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Scope of Article 2 There are at least four ways in which a UCC gap filler will be superseded. 1-302(a): if the contract itself specifies what that term should be. 1-303(a): the parties repeated occasions for performance within that contract may establish an agreement implication. Course of Performance 1-303(b): the parties past dealing with one another have established a particular way that the parties do business with one another. Course of Dealing 1-303(c): Custom in a particular industry concerning a performance term. Usage of Trade Ragus v. City of Chicago (Rat Traps) Reference to usage of trade is proper when K ambiguous City of Chicago Article 2 applies to transactions in goods, 2-102, and defines goods as all things (including specially manufactured goods) which are movable at the time of identification to the contract for sale. . . Adel v. Greenspring (Water is considered a good under the UCC) An item can be a good under the UCC even if the seller did not create or manufacture it. Two approaches to mixed contracts: Predominant purpose test: by which the court decides whether the predominant purpose of the transaction is to sell goods or services. If it is goods, then Art. 2 applies to the whole transaction, even the services portion. If the predominate purpose is services then no Art.2. Gravamen of the action test: the court determines whether the gravamen of the action (the source of the complaint) is with the goods or the services portion of the transaction. If the problem lies with the goods, then Art. 2 applies even if the predominant purpose of the transaction is services rather than goods. If the problem lies with the services, then Art. 2 does not apply. Adel v. Greenspring (Water is considered a good under the UCC) An item can be a good under the UCC even if the seller did not create or manufacture it. Rejected Dakota Pork Indus. V. city of Hurons reasoning that water is covered under UCC but implied warranty of merchantability does not apply.
Art. 2-104(1) tells us that a merchant is either a person who deals in goods of the kind or a person who holds himself out as having knowledge or skill peculiar to the practices or goods involved in the transaction. Comment 2 of 2-104 introduces the concept that there are three different categories of consequences to being a merchant. The first category of consequences involves the Art. 2 rules surrounding general business practices like answering the mail and giving firm offers. Almost every person in business would be considered a merchant and therefore subject to the special rules of those sections The second category covers mainly the implied warranty of merchantability. Only merchants who deal in goods of the kind get saddled with that particular responsibility. The final category deals with merchants general duties of good faith and standards of fair dealing in the trade. Again, any person in business will be subject to the requirements of this group of special merchant provisions. Cook v. Downing (Dentures) Those who, for a fee, furnish their professional medical services for the guidance and assistance of others are not liable for breach of implied warranty in the absence of negligence of intentional misconduct
If the transaction is found to be a disguised sale, the penalty to the putative lessor for failing to meet the Art. 9 requirements is that the lessor may lose certain rights against the lessee as well as against third parties of the lessee. Carlson: Art. 1-203 to determine whether a contract (called a lease by the parties) is a true lease or a security agreement. To determine intent of the parties, the court must adopt an economic analysis (realities test?): 1) If the obligations of the lessee under the lease are not subject to termination by the lessee 2) If the lessee may without further consideration acquire all rights in the goods from the full economic life of the goods 3) But if the lessor retains the reversionary interest in the goods, then the transaction is a true lease 4) If the lease includes a full payout lease or a net lease, then the transaction is a true lease. Bailey: If there is no right to terminate, and none of the four conditions apply [203(b)(1)-(4)], the court must look into specific facts of the case to determine whether the economics of the transaction still suggest a security interest Additional factors considered in Bailey when determining whether Tx is a true lease: Lessee was not under an absolute obligation to purchase the leased property Purchase price is not for a nominal sum Art. 2A-103(1)(p) defines lease. Most of the provision in Art. 2A assume a basic twoparty, arms-length lease transaction in which the parties have roughly equal bargaining power. With respect to the consumer lease, however, the drafters did not assume equal bargaining power and therefore created some special protections for the consumer lessee. 2A-103(1)(e) and (f)? defines a consumer lease. Some of the unique benefits accorded to the consumer lessee include prohibitions against bad-faith accelerations by the lessor, special disclosure requirements, and heightened unconscionability protections. 2A-109, 208(2), 108(2). The finance lease is treated differently. Scope of CISG Art. 1 & 6 say that unless the parties otherwise specify, the provisions of the CISG will apply to sales of goods contracts between parties with places of business in Contracting States, that is, countries that have ratified the CISG. CISG will apply only if the parties have reason to know by the time of contract formation that they have places of business in different Contracting States. Art. 1(2). A partys place of business is defined as the place which has the closest relationship to the contract and its performance. . . Art. 10(a). CISG applies to contracts for the
sale of goods Art. 1(1). The issue of a mixed goods contract is addressed in Art. 3(2) by excluding contracts where the preponderant part of the sellers obligation consists in the supply of labor or other services. Parties may opt out of the CISG (Art. 6). Valero Marketing To exclude the CISG a party must not only provide that the law of a particular state will apply, it must also state that the CISG will not apply CISG does not cover the sale of consumer goods, unless the seller neither knew nor should have known that the goods were being purchased for a consumer purpose, Art. 2(a). Art. 5 says that the CISG does not apply to the liability of the seller for death or personal injury cause by the goods sold. The CISG specifically excludes from its coverage issues of whether the sale to the buyer cuts off the property interests of third parties in the goods that were sold. Art. 4(b). In Art. 7(1), the CISG says that questions concerning matters governed by this Convention which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which it is based or, in the absence of such principles, in conformity with the law applicable by virtue of the rules of private international law. Real Estate UCC does not apply directly (applies to some goods fixed to the land).
