the parties.

 

34.1-2.A-302.Title to and possession of goods.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this article, each provision of this article applies whether the lessor or a third party has title to the goods, and whether the lessor, the lessee, or a third party has possession of the goods, notwithstanding any statute or rule of law that possession or the absence of possession is fraudulent.

 

34.1-2.A-303.Alienability of party's interest under lease contract or of lessor's residual interest in goods; delegation of performance; transfer of rights.

 

(a)As used in this section, "creation of a security interest" includes the sale of a lease contract that is subject to article 9, secured transactions, by reason of section 34.1-9-109(a)(iii).

 

(b)Except as provided in� subsection (d) and section 34.1-9-407, a provision in a lease agreement which (1) prohibits the voluntary or involuntary transfer, including a transfer by sale, sublease, creation or enforcement of a security interest, or attachment, levy, or other judicial process, of an interest of a party under the lease contract or of the lessor's residual interest in the goods, or (2) makes such a transfer an event of default, gives rise to the rights and remedies provided in subsection (e), but a transfer that is prohibited or is an event of default under the lease agreement is otherwise effective.

 

(c)A provision in a lease agreement which (1) prohibits a transfer of a right to damages for default with respect to the whole lease contract or of a right to payment arising out of the transferor's due performance of the transferor's entire obligation, or (2) makes such a transfer an event of default, is not enforceable, and such a transfer is not a transfer that materially impairs the prospect of obtaining return performance by, materially changes the duty of, or materially increases the burden or risk imposed on, the other party to the lease contract within the purview of subsection (d).

 

(d)Subject to subsection (e) and section 34.1-9-407:

 

(i)If a transfer is made which is made an event of default under a lease agreement, the party to the lease contract not making the transfer, unless that party waives the default or otherwise agrees, has the rights and remedies described in section 34.1-2.A-501(b);

 

(ii)If paragraph (i) is not applicable and if a transfer is made that (1) is prohibited under a lease agreement or (2) materially impairs the prospect of obtaining return performance by, materially changes the duty of, or materially increases the burden or risk imposed on, the other party to the lease contract, unless the party not making the transfer agrees at any time to the transfer in the lease contract or otherwise, then, except as limited by contract, (1) the transferor is liable to the party not making the transfer for damages caused by the transfer to the extent that the damages could not reasonably be prevented by the party not making the transfer and (2) a court having jurisdiction may grant other appropriate relief, including cancellation of the lease contract or an injunction against the transfer.

 

(e)A transfer of "the lease" or of "all my rights under the lease," or a transfer in similar general terms, is a transfer of rights and, unless the language or the circumstances, as in a transfer for security, indicate the contrary, the transfer is a delegation of duties by the transferor to the transferee.� Acceptance by the transferee constitutes a promise by the transferee to perform those duties. The promise is enforceable by either the transferor or the other party to the lease contract.

 

(f)Unless otherwise agreed by the lessor and the lessee, a delegation of performance does not relieve the transferor as against the other party of any duty to perform or of any liability for default.

 

(g)In a consumer lease, to prohibit the transfer of an interest of a party under the lease contract or to make a transfer an event of default, the language must be specific, by a writing, and conspicuous.

 

34.1-2.A-304.Subsequent lease of goods by lessor.

 

(a)Subject to section 34.1-2.A-303, a subsequent lessee from a lessor of goods under an existing lease contract obtains, to the extent of the leasehold interest transferred, the leasehold interest in the goods that the lessor had or had power to transfer, and except as provided in subsection (b) and section 34.1-2.A-527(d), takes subject to the existing lease contract.� A lessor with voidable title has power to transfer a good leasehold interest to a good faith subsequent lessee for value, but only to the extent set forth in the preceding sentence.� If goods have been delivered under a transaction of purchase, the lessor has that power even though:

 

(i)The lessor's transferor was deceived as to the identity of the lessor;

 

(ii)The delivery was in exchange for a check which is later dishonored;

 

(iii)It was agreed that the transaction was to be a "cash sale"; or

 

(iv)The delivery was procured through fraud punishable as larcenous under the criminal law.

 

(b)A subsequent lessee in the ordinary course of business from a lessor who is a merchant dealing in goods of that kind to whom the goods were entrusted by the existing lessee of that lessor before the interest of the subsequent lessee became enforceable against that lessor obtains, to the extent of the leasehold interest transferred, all of that lessor's and the existing lessee's rights to the goods, and takes free of the existing lease contract.

 

(c)A subsequent lessee from the lessor of goods that are subject to an existing lease contract and are covered by a certificate of title issued under a statute of this state or of another jurisdiction takes no greater rights than those provided both by this section and by the certificate of title statute.

 

34.1-2.A-305.Sale or sublease of goods by lessee.

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of section 34.1-2.A-303, a buyer or sublessee from the lessee of goods under an existing lease contract obtains, to the extent of the interest transferred, the leasehold interest in the goods that the lessee had or had power to transfer, and except as provided in subsection (b) and section 34.1-2.A-511(d), takes subject to the existing lease contract.� A lessee with a voidable leasehold interest has power to transfer a good leasehold interest to a good faith buyer for value or a good faith sublessee for value, but only to the extent set forth in the preceding sentence.� When goods have been delivered under a transaction of lease the lessee has that power even though:

 

(i)The lessor was deceived as to the identity of the lessee;

 

(ii)The delivery was in exchange for a check which is later dishonored; or

 

(iii)The delivery was procured through fraud punishable as larcenous under the criminal law.

 

(b)A buyer in the ordinary course of business or a sublessee in the ordinary course of business from a lessee who is a merchant dealing in goods of that kind to whom the goods were entrusted by the lessor obtains, to the extent of the interest transferred, all of the lessor's and lessee's rights to the goods, and takes free of the existing lease contract.

 

(c)A buyer or sublessee from the lessee of goods that are subject to an existing lease contract and are covered by a certificate of title issued under a statute of this state or of another jurisdiction takes no greater rights than those provided both by this section and by the certificate of title statute.

 

34.1-2.A-306.Priority of certain liens arising by operation of law.

 

 

If a person in the ordinary course of his business furnishes services or materials with respect to goods subject to a lease contract, a lien upon those goods in the possession of that person given by statute or rule of law for those materials or services takes priority over any interest of the lessor or lessee under the lease contract or this article unless the lien is created by statute and the statute provides otherwise or unless the lien is created by rule of law and the rule of law provides otherwise.

 

34.1-2.A-307.Priority of liens arising by attachment or levy on, security interests in, and other claims to goods.

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided in section 34.1-2.A-306, a creditor of a lessee takes subject to the lease contract.

 

(b)Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) and in sections 34.1-2.A-306 and 34.1-2.A-308, a creditor of a lessor takes subject to the lease contract unless:

 

(i)The creditor holds a lien that attached to the goods before the lease contract became enforceable;

 

(ii)Repealed By Laws 2001, Ch. 137, � 4.

 

(iii)Repealed By Laws 2001, Ch. 137, � 4.

 

(c)Repealed By Laws2001, Ch. 137, � 4.

 

(d)Repealed By Laws 2001, Ch. 137, � 4.

 

(e)Except as otherwise provided in sections 34.1-9-717, 34.1-9-321 and 34.1-9-323, a lessee takes a leasehold interest subject to a security interest held by a creditor of the lessor.

 

34.1-2.A-308.Special rights of creditors.

 

(a)A creditor of a lessor in possession of goods subject to a lease contract may treat the lease contract as void if as against the creditor retention of possession by the lessor is fraudulent under any statute or rule of law, but retention of possession in good faith and current course of trade by the lessor for a commercially reasonable time after the lease contract becomes enforceable is not fraudulent.

 

(b)Nothing in this article impairs the rights of creditors of a lessor if the lease contract (1) becomes enforceable, not in current course of trade but in satisfaction of or as security for a pre-existing claim for money, security, or the like, and (2) is made under circumstances which under any statute or rule of law apart from this article would constitute the transaction a fraudulent transfer or voidable preference.

 

(c)A creditor of a seller may treat a sale or an identification of goods to a contract for sale as void if as against the creditor retention of possession by the seller is fraudulent under any statute or rule of law, but retention of possession of the goods pursuant to a lease contract entered into by the seller as lessee and the buyer as lessor in connection with the sale or identification of the goods is not fraudulent if the buyer bought for value and in good faith.

 

34.1-2.A-309.Lessor's and lessee's rights when goods become fixtures.

 

(a)In this section:

 

(i)Goods are "fixtures" when they become so related to particular real estate that an interest in them arises under real estate law;

 

(ii)A "fixture filing" is the filing, in the office where a record of a mortgage on the real estate would be filed or recorded, of a financing statement covering goods that are or are to become fixtures and conforming to the requirements of section 34.1-9-502(a) and (b);

 

(iii)A lease is a "purchase money lease" unless the lessee has possession or use of the goods or the right to possession or use of the goods before the lease agreement is enforceable;

 

(iv)A mortgage is a "construction mortgage" to the extent it secures an obligation incurred for the construction of an improvement on land including the acquisition cost of the land, if the recorded writing so indicates; and

 

(v)"Encumbrance" includes real estate mortgages and other liens on real estate and all other rights in real estate that are not ownership interests.

 

(b)Under this article a lease may be of goods that are fixtures or may continue in goods that become fixtures, but no lease exists under this article of ordinary building materials incorporated into an improvement on land.

 

(c)This article does not prevent creation of a lease of fixtures pursuant to real estate law.

 

(d)The perfected interest of a lessor of fixtures has priority over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real estate if:

 

(i)The lease is a purchase money lease, the conflicting interest of the encumbrancer or owner arises before the goods become fixtures, the interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture filing before the goods become fixtures or within ten (10) days thereafter, and the lessee has an interest of record in the real estate or is in possession of the real estate; or

 

(ii)The interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture filing before the interest of the encumbrancer or owner is of record, the lessor's interest has priority over any conflicting interest of a predecessor in title of the encumbrancer or owner, and the lessee has an interest of record in the real estate or is in possession of the real estate.

 

(e)The interest of a lessor of fixtures, whether or not perfected, has priority over the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real estate if:

 

(i)The fixtures are readily removable factory or office machines, readily removable equipment that is not primarily used or leased for use in the operation of the real estate, or readily removable replacements of domestic appliances that are goods subject to a consumer lease, and before the goods become fixtures the lease contract is enforceable;

 

(ii)The conflicting interest is a lien on the real estate obtained by legal or equitable proceedings after the lease contract is enforceable;

 

(iii)The encumbrancer or owner has consented in writing to the lease or has disclaimed an interest in the goods as fixtures; or

 

(iv)The lessee has a right to remove the goods as against the encumbrancer or owner.� If the lessee's right to remove terminates, the priority of the interest of the lessor continues for a reasonable time.