acceptance, unless the seller specifically indicates that the non-conforming shipment is offered merely as an accommodation to the buyer (counter-offer). 2-205 creates a limited exception to the common-law rule that firm offers are not binding without consideration. 2-205, firm offers are binding even in the absence of consideration if the offeror is a merchant and the offer is in writing. In the absence of a stated time only open for a reasonable time, and in no event would such gratuitous firm offer remain irrevocable longer than three months. 2-207. The common laws mirror image rule held that unless all of the terms of the purported acceptance agreed with the terms of the offer, the purported acceptance could not operate as a true acceptance. If the parties nevertheless proceeded, the purported acceptance with the different terms would be considered a counter-offer that was accepted by virtue of the buyers performance (called the last shot doctrine). 2-207 changes that result by saying that an acceptance such as that can count as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those that were offered, unless two things: If the acceptance is not a definite and seasonable expressions of acceptance. This might be the case if the acceptance came a long time after the offer was made, or if the terms of the acceptance were wildly and fundamentally different from the terms of the offer. Nevertheless, the acceptance may differ in even material way s from the offer and still count as an acceptance. If the acceptance is expressly made conditional on assent to the additional of different terms. This could arguably be accomplished by the offerees including conspicuous language in its form that tracks the relevant expressly mad conditional language of 2-207. Belden If a contract is formed under Section 2-207(1), the additional terms in the acceptance are considered proposals and become part of the contract unless 2207(2) renders the proposed terms inoperative. However, if acceptance is expressly conditioned on the offerors assent to the new terms, and no assent is forthcoming, the entire transaction aborts. In other words, if an acceptance contains a clause conditioning the acceptance on assent to the additional or different terms, the writings do not form a contract. Yet if the parties conduct recognizes the existence of a contract by performance it is sufficient to establish a contract for sale. The terms of such a contract are terms on which the parties agree, together with any supplementary terms (could be course of performance
of dealing or usage of trade) incorporated under any other provisions of this act. 2-207(1) determines when a writing with different terms nevertheless constitutes an acceptance. 2-207(2) is to tell us what to do with new terms in the acceptance. 2-207(3) covers the situation in which the buyer and seller act as if there is a contract even though the purported written acceptance does not qualify as a valid written acceptance under 2-207(1). Comment 3 uses the language additional or different terms. Much will depend on whether the additional term is common in the buyers and sellers industry. Knock-out rule (majority): the court will knock out the different terms and use the UCC to fill the gap left by the knocked-out terms. Different terms do not become part of the k (minority) The only way that 2-207(3)s statutory knockout rule differs from the judicially created knockout rule for 2-207(2) is in its treatment of additional terms: the 2702(3) rules knocks out additional terms, whereas under 2-207(2) additional terms between merchants will become part of the contract unless one of the three exceptions in 2-207(2) applies. Most courts say that arbitration is a material alteration.
Material alteration is defined broadly: any additional or different terms relating among other things, to the price, payment, quality and quantity of the goods, place and time of delivery, extent of one partys liability to the other or the settlement of disputes. Under CISG if there is a situation like 2-207(3) then the common laws last shot doctrine applies. Filanto In general an acceptance to an offer needs a positive act to indicate an acceptance, silence is therefore not an acceptance. [Art. 18(1) CISG)] However, under special circumstances (i.e. a long-term trade relationship which established a regular practice) silence can be interpreted as a constituted acceptance. [Art. 8(3) CISG)] Additionally, an acceptance with modification including material modifications of the contract (i.e. change of price, time or quantity) is considered under the CISG as an counteroffer. [Art. 19(3) CISG)] 18(2) acceptances are effective only when received by the offeror, not when sent, as is true under the UCC. 16(2) offers which indicate that they are irrevocable may not be revoked for the time stated by the offeror (not a function of the offer being in writing and is not limited to a period of three months). Formation of Real Estate Contracts With significant commercial real estate sales, the contract formation process will be fairly straightforward. Dysart v. Cummings Heart of K is the intention of parties K is construed as a whole and individual clauses are to be considered in context Messler v. Phillips ? Throckmartin Fraud is never presumed and must be established by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence.