 

(f)Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(i) but otherwise subject to subsections (d) and (e), the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's residual interest, is subordinate to the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a construction mortgage recorded before the goods become fixtures if the goods become fixtures before the completion of the construction.� To the extent given to refinance a construction mortgage, the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a mortgage has this priority to the same extent as the encumbrancer of the real estate under the construction mortgage.

 

(g)In cases not within the preceding subsections, priority between the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's residual interest, and the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real estate who is not the lessee is determined by the priority rules governing conflicting interests in real estate.

 

(h)If the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's residual interest, has priority over all conflicting interests of all owners and encumbrancers of the real estate, the lessor or the lessee may (1) on default, expiration, termination, or cancellation of the lease agreement but subject to the lease agreement and this article, or (2) if necessary to enforce other rights and remedies of the lessor or lessee under this article, remove the goods from the real estate, free and clear of all conflicting interests of all owners and encumbrancers of the real estate, but the lessor or lessee must reimburse any encumbrancer or owner of the real estate who is not the lessee and who has not otherwise agreed for the cost of repair of any physical injury, but not for any diminution in value of the real estate caused by the absence of the goods removed or by any necessity of replacing them.� A person entitled to reimbursement may refuse permission to remove until the party seeking removal gives adequate security for the performance of this obligation.

 

(j)Even though the lease agreement does not create a security interest, the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's residual interest, is perfected by filing a financing statement as a fixture filing for leased goods that are or are to become fixtures in accordance with the relevant provisions of the article on secured transactions (article 9).

 

34.1-2.A-310.Lessor's and lessee's rights when goods become accessions.

 

(a)Goods are "accessions" when they are installed in or affixed to other goods.

 

(b)The interest of a lessor or a lessee under a lease contract entered into before the goods became accessions is superior to all interests in the whole except as stated in subsection (d).

 

(c)The interest of a lessor or a lessee under a lease contract entered into at the time or after the goods became accessions is superior to all subsequently acquired interests in the whole except as stated in subsection (d) but is subordinate to interests in the whole existing at the time the lease contract was made unless the holders of such interests in the whole have in writing consented to the lease or disclaimed an interest in the goods as part of the whole.

 

(d)The interest of a lessor or a lessee under a lease contract described in subsection (b) or (c) is subordinate to the interest of:

 

(i)A buyer in the ordinary course of business or a lessee in the ordinary course of business of any interest in the whole acquired after the goods became accessions; or

 

(ii)A creditor with a security interest in the whole perfected before the lease contract was made to the extent that the creditor makes subsequent advances without knowledge of the lease contract.

 

(e)When under subsections (b) or (c) and (d) a lessor or a lessee of accessions holds an interest that is superior to all interests in the whole, the lessor or the lessee may (1) on default, expiration, termination, or cancellation of the lease contract by the other party but subject to the provisions of the lease contract and this article, or (2) if necessary to enforce his other rights and remedies under this article, remove the goods from the whole, free and clear of all interests in the whole, but he must reimburse any holder of an interest in the whole who is not the lessee and who has not otherwise agreed for the cost of repair of any physical injury but not for any diminution in value of the whole caused by the absence of the goods removed or by any necessity for replacing them.� A person entitled to reimbursement may refuse permission to remove until the party seeking removal gives adequate security for the performance of this obligation.

 

34.1-2.A-311.Priority subject to subordination.

 

Nothing in this article prevents subordination by agreement by any person entitled to priority.

 

PART 4 - PERFORMANCE OF LEASE CONTRACT:

 

34.1-2.A-401.Insecurity:� adequate assurance of performance.

 

(a)A lease contract imposes an obligation on each party that the other's expectation of receiving due performance will not be impaired.

 

(b)If reasonable grounds for insecurity arise with respect to the performance of either party, the insecure party may demand in writing adequate assurance of due performance.� Until the insecure party receives that assurance, if commercially reasonable the insecure party may suspend any performance for which he has not already received the agreed return.

 

(c)A repudiation of the lease contract occurs if assurance of due performance adequate under the circumstances of the particular case is not provided to the insecure party within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty (30) days after receipt of a demand by the other party.

 

(d)Between merchants, the reasonableness of grounds for insecurity and the adequacy of any assurance offered must be determined according to commercial standards.

 

(e)Acceptance of any nonconforming delivery or payment does not prejudice the aggrieved party's right to demand adequate assurance of future performance.

 

34.1-2.A-402.Anticipatory repudiation.

 

(a)If either party repudiates a lease contract with respect to a performance not yet due under the lease contract, the loss of which performance will substantially impair the value of the lease contract to the other, the aggrieved party may:

 

(i)For a commercially reasonable time, await retraction of repudiation and performance by the repudiating party;

 

(ii)Make demand pursuant to section 34.1-2.A-401 and await assurance of future performance adequate under the circumstances of the particular case; or

 

(iii)Resort to any right or remedy upon default under the lease contract or this article, even though the aggrieved party has notified the repudiating party that the aggrieved party would await the repudiating party's performance and assurance and has urged retraction.� In addition, whether or not the aggrieved party is pursuing one of the foregoing remedies, the aggrieved party may suspend performance or, if the aggrieved party is the lessor, proceed in accordance with the provisions of this article on the lessor's right to identify goods to the lease contract notwithstanding default or to salvage unfinished goods (section 34.1-2.A-524).

 

34.1-2.A-403.Retraction of anticipatory repudiation.

 

(a)Until the repudiating party's next performance is due, the repudiating party can retract the repudiation unless, since the repudiation, the aggrieved party has cancelled the lease contract or materially changed the aggrieved party's position or otherwise indicated that the aggrieved party considers the repudiation final.

 

(b)Retraction may be by any method that clearly indicates to the aggrieved party that the repudiating party intends to perform under the lease contract and includes any assurance demanded under section 34.1-2.A-401.

 

(c)Retraction reinstates a repudiating party's rights under a lease contract with due excuse and allowance to the aggrieved party for any delay occasioned by the repudiation.

 

34.1-2.A-404.Substituted performance.

 

(a)If without fault of the lessee, the lessor and the supplier, the agreed berthing, loading, or unloading facilities fail or the agreed type of carrier becomes unavailable or the agreed manner of delivery otherwise becomes commercially impracticable, but a commercially reasonable substitute is available, the substitute performance must be tendered and accepted.

 

(b)If the agreed means or manner of payment fails because of domestic or foreign governmental regulation:

 

(i)The lessor may withhold or stop delivery or cause the supplier to withhold or stop delivery unless the lessee provides a means or manner of payment that is commercially a substantial equivalent; and

 

(ii)If delivery has already been taken, payment by the means or in the manner provided by the regulation discharges the lessee's obligation unless the regulation is discriminatory, oppressive, or predatory.

 

34.1-2.A-405.Excused performance.

 

(a)Subject to section 34.1-2.A-404 on substituted performance, the following rules apply:

 

(i)Delay in delivery or nondelivery in whole or in part by a lessor or a supplier who complies with paragraphs (ii) and (iii) is not a default under the lease contract if performance as agreed has been made impracticable by the occurrence of a contingency the nonoccurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the lease contract was made or by compliance in good faith with any applicable foreign or domestic governmental regulation or order, whether or not the regulation or order later proves to be invalid;

 

(ii)If the causes mentioned in paragraph (i) affect only part of the lessor's or the supplier's capacity to perform, he shall allocate production and deliveries among his customers but at his option may include regular customers not then under contract for sale or lease as well as his own requirements for further manufacture.� He may so allocate in any manner that is fair and reasonable;

 

(iii)The lessor seasonably shall notify the lessee and in the case of a finance lease the supplier seasonably shall notify the lessor and the lessee, if known, that there will be delay or nondelivery and, if allocation is required under paragraph (ii), of the estimated quota thus made available for the lessee.

 

34.1-2.A-406.Procedure on excused performance.

 

(a)If the lessee receives notification of a material or indefinite delay or an allocation justified under section 34.1-2.A-405, the lessee may by written notification to the lessor as to any goods involved, and with respect to all of the goods if under an installment lease contract the value of the whole lease contract is substantially impaired (section 34.1-2.A-510):

 

(i)Terminate the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-505(b)); or

 

(ii)Except in a finance lease that is not a consumer lease, modify the lease contract by accepting the available quota in substitution, with due allowance from the rent payable for the balance of the lease term for the deficiency but without further right against the lessor.

 

(b)If, after receipt of a notification from the lessor under section 34.1-2.A-405, the lessee fails so to modify the lease agreement within a reasonable time not exceeding thirty (30) days, the lease contract lapses with respect to any deliveries affected.

 

34.1-2.A-407.Irrevocable promises:� finance leases.

 

(a)In the case of a finance lease that is not a consumer lease the lessee's promises under the lease contract become irrevocable and independent upon the lessee's acceptance of the goods.

 

(b)A promise that has become irrevocable and independent under subsection (a):

 

(i)Is effective and enforceable between the parties, and by or against third parties including assignees of the parties; and

 

(ii)Is not subject to cancellation, termination, modification, repudiation, excuse, or substitution without the consent of the party to whom the promise runs.

 

(c)This section does not affect the validity under any other law of a covenant in any lease contract making the lessee's promises irrevocable and independent upon the lessee's acceptance of the goods.

 

PART 5 - DEFAULT

 

34.1-2.A-501.Default:� procedure.

 

(a)Whether the lessor or the lessee is in default under a lease contract is determined by the lease agreement and this article.

 

(b)If the lessor or the lessee is in default under the lease contract, the party seeking enforcement has rights and remedies as provided in this article and, except as limited by this article, as provided in the lease agreement.

 

(c)If the lessor or the lessee is in default under the lease contract, the party seeking enforcement may reduce the party's claim to judgment, or otherwise enforce the lease contract by self-help or any available judicial procedure or nonjudicial procedure, including administrative proceeding, arbitration, or the like, in accordance with this article.

 

(d)Except as otherwise provided in section 34.1-1-106(a) or this article or the lease agreement, the rights and remedies referred to in subsections (b) and (c) are cumulative.

 

(e)If the lease agreement covers both real property and goods, the party seeking enforcement may proceed under this part as to the goods, or under other applicable law as to both the real property and the goods in accordance with that party's rights and remedies in respect of the real property, in which case this part does not apply.

 

34.1-2.A-502.Notice after default.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this article or the lease agreement, the lessor or lessee in default under the lease contract is not entitled to notice of default or notice of enforcement from the other party to the lease agreement.

 

34.1-2.A-503.Modification or impairment of rights and remedies.

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this article, the lease agreement may include rights and remedies for default in addition to or in substitution for those provided in this article and may limit or alter the measure of damages recoverable under this article.