There are other ways in which the writing requirement might be met. One exception (2201(3)(a)) is for the seller to show that it relied to its detriment on the existence of an oral contract in beginning the manufacture of specially manufactured goods according to that contract. The seller must also show that the special manufacture began under circumstances which reasonably indicate that the goods are for the buyer. [in class: not suitable for sale in OCOB; circumstances reasonably indicate goods are for party to be charged; substantial beginning of manufacture of special goods OR commitments for procurement of special goods. Second exception (2-201(3)(b)) where the party seeking to avoid the contract admits in his pleading, testimony or otherwise in court that a contract for sale was made. DF Activities Corp v. Brown The statute of frauds prevents a party from conducting additional discovery once the defense is raised. Third exception (2-201(3)(c)) part performance exception: to the extent that either the seller receives and accepts payment for the goods or the buyer receives and accepts the goods, neither party can deny existence of the oral contract. See comment 2. Fourth exception (2-201(2)) the merchant exception: between merchants, received in reasonable time, sufficient against the sender, no written objection given (sent) within 10 days. General Trading Intl v. Wal-Mart Stores Writings must indicate the consummation of a K, not mere negotiations. The emails in this case failed to sufficiently indicate the formation or existence of any agreement between parties through inference or otherwise. Exceptions: S.W.A.P.= specially manufactured, written (merchant exception), admission, performance.
There are a couple of categorical statements that can be made about the issue that 2202 covers: If the writing that seeks to keep evidence out is not intended by both parties to be final expression of the parties agreement with respect to the terms included therein, then it will not serve to keep out any parol evidence. Even where there is a writing intended by both parties to be a final expression of their agreement, parties may always introduct evidence of side agreement that occurred after the writing in question. Parties are always free to modify their earlier agreements that they made, no matter how comprehensive and final the earlier agreement seemed to be at the time. 2-209. Even where there is a writing intended by both parties to be a final expression of their agreement, a party may always introduce evidence of usage of trade, course of dealing, or course of performance to explain or supplement the writing. The one exception to this statement is that these terms may not explain or supplement a writing if the writing has carefully negated that possibility, in the words of comment 2. Deggingers: ? Prior consistent additional terms may be introduced to explain or supplement any writing except those that are intended by both parties to be a complete and exclusive statement of all the terms of the contract. The complete and exclusive nature of the writing might be proven by the existence of a well-drafted and conspicuous merger clause that screams out the completeness and exclusivity of the writing.
of the case including the negotiations, any practices which the parties have established between themselves, usages and any subsequent conduct of the parties. Art. 6 is clear on the ability of the parties, however, to derogate from or vary the effect of any of the CISGs provisions. TeeVee Toons, Inc. Extrinsic evidence should not be excluded, unless the parties actually intend the Merger Clauses to have this effect and CISG Art. 8 requires and examination of all relevant facts and circumstances when deciding whether the Merger Clause represents the parties intent. CISG Art. 11 indicates that there is no writing requirement in international sales contracts. Art. 96 allows a country to make a declaration that there will be a statute of frauds requirement in any contract involving parties that have their principal place of business in that country. Requisites to Formalization in the Real Estate System (MY LEGS) The writing requirement for the enforceability of real estate sales tends to be stricter than that for the sale of goods. State statutes of frauds for real estate require that the writing include material terms of the sale. Typically these terms include party names, identification of the property, the nature of the title to be conveyed, and the price. Equitable estoppels is one of the commonly accepted exceptions to the usual requirement that a contract to sell real estate must be in writing. A second exception is part performance. With the part performance exception, the buyer takes some action in part performance: payment, possession, or improvements, that substitutes for the mission writing. Richard: Continued possession of property can adequately indicate the existence of or a purported oral K to constitute partial performance Warranties with Sales of Goods The Basic UCC Quality Warranties The warranties include: title; non-infringement; express warranties; merchantability; fitness for a particular use The UCC provides two implied warranties that relate to the performance. There is also an implied title warranty. Of the two implied warranties of quality, the more important is the implied warranty of merchantability found in 2-314. Unless disclaimed or modified, this implied warranty arises in every sale of goods where the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of the kind being sold. 2-314(1). The good being sold are at least as good as other, similar goods in the trade, and that the