 

(b)Resort to a remedy provided under this article or in the lease agreement is optional unless the remedy is expressly agreed to be exclusive.� If circumstances cause an exclusive or limited remedy to fail of its essential purpose, or provision for an exclusive remedy is unconscionable, remedy may be had as provided in this article.

 

(c)Consequential damages may be liquidated under section 34.1-2.A-504, or may otherwise be limited, altered, or excluded unless the limitation, alteration, or exclusion is unconscionable.� Limitation, alteration, or exclusion of consequential damages for injury to the person in the case of consumer goods is prima facie unconscionable but limitation, alteration, or exclusion of damages where the loss is commercial is not prima facie unconscionable.

 

(d)Rights and remedies on default by the lessor or the lessee with respect to any obligation or promise collateral or ancillary to the lease contract are not impaired by this article.

 

34.1-2.A-504.Liquidation of damages.

 

(a)Damages payable by either party for default, or any other act or omission, including indemnity for loss or diminution of anticipated tax benefits or loss or damage to lessor's residual interest, may be liquidated in the lease agreement but only at an amount or by a formula that is reasonable in light of the then anticipated harm caused by the default or other act or omission.

 

(b)If the lease agreement provides for liquidation of damages, and such provision does not comply with subsection (a), or such provision is an exclusive or limited remedy that circumstances cause to fail of its essential purpose, remedy may be had as provided in this article.

 

(c)If the lessor justifiably withholds or stops delivery of goods because of the lessee's default or insolvency (section 34.1-2.A-525 or 34.1-2.A-526), the lessee is entitled to restitution of any amount by which the sum of his payments exceeds:

 

(i)The amount to which the lessor is entitled by virtue of terms liquidating the lessor's damages in accordance with subsection (a); or

 

(ii)In the absence of those terms, twenty percent (20%) of the then present value of the total rent the lessee was obligated to pay for the balance of the lease term, or, in the case of a consumer lease, the lesser of such amount or five hundred dollars ($500.00).

 

(d)A lessee's right to restitution under subsection (c) is subject to offset to the extent the lessor establishes:

 

(i)A right to recover damages under the provisions of this article other than subsection (a); and

 

(ii)The amount or value of any benefits received by the lessee directly or indirectly by reason of the lease contract.

 

34.1-2.A-505.Cancellation and termination and effect of cancellation, termination, rescission, or fraud on rights and remedies.

 

(a)On cancellation of the lease contract, all obligations that are still executory on both sides are discharged, but any right based on prior default or performance survives, and the cancelling party also retains any remedy for default of the whole lease contract or any unperformed balance.

 

(b)On termination of the lease contract, all obligations that are still executory on both sides are discharged but any right based on prior default or performance survives.

 

(c)Unless the contrary intention clearly appears, expressions of "cancellation," "rescission," or the like of the lease contract may not be construed as a renunciation or discharge of any claim in damages for an antecedent default.

 

(d)Rights and remedies for material misrepresentation or fraud include all rights and remedies available under this article for default.

 

(e)Neither rescission nor a claim for rescission of the lease contract nor rejection or return of the goods may bar or be deemed inconsistent with a claim for damages or other right or remedy.

 

34.1-2.A-506.Statute of limitations.

 

(a)An action for default under a lease contract, including breach of warranty or indemnity, must be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action accrued.� By the original lease contract the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one (1) year.

 

(b)A cause of action for default accrues when the act or omission on which the default or breach of warranty is based is or should have been discovered by the aggrieved party, or when the default occurs, whichever is later.� A cause of action for indemnity accrues when the act or omission on which the claim for indemnity is based is or should have been discovered by the indemnified party, whichever is later.

 

(c)If an action commenced within the time limited by subsection (a) is so terminated as to leave available a remedy by another action for the same default or breach of warranty or indemnity, the other action may be commenced after the expiration of the time limited and within six (6) months after the termination of the first action unless the termination resulted from voluntary discontinuance or from dismissal for failure or neglect to prosecute.

 

(d)This section does not alter the law on tolling of the statute of limitations nor does it apply to causes of action that have accrued before this article becomes effective.

 

34.1-2.A-507.Proof of market rent:� time and place.

 

(a)Damages based on market rent (section 34.1-2.A-519 or 34.1-2.A-528) are determined according to the rent for the use of the goods concerned for a lease term identical to the remaining lease term of the original lease agreement and prevailing at the time of the default.

 

(b)If evidence of rent for the use of the goods concerned for a lease term identical to the remaining lease term of the original lease agreement and prevailing at the times or places described in this article is not readily available, the rent prevailing within any reasonable time before or after the time described or at any other place or for a different lease term which in commercial judgment or under usage of trade would serve as a reasonable substitute for the one described may be used, making any proper allowance for the difference, including the cost of transporting the goods to or from the other place.

 

(c)Evidence of a relevant rent prevailing at a time or place or for a lease term other than the one described in this article offered by one party is not admissible unless and until he has given the other party notice the court finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise.

 

(d)If the prevailing rent or value of any goods regularly leased in any established market is in issue, reports in official publications or trade journals or in newspapers or periodicals of general circulation published as the reports of that market are admissible in evidence.� The circumstances of the preparation of the report may be shown to affect its weight but not its admissibility.

 

34.1-2.A-508.Lessee's remedies.

 

(a)If a lessor fails to deliver the goods in conformity to the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-509) or repudiates the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-402), or a lessee rightfully rejects the goods (section 34.1-2.A-509) or justifiably revokes acceptance of the goods (section 34.1-2.A-517), then with respect to any goods involved, and with respect to all of the goods if under an installment lease contract the value of the whole lease contract is substantially impaired (section 34.1-2.A-510), the lessor is in default under the lease contract and the lessee may:

 

(i)Cancel the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-505(a));

 

(ii)Recover so much of the rent and security as has been paid and is just under the circumstances;

 

(iii)Cover and recover damages as to all goods affected whether or not they have been identified to the lease contract (sections 34.1-2.A-518 and 34.1-2.A-520), or recover damages for nondelivery (sections 34.1-2.A-519 and 34.1-2.A-520);

 

(iv)Exercise any other rights or pursue any other remedies provided in the lease contract.

 

(b)If a lessor fails to deliver the goods in conformity to the lease contract or repudiates the lease contract, the lessee may also:

 

(i)If the goods have been identified, recover them (section 34.1-2.A-522); or

 

(ii)In a proper case, obtain specific performance or replevy the goods (section 34.1-2.A-521).

 

(c)If a lessor is otherwise in default under a lease contract, the lessee may exercise the rights and pursue the remedies provided in the lease contract, which may include a right to cancel the lease, and in section 34.1-2.A-519(c).

 

(d)If a lessor has breached a warranty, whether express or implied, the lessee may recover damages (section 34.1-2.A-519(d)).

 

(e)On rightful rejection or justifiable revocation of acceptance, a lessee has a security interest in goods in the lessee's possession or control for any rent and security that has been paid and any expenses reasonably incurred in their inspection, receipt, transportation, and care and custody and may hold those goods and dispose of them in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, subject to section 34.1-2.A-527(e).

 

(f)Subject to the provisions of section 34.1-2.A-407, a lessee, on notifying the lessor of the lessee's intention to do so, may deduct all or any part of the damages resulting from any default under the lease contract from any part of the rent still due under the same lease contract.

 

34.1-2.A-509.Lessee's rights on improper delivery; rightful rejection.

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of section 34.1-2.A-510 on default in installment lease contracts, if the goods or the tender or delivery fail in any respect to conform to the lease contract, the lessee may reject or accept the goods or accept any commercial unit or units and reject the rest of the goods.

 

(b)Rejection of goods is ineffective unless it is within a reasonable time after tender or delivery of the goods and the lessee seasonably notifies the lessor.

 

34.1-2.A-510.Installment lease contracts:� rejection and default.

 

(a)Under an installment lease contract a lessee may reject any delivery that is nonconforming if the nonconformity substantially impairs the value of that delivery and cannot be cured or the nonconformity is a defect in the required documents; but if the nonconformity does not fall within subsection (b) and the lessor or the supplier gives adequate assurance of its cure, the lessee must accept that delivery.

 

(b)Whenever nonconformity or default with respect to one or more deliveries substantially impairs the value of the installment lease contract as a whole there is a default with respect to the whole.� But, the aggrieved party reinstates the installment lease contract as a whole if the aggrieved party accepts a nonconforming delivery without seasonably notifying of cancellation or brings an action with respect only to past deliveries or demands performance as to future deliveries.

 

34.1-2.A-511.Merchant lessee's duties as to rightfully rejected goods.

 

(a)Subject to any security interest of a lessee (section 34.1-2.A-508(e)), if a lessor or a supplier has no agent or place of business at the market of rejection, a merchant lessee, after rejection of goods in his possession or control, shall follow any reasonable instructions received from the lessor or the supplier with respect to the goods.� In the absence of those instructions, a merchant lessee shall make reasonable efforts to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the goods for the lessor's account if they threaten to decline in value speedily. �Instructions are not reasonable if on demand indemnity for expenses is not forthcoming.

 

(b)If a merchant lessee (subsection (a)) or any other lessee (section 34.1-2.A-512) disposes of goods, he is entitled to reimbursement either from the lessor or the supplier or out of the proceeds for reasonable expenses of caring for and disposing of the goods and, if the expenses include no disposition commission, to such commission as is usual in the trade, or if there is none, to a reasonable sum not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds.

 

(c)In complying with this section or section 34.1-2.A-512, the lessee is held only to good faith.� Good faith conduct hereunder is neither acceptance or conversion nor the basis of an action for damages.

 

(d)A purchaser who purchases in good faith from a lessee pursuant to this section or section 34.1-2.A-512 takes the goods free of any rights of the lessor and the supplier even though the lessee fails to comply with one (1) or more of the requirements of this article.

 

34.1-2.A-512.Lessee's duties as to rightfully rejected goods.

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided with respect to goods that threaten to decline in value speedily (section 34.1-2.A-511) and subject to any security interest of a lessee (section 34.1-2.A-508(e)):

 

(i)The lessee, after rejection of goods in the lessee's possession, shall hold them with reasonable care at the lessor's or the supplier's disposition for a reasonable time after the lessee's seasonable notification of rejection;

 

(ii)If the lessor or the supplier gives no instructions within a reasonable time after notification of rejection, the lessee may store the rejected goods for the lessor's or the supplier's account or ship them to the lessor or the supplier or dispose of them for the lessor's or the supplier's account with reimbursement in the manner provided in section 34.1-2.A-511; but

 

(iii)The lessee has no further obligations with regard to goods rightfully rejected.