goods are fit for the ordinary purposes for which goods of that description are used. 2-314(2)(a) and (c). Seller has to defend buyer for infringement or he is collaterally stopped from defending against buyer. CISG: seller must know and buyer cannot. Phillips v. Cricket Lighters The statute defining implied warranty of merchantability states that in order for goods to be considered merchantable, they must be at least such as: Pass without objection in the trade under the contract description; In the case of fungible goods, are of fair average quality within the description; Are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used; Run, within the variations permitted by agreement, of even kind, quality and quantity within each unit and among all units involved; Are adequately contained, packaged, and labeled as the agreement may require; and Conform to the promises or affirmations of fact made on the container or label if any. 2-314(2). The concept of merchantability does not require that the goods be the best quality or the best obtainable but it does require that they have an inherent soundness which makes them suitable for the purposes for which they are designed. The fact that the product was tragically misused in such a way does not alter the ordinary purpose of the product. Even used goods, as long as the are sold by merchants, come with an implied warranty of merchantability. See comment 3 to 2-314. A contract for the sale of second-hand goods, however, involves only such obligation as is appropriate to such goods for that is their contract description. Warranty for a particular purpose is another implied warranty. Unless disclaimed or modified, the fitness warranty is implied whenever the seller knows that they buyer is buying the goods for a particular purpose and is relying on the sellers expertise to select or furnish the goods. 2-315. The fitness warranty promises that the goods are indeed fit for the buyers particular purpose. Comment 2 of 2-315 is clear that the implied warranty of fitness was not intended for the buyer whose use of the goods is ordinary. Leal v. Holtvogt The test to determine whether an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose has been created: The seller must have reason to know of the buyers particular purpose;
The seller must have reason to know that the buyer is relying on the sellers skill or judgment to furnish or select appropriate goods; and The buyer must, in fact, rely upon the sellers skill or judgment. Express warranties must be affirmatively created by the seller to the immediate buyer through affirmations of fact, promises, descriptions, samples, or models, as long as any of these become part of the basis of the bargain. 2-313(1) In order to create an express warranty a seller need not use any magic words like guarantee or warranty, but if a seller is merely giving its opinion of the goods, then such statements are considered puffing and do not give rise to a warranty 2-313(2). First, specific language is must more likely to be deemed an express warranty than is vague language. Second, a written statement is more likely to be considered an express warranty than is an oral statement. Third, the context in which the sellers statement was made will normally be important in deciding whether the statement is an express warranty rather than puffing. If the buyers reliance on the sellers statement was reasonable under the circumstances, that argues in favor of an express warranty rather than puffing. If the buyers reliance was not reasonable, that argues in favor of the sellers statement being characterized as puffing. Comment 8 to 2-313. Extended Warranties and Maintenance Agreements Sometimes the original warranty will extend without having to purchase the extension.
2-607(3)(a) comment 4: The time of notification is to be determined by applying commercial standards to a merchant buyer. A reasonable time for notification from a retail customer is to be judged by different standards.... Lack of privity is another hurdle that many would-be warranty plaintiffs must struggle to overcome. In practice, most manufacturers will treat their warranties as if they run directly to the ultimate purchaser. Art. 2 provides a mechanism by which the seller being sued can vouch in its own seller to defend the suit. In a case where a buyer is sued for an obligation for which its seller should be responsible, the buyer may five the seller written notice of the litigation. If the seller refuses to come in an defend for its buyer, then the seller will be bound by any finding of fact in the first litigation to the extent that its buyer later sues it. 2-607(5)(a). This issue is one of vertical privity: the ability of a buyer to sue a seller other than its immediate seller. Even when the manufacturer is not vouched in, most states provide by common law that when consumers are personally injured by a manufacturers product, that manufacturer cannot escape warranty liability due to lack of vertical privity. Horizontal privity: the ability of a non-buyer who uses or is affected by a product to sue a seller for breach of warranty. 2-318 gives three different approaches that states can adopt. Most have adopted Alternative A which removes the horizontal privity barrier for family members or household guests of the buyer in cases where the non-buyers have suffered personal injury due to the sellers breach of warranty. The two other alternatives in 2-318, B and C, remove horizontal privity problem for an even broader calls of plaintiffs than does A. B gives the privity-removing benefit to any natural person who may reasonably be expected to use, consume, or be affected by the goods and who suffers personal injury. C removes the requirement of B that the injury be a personal injury. Thus, C would seem to allow its beneficiaries to recover even for property damage or economic loss. AL is a B jurisdiction. 2-318 is to protect consumers. Crews v. W.A. Brown & Son, Inc. Where the cause of action is based on breach of express warranty, directed by the manufacturer to the ultimate purchaser, lack of privity between the plaintiffpurchaser and the defendant-manufacturer is not a bar. Where the cause of action against the manufacturer is based on breach of an implied warranty, the Products Liability Act eliminates the privity requiremt where the claimant is a buyer, as defined in the UCC, of the product involved, or. . . is a member or guest of a member of the family of the buyer, a guest of the buyer, or an employee of the buyer.
Where, however, the products liability action is brought against the seller for breach of either express or implied warranty, the privity barrier has been removed legislatively to the same extent as it has been removed in actions against manufacturers for breach of express warranty. Magnuson-Moss Magnuson-Moss sets down a number of federal minimum warranty standards that relate to remedies, the duration of implied warranties, and the like, and then requires consumer product warrantors wither to meet those minimum standards or to conspicuously designate the warranty as a limited warranty. 15 U.S.C. 2303, 2304. Kemp v. Pfizer, Inc. The Act only applies to consumer products. 2301(1). Consumer products are any tangible personal property which is distributed in commerce and which is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes. McNiff v. Mazda An award of attorneys fees must be reasonable. The presence of a fee agreement does not impose a ceiling on the award of fees McCurdy v. Texas, Inc. The Act applies to implied warranties as well as written express warranties. McNamara v. Nomeco Bld. Specialties, Inc. A party may not bring an implied warranty claim under Magnuson-Moss In a case where the party injured by the consumer product is not the buyer, MagnusonMosss definition of consumer allows a plaintiff to overcome the horizontal privity problem. Federal jurisdiction is limited under the Act to cases over $50,000.
2A-209(1): any warranty rights that the finance lessor gets from the supplier, whether express or implied, run directly to the finance lessee. The special rules of the finance lease cause that warranty to run to the lessee as well. The finance lessee must see a copy of the sales or lease contract between the supplier and the finance lessor before signing its own lease contract with the finance lessor. In order for there to be a finance lease, the transaction between the finance lessor and lessee must be a true lease, rather than merely a disguised sale. Warranties with International Sales The privity-extending benefits of the UCC were not made a part of the CISG. Art. 5 expressly disclaims the application of the CISG to a sellers liability for personal injury or death caused by the goods. Art. 35(1) requires the seller to deliver goods which are of the quantity, quality and description required by the contract. . . Art. 35(2)(c) says that the goods do not conform to the contract unless they possess the qualities of goods which the seller had held out to the buyer as a sample model. The CISG also provides the buyer with an implied warranty of merchantability, but the requirements for merchantability include only two elements: The goods must be fit for the purpose for which goods of the same description would ordinarily be used, CISG 35(2)(a), and They must be contained or packaged in the manner usual for such goods or, where there is no such manner, an a manner adequate to preserve and protect the goods, Art. 35(2)(d). Art. 35(2)(b) requires that the goods be fit for any particular purpose expressly or impliedly made known to the seller, as long as the buyer reasonably relied on the sellers skill and judgment in providing the goods for the buyers particular purpose. Schmitz-Werke GmbH v. Rockland Real Estate Warranties Warranties Generally First, there is a significant distinction between warranties in commercial real estate and warranties in residential sales. As a general matter, there will not be any implied warranties created in the sale of commercial real estate. With a new home, most states create either by statute or by common law an implied warranty of habitability. It does not cover defects that are visible upon a reasonable inspection by the buyer. Hershey Warranties are limited to latent defects that would not have been discovered had a reasonable inspection been made prior to the purchase. Reasonable inspection from the prospective of the buyer. Fraud is the exception to as is in used home sales.
Art. 35(2) that warranties will not arise, where the parties have agreed otherwise. Supermicro Art. 35(3) a seller is not liable for defects that a buyer ought to have discovered in an examination of the goods, if the buyer either actually examined the goods before purchasing them or refused to do so. Disclaiming the Real Estate Implied Warranty of Habitability The builders only hope for a disclaimer of the implied warranty of habitability is to put the disclaimer in clear and unmistakable terms. Axline: Valid disclaimer must be clear and unambiguous Buyer must be given adequate notice of implied warranty protections he is waiving by signing K Disclaimer of implied warranty must be strictly construed against the seller
invalidated if the court determines that circumstances caused the remedy to fail of its essential purpose. 2-719(2). 2-719(3) allows such exclusions of consequential damages unless the exclusion is unconscionable. M.M. does not contain many restrictions on the sellers ability to limit the buyers remedies. If the seller makes a full written warranty, the M.M. creates two minor restrictions on a sellers ability to limit the buyers remedies for breach of warranty: The seller must make conspicuous on the face of the warranty any exclusions or limitations of consequential damages. 2304(a)(3); and The seller must allow the buyer to get a replacement or a full refund for a defective product when the seller is unable to remedy malfunctions in the product after a reasonable number of attempts, 2304(a)(4). Privity. If a warranty is being given by the consumers direct seller, privity will not be a problem. If, however, the warranty is being provided indirectly by the manufacturer, then the aggrieved buyer will have to overcome lack of vertical privity in a warranty suit against the manufacturer. Whenever a direct seller gives a written warranty or service contract to a consumer buyer, that seller has precluded its ability to disclaim the implied warranties of merchantability because of M.M. This will hold true even when the seller is selling used consumer goods on an as is basis. Ismael v. Goodman Toyota
Commercial Impracticability
Commercial Impracticability with Sales of Goods Some contingencies are thought to be so far out of the realm of what either party could reasonably anticipate that the occurrence of one of these contingencies might excuse performance by the adversely affected party. These special contingencies generally fall into two categories: an unexpected failure of sellers source of supply or a dramatic price fluctuation. 2-613 applies ONLY where the contract requires for its performance goods identified when the contract is made, and the goods are damaged or destroyed through no fault of either party before risk of their loss has passed to the buyer. Once 2-613 applies, that section sets out two possibilities: If the loss is total (cost of repair more than value after repair), then the contract is avoided completely. If the loss is partial, then 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. The relevant sections on excuse of performance are 2-613 to 2-616 and those speak strictly in terms of sellers ability to be excused. Some courts have been willing to consider a buyers defense of excuse in a sale of goods case, either by analogy to 2-
615s commercial impracticability rules for sellers or simply by reference to the common law of excuse. Resources Investment Corp. v. Enron Corp. Increased cost alone does not excuse performance and further makes clear that arise or collapse in the market is exactly the type of business risk which business contracts made at fixed prices are intended to cover. Force Majeure clause In 2-615, the seller who wishes to claim excuse is require to notify the buyer of any delay or non-delivery occasioned by a justified excuse. 2-615(a) says that for the seller that qualifies for excuse, a delay in delivery or a complete non-delivery is not a breach of the sellers duty under the contract. 2-615(a) focuses on the foreseeability of the supervening event: that event must be a contingency the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made. It also mentions the sellers good-faith compliance with applicable governmental regulations as a permissible basis for excuse. Comment 4. Comment 5 suggests that unless both buyer and seller had reason to believe that a particular source of supply was to be sellers exclusive source of supply, then the seller should not be able to rely on the inability of a particular supplier as a basis for its own excuse. Alamance County Bd. Of Educ. V. Bobby Chevrolet Generally, governmental regs do not excuse performance under a K where a party has assumed the risk of such reg In cases where a seller that is claiming excuse under 2-615 has more than one buyer and has a limited capacity to perform, 2-615(b) requires that the seller allocate production and delivery among its customers in a fair and reasonable manner. It does provide that al seller may include regular customers not then under contract as well as his own requirements for further manufacture. Commercial Impracticability with Leases The lease analog to 2-613 is found in 2A-221, the lease version of 2-615 is found in 2A-405, and the provision covering the procedure on excused performance is found in 2A-406. Options under 2A-221 and 406 are not available to the nonconsumer finance lessee, whose only choice in these situations is to either terminate the contract or go forward with the contract with no reduction in rent. 2A-221(b), 2A406(1)(b). This is because such a right would be inconsistent with the policy behind the automatic hell or high water clause of 2A-407(1). Commercial Impracticability with International Sales Art. 79. It applies to both buyers and sellers rather than just sellers. CISG cover a partys failure to perform any of his obligations, whereas 2-615(a) allows excuse
only with respect to a sellers delay in delivery or non-delivery in whole or in part. 79(2): a party is excused by the failure of a third-party source only when the thirdparty source itself has a valid basis of excuse. Commercial Impracticability with Real Estate Use common law b/c there is no real estate specific doctrine of commercial impracticability that has been codified.
Unconscionability
Unconscionability with Sales of Goods 2-302 does not define unconscionability. Comment 1 gives some hints at a definition: the basic test is whether, in light of the commercial background and the commercial needs of the particular trade or case, the clauses involved are so onesided as to be unconscionable under the circumstances existing at the tiem of the making of the contract. . . The principle is one of the prevention of oppression and unfair surprise and not of the disturbance of allocation of risks because of superior bargaining power. . . An absence of meaningful choice on the part of one of the parties together with contract terms which are unreasonably favorable to the other party. Unconscionability is a matter of law, thus taking this consumer-friendly defense out of the hands of the jury. 2-302(1). The appropriate time for measuring the unconscionability of a contract or a clause in the contract is when the contract was made rather than in light of later events. A judge who makes a finding of unconscionability has three options: (1) refuse to enforce the contract at all, (2) enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or (3) limit the application of any unconscionable clause to avoid an unconscionable result. 2-302(2) requires there be hearing afforded to the parties that gives them a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its commercial setting, purpose and effect to aid the court in make the unconscionability determination. Maxwell v. Fidelity A claim of unconscionability can be established with a showing of substantive unconscionability alone, especially in cases involving either price-cost disparity or limitation of remedies. Unconscionability with Leases There are two key differences between 2-302 and 2A-108. 2A-108(2) refers to a lease contract or a clause in a lease contract being induced by unconscionable conduct, grants relief where there is unconscionable conduct in the collection of a claim.
2A-108(4) possibility of attorneys fees to the prevailing consumer in an unconscionability action. If the consumer not only loses but is also deemed groundless by the court. BMW Financial In the context of corporation leasing a luxury vehicle, an excess mileage charge of 15 cents a mile is not unreasonable and certainly does not shock the conscience.
voidable title, if not good title. If the answer is no that is, if the transferor did not intend to transfer title to the goods the then transferee will necessarily have void title. There are two differences between the voidable title rule and the entrustment rule: The entrustment rule operates only when the goods are entrusted to a merchant who deals in goods of that kind. The voidable title rule requires that there be a good-faith purchaser for value, whereas the entrustment rule requires the slightly narrower category of a buyer in the ordinary course of business.
(promises the buyer that the seller will take steps to put the buyer into possession of the title that the seller warranted). Keilbach v. McCullough When a grantee successfully defends her title, the grantor has not breached his warranty of title, and, therefore, cannot be held liable for expenses incurred in defending the title. Virtually every title insurance policy includes two different dinds of protection for the beneficiary: first, a promise to defend the insured against all lawsuits related to defects in title that are covered by the policy, and second, a promise to reimburse the insured up to policy limits for any losses sustained by the insured as a result of covered title problems that materialize.
seller as to resale, storage, or the like. 2-603(1). If the goods are perishable or will lose their value quickly, the buyer must sell them on the sellers behalf. 2-603(1). The buyer who wishes to revoke acceptance must overcome a number of hurdles that the rejecting buyer does not. First, the non-conformity must substantially impair the value of the goods to the buyer. 2-608(1). Second, the buyer may revoke only in one of two circumstances: (1) the buyer reasonably believed that the problem with the goods would be cured and has not been, and (2) the buyer was unaware of the problem because of the sellers assurances or because the problem was too hard to discover before acceptance. 2-608(1). The revocation must occur within a reasonable time after the buyer actually discovered or should have discovered the grounds for the revocation, and it must also occur before there is any substantial change in the goods that was not caused by their own defects. 2-608(2). Just as with rejection, revocation is not effective until the buyer notifies the seller of it. Shaken Faith Doctrine: the seller cannot unilaterally define what constitutes an acceptable cure under 2-508.
Art. 74-77, or a demand by the buyer that the seller cure the problem. Art. 46. The seller is also given the right to cure any non-fundamental breaches Art. 48. Real Estate Closings Delivery requires both a physical transfer fo the deed from the seller to the buyer as well as an intent on the sellers part to create a present ownership interest in the buyer as a result of the physical delivery.
A contract is improper if the seller agrees to an inadequate valuation of the shipment and thereby extinguishes the buyers opportunity to recover from the carrier. Section 2-510 cover the effect of breach by either the buyer or seller on the passage of the risk of loss. Buyers risk of loss: FOB Sellers Place, FAS, CIF, C&F Sellers risk of loss: FOB Buyers Place, Ex-ship, No arrival, No sale.
only a limited practical effect in modern real estate practice, for at least two reasons: Courts almost always require the seller to hld any insurance proceeds in trust for the buyer, thus limiting the significance of the default rule to cases of inadequate insurance. Most standard real estate sales contract forms include an express provision contracting around the common-law rule.
Sack v. Lawton: If the seller sues for the price, the seller must hold for the buyer the goods that are the subject of the contract. 2-709(2). If the buyer ultimately pays the judgment for the price, the buyer is entitled to the goods. If while the seller is holding the goods for the buyer, resale becomes possible, then the seller may resell and must deduct from tis action for the price any proceeds or resale. 2709(2). The seller who sues for the price is also eligible to recover incidental damages. Incidentals are defined in 2-710 to include any commercially reasonable charges, expenses or commissions incurred in stopping deliver, in the transportation, care and custody of goods after the buyers breach, in connection with return or resale of the goods or otherwise resulting fromt eh breach. Resale Damages A second standard sellers remedy available under the Code is the sellers right to resale damages. The seller is eligible for these damages whenever the buyer breaches, the seller reasonably identifies the goods being resold as referring to the broken contract, the seller gives the buyer notice or fresale, and the seller resells the goods at either a public or private resale. 2-706. The damages formula for the reselling seller that is given under 2-706 is KP RP + ID ES. The Code provides that the seller is not liable to account to the breaching buyer for any profit that it makes on a resale. 2-706(6). Firwood Mfg. v. General Tire: Contract-Market Difference (Without Resale) Another basic sellers remedy is the contract-market difference under 2-708(1). Whenever the buyer repudiates or wrongfully fails to accept, the sellers damages under 2-708(1) equal KP MP + ID ES. The market price under 2-708(1) is measured as of the time an dplace for tender, both of which are defined by the contract. Lost Profits The last major remedy is lost profits measure of 2-708(2).
Lessors and Sellers Remedies with leases, International Sales, and Real Estate
Lessors Remedies The most fundamental difference between a sale and a lease is that the lessor has a residual interest in the goods that are leased, but the seller has no continuing interest in the goods that are sold. Section 2A-523 categorizes both the lessors
remedies and the various ways in which the lessee can breach. The lessor, unlike the seller, is given the right to repossess the goods as one of its standard remedies in 2A-523. Unless the seller has a security interest in the goods it sells on credit, the seller will not normally have a right to repossess upon the buyers failure to pay the price. 2A-523(1)(f) mentions that the lessor may exercise any other rights or pursue any other remedies provided in the lease contract. 2A-529: The lessors price equivalent consists of both unpaid past rent plus the present value of any future rent. Once the lessor sues for the rent, it must hold the leased goods for the lessee for the remaining term of the lease. 2A-529(2). If the lessor re-leases the goods before the end of the lease term, the the original lessee gets credit for the revenue gained on the re-lease 2A-529(3). If the lessee pays the judgment for the rent, it is entitled to possession and use fo the leased goods for the remainder of the term. 2A-529(4). The lessor who sues for rent is also eligible for incidental damages under 2A-530. 2A-527: is the lessors analogue to contract-resale. If the lessor re-leases the goods in a lease agreement that is substantially similar to the original lease agreement, the lessor is entitled to UR + (PVOL PVNL) + ID ES. If the re-lease is not substantially similar to eth original lease, the the lessor must seek damages under 2A-528 formula of UR + (PVOL PVML) + ID ES. C.I.C. Corp v. Ragtime: 2A-528(2) 2A-532 is the Lessors Rights to Residual Interest. This remedy compensates the lessor for any loss or damage to the lessors residual interest in the goods caused by the default of the lessee. Sellers Remedies with International Sales Art. 81(1), avoidance of a contract by either party releases both parties of their obligations thereunder, although the avoiding party retains its right to sue for damages. The seller that chooses to avoid the contract can no long bring what we think of as an action for the price, but can sue for contract-resale under Art. 75 or contract-market under Art. 76. Plus the seller can get incidental and consequential damages but only to the extent that they are reasonably foreseeable by the buyer at the time of contract formation. If the seller in an international transaction wishes to sue the buyer for the price Art. 62 says that he can unless the seller has resorted to a remedy which is inconsistent with this requirement. Art. 77 sets up a general mitigation rule. Art. 88(2) creates a duty on the sellers party to resell the goods for the buyers benefit where the goods are subject to deterioration. Art. 28 says that in a dispute under the CISG the forum court is not bound to require specific performance. Sellers Remedies with Real Estate Sales
The typical default remedy for the aggrieved seller in this situation is the sellers contractual right to keep the buyers earnest money deposit. Some courts are cautious about letting the seller keep the buyers deposit especially where the deposit is particularly large, where it is clear tha the buyer breached for reasons beyond its control, or where the seller is unable to show any actual damages sustained by the buyers breach. Depending on the terms of the particular sales contract, some states may allow the seller to recover contract-market damages against the buyer, but only where the seller can prove those damages and where the seller first returns the buyers deposit. Sellers are generally not entitled to contract-resale damages. Williams v. Ubaldo: Some states will permit the aggrieved real estate seller to recover consequential damages in addition to contract-market damages. However, when consequential damages are recovered by sellers, the damages tend to be for costs associated with resale that the seller would not have incurred had the seller proceeded with the original sale.
The reasonableness of a sellers decision to complete or stop in these circumstances will necessarily be a function of three separate variables: (1) how must more it will cost the seller to complete from the point when the seller learns of the breach (the Marginal Cost of Completion or MCC); (2) how mus the seller could get for the scrap if it stopped and sold the scrap at the time it learned of buyers repudiation (Scrap Value or SV); and (3) how mus the seller could likely get from a third party were it to complete production (Resale of Finished Product or RFP). MCC < RFP SV.
ahd reason to know at the time of contracting; (3) that were caused in fact by sellers breach; and (4) that could not be prevented by cover or otherwise. (2)(b) consequential damages, those damages must be (1) personal injury or property damage (economic loss does not qualify here), and (2) proximately caused by sellers breach (mere but for causation is not enough)).
Buyers and Lessees Remedies with Leases, International Sales, and Real Estate
Lessees Remedies 2A-508 gives a laundry list of lessees remedies, includes one remedy that has no counterpart in Art. 2: the possiblility that the lessor may be otherwise in default under a lease contract. (3). This is a reference to the not uncommon duty of a lessor in a lease agreement to keep the leased goods in good repair. When a lessor fails in this duty, the lessee may pursue remedies under the lease or may look to 2A519(3), which would at a minimum give the lessee a right to recover from the lessor the cost of putting the leased goods back in working order. 2A-518 is the lessees analogue to 2-712, the right to cover. The two differences between 2A-518 and 2-712 are ones that we have seen before the context of a lessors remedies: (1) 2A-518(2)s formula speaks in terms of discounting future streams of rent to present value, a concept that we do not see in Art. 2 damage section; and (2) for a new lease to qualify as a valid cover under 2A-518, it must be substantially similar to the original lease. If the lease is not substantially similar then the lessee gets contract-market measure of damages 2A-518(3). 2A-519(1) and (2) set out the lessees contract market damages, which are mostly analogous to 2-713 except again with the addition of the resent value and substantially similar concepts. 2A-519(3) and (4) provide a remedy for the lessee that does not reject or revoke acceptance. The lease remedy section here provides for the difference between the value of the use that the lessee was promised and the value of the use that the lessee actually