 

(b)Action by the lessee pursuant to subsection (a) is not acceptance or conversion.

 

34.1-2.A-513.Cure by lessor of improper tender or delivery; replacement.

 

(a)If any tender or delivery by the lessor or the supplier is rejected because nonconforming and the time for performance has not yet expired, the lessor or the supplier may seasonably notify the lessee of the lessor's or the supplier's intention to cure and may then make a conforming delivery within the time provided in the lease contract.

 

(b)If the lessee rejects a nonconforming tender that the lessor or the supplier had reasonable grounds to believe would be acceptable with or without money allowance, the lessor or the supplier may have a further reasonable time to substitute a conforming tender if he seasonably notifies the lessee.

 

34.1-2.A-514.Waiver of lessee's objections.

 

(a)In rejecting goods, a lessee's failure to state a particular defect that is ascertainable by reasonable inspection precludes the lessee from relying on the defect to justify rejection or to establish default:

 

(i)If, stated seasonably, the lessor or the supplier could have cured it (section 34.1-2.A-513); or

 

(ii)Between merchants if the lessor or the supplier after rejection has made a request in writing for a full and final written statement of all defects on which the lessee proposes to rely.

 

(b)A lessee's failure to reserve rights when paying rent or other consideration against documents precludes recovery of the payment for defects apparent on the face of the documents.

 

34.1-2.A-515.Acceptance of goods.

 

(a)Acceptance of goods occurs after the lessee has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect the goods and:

 

(i)The lessee signifies or acts with respect to the goods in a manner that signifies to the lessor or the supplier that the goods are conforming or that the lessee will take or retain them in spite of their nonconformity; or

 

(ii)The lessee fails to make an effective rejection of the goods (section 34.1-2.A-509(b)).

 

(b)Acceptance of a part of any commercial unit is acceptance of that entire unit.

 

34.1-2.A-516.Effect of acceptance of goods; notice of default; burden of establishing default after acceptance; notice of claim or litigation to person answerable over.

 

(a)A lessee must pay rent for any goods accepted in accordance with the lease contract, with due allowance for goods rightfully rejected or not delivered.

 

(b)A lessee's acceptance of goods precludes rejection of the goods accepted.� In the case of a finance lease, if made with knowledge of a nonconformity, acceptance cannot be revoked because of it.� In any other case, if made with knowledge of a nonconformity, acceptance cannot be revoked because of it unless the acceptance was on the reasonable assumption that the nonconformity would be seasonably cured.� Acceptance does not of itself impair any other remedy provided by this article or the lease agreement for nonconformity.

 

(c)If a tender has been accepted:

 

(i)Within a reasonable time after the lessee discovers or should have discovered any default, the lessee shall notify the lessor and the supplier, if any, or be barred from any remedy against the party not notified;

 

(ii)Except in the case of a consumer lease, within a reasonable time after the lessee receives notice of litigation for infringement or the like (section 34.1-2.A-211) the lessee shall notify the lessor or be barred from any remedy over for liability established by the litigation; and

 

(iii)The burden is on the lessee to establish any default.

 

(d)If a lessee is sued for breach of a warranty or other obligation for which a lessor or a supplier is answerable over the following apply:

 

(i)The lessee may give the lessor or the supplier, or both, written notice of the litigation.� If the notice states that the person notified may come in and defend and that if the person notified does not do so that person will be bound in any action against that person by the lessee by any determination of fact common to the two (2) litigations, then unless the person notified after seasonable receipt of the notice does come in and defend that person is so bound;

 

(ii)The lessor or the supplier may demand in writing that the lessee turn over control of the litigation including settlement if the claim is one for infringement or the like (section 34.1-2.A-211) or else be barred from any remedy over.� If the demand states that the lessor or the supplier agrees to bear all expense and to satisfy any adverse judgment, then unless the lessee after seasonable receipt of the demand does turn over control the lessee is so barred.

 

(e)Subsections (c) and (d) apply to any obligation of a lessee to hold the lessor or the supplier harmless against infringement or the like (section 34.1-2.A-211).

 

34.1-2.A-517.Revocation of acceptance of goods.

 

(a)A lessee may revoke acceptance of a lot or commercial unit whose nonconformity substantially impairs its value to the lessee if the lessee has accepted it:

 

(i)Except in the case of a finance lease, on the reasonable assumption that its nonconformity would be cured and it has not been seasonably cured; or

 

(ii)Without discovery of the nonconformity if the lessee's acceptance was reasonably induced either by the lessor's assurances or, except in the case of a finance lease, by the difficulty of discovery before acceptance.

 

(b)Except in the case of a finance lease that is not a consumer lease, a lessee may revoke acceptance of a lot or commercial unit if the lessor defaults under the lease contract and the default substantially impairs the value of that lot or commercial unit to the lessee.

 

(c)If the lease agreement so provides, the lessee may revoke acceptance of a lot or commercial unit because of other defaults by the lessor.

 

(d)Revocation of acceptance must occur within a reasonable time after the lessee discovers or should have discovered the ground for it and before any substantial change in condition of the goods which is not caused by the nonconformity.� Revocation is not effective until the lessee notifies the lessor.

 

(e)A lessee who so revokes has the same rights and duties with regard to the goods involved as if the lessee had rejected them.

 

34.1-2.A-518.Cover; substitute goods.

 

(a)After a default by a lessor under the lease contract of the type described in section 34.1-2.A-508(a), or, if agreed, after other default by the lessor, the lessee may cover by making any purchase or lease of or contract to purchase or lease goods in substitution for those due from the lessor.

 

(b)Except as otherwise provided with respect to damages liquidated in the lease agreement (section 34.1-2.A-504) or otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (sections 34.1-1-102(c) and 34.1-2.A-503), if a lessee's cover is by a lease agreement substantially similar to the original lease agreement and the new lease agreement is made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, the lessee may recover from the lessor as damages (1) the present value, as of the date of the commencement of the term of the new lease agreement, of the rent under the new lease agreement applicable to that period of the new lease term which is comparable to the then remaining term of the original lease agreement minus the present value as of the same date of the total rent for the then remaining lease term of the original lease agreement, and (2) any incidental or consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default.

 

(c)If a lessee's cover is by lease agreement that for any reason does not qualify for treatment under subsection (b), or is by purchase or otherwise, the lessee may recover from the lessor as if the lessee had elected not to cover and section 34.1-2.A-519 governs.

 

34.1-2.A-519.Lessee's damages for non-delivery, repudiation, default, and breach of warranty in regard to accepted goods.

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided with respect to damages liquidated in the lease agreement (section 34.1-2.A-504) or otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (sections 34.1-1-102(c) and 34.1-2.A-503), if a lessee elects not to cover or a lessee elects to cover and the cover is by lease agreement that for any reason does not qualify for treatment under section 34.1-2.A-518(b), or is by purchase or otherwise, the measure of damages for non-delivery or repudiation by the lessor or for rejection or revocation of acceptance by the lessee is the present value, as of the date of the default, of the then market rent minus the present value as of the same date of the original rent, computed for the remaining lease term of the original lease agreement, together with incidental and consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default.

 

(b)Market rent is to be determined as of the place for tender or, in cases of rejection after arrival or revocation of acceptance, as of the place of arrival.

 

(c)Except as otherwise agreed, if the lessee has accepted goods and given notification (section 34.1-2.A-516(c)), the measure of damages for non-conforming tender or delivery or other default by a lessor is the loss resulting in the ordinary course of events from the lessor's default as determined in any manner that is reasonable together with incidental and consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default.

 

(d)Except as otherwise agreed, the measure of damages for breach of warranty is the present value at the time and place of acceptance of the difference between the value of the use of the goods accepted and the value if they had been as warranted for the lease term, unless special circumstances show proximate damages of a different amount, together with incidental and consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default or breach of warranty.

 

34.1-2.A-520.Lessee's incidental and consequential damages.

 

(a)Incidental damages resulting from a lessor's default include expenses reasonably incurred in inspection, receipt, transportation, and care and custody of goods rightfully rejected or goods the acceptance of which is justifiably revoked, any commercially reasonable charges, expenses or commissions in connection with effecting cover, and any other reasonable expense incident to the default.

 

(b)Consequential damages resulting from a lessor's default include:

 

(i)Any loss resulting from general or particular requirements and needs of which the lessor at the time of contracting had reason to know and which could not reasonably be prevented by cover or otherwise; and

 

(ii)Injury to person or property proximately resulting from any breach of warranty.

 

34.1-2.A-521.Lessee's right to specific performance or replevin.

 

(a)Specific performance may be decreed if the goods are unique or in other proper circumstances.

 

(b)A decree for specific performance may include any terms and conditions as to payment of the rent, damages, or other relief that the court deems just.

 

(c)A lessee has a right of replevin, detinue, sequestration, claim and delivery, or the like for goods identified to the lease contract if after reasonable effort the lessee is unable to effect cover for those goods or the circumstances reasonably indicate that the effort will be unavailing.

 

34.1-2.A-522.Lessee's right to goods on lessor's insolvency.

 

(a)Subject to subsection (b) and even though the goods have not been shipped, a lessee who has paid a part or all of the rent and security for goods identified to a lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-217) on making and keeping good a tender of any unpaid portion of the rent and security due under the lease contract may recover the goods identified from the lessor if the lessor becomes insolvent within ten (10) days after receipt of the first installment of rent and security.

 

(b)A lessee acquires the right to recover goods identified to a lease contract only if they conform to the lease contract.

 

34.1-2.A-523.Lessor's remedies.

 

(a)If a lessee wrongfully rejects or revokes acceptance of goods or fails to make a payment when due or repudiates with respect to a part or the whole, then, with respect to any goods involved, and with respect to all of the goods if under an installment lease contract the value of the whole lease contract is substantially impaired (section 34.1-2.A-510), the lessee is in default under the lease contract and the lessor may:

 

(i)Cancel the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-505(a));

 

(ii)Proceed respecting goods not identified to the lease contract (section 34.1-2.A-524);

 

(iii)Withhold delivery of the goods and take possession of goods previously delivered (section 34.1-2.A-525);

 

(iv)Stop delivery of the goods by any bailee (section 34.1-2.A-526);

 

(v)Dispose of the goods and recover damages (section 34.1-2.A-527), or retain the goods and recover damages (section 34.1-2.A-528), or in a proper case recover rent (section 34.1-2.A-529);

 

(vi)Exercise any other rights or pursue any other remedies provided in the lease contract.

 

(b)If a lessor does not fully exercise a right or obtain a remedy to which the lessor is entitled under subsection (a), the lessor may recover the loss resulting in the ordinary course of events from the lessee's default as determined in any reasonable manner, together with incidental damages, less expenses saved in consequence of the lessee's default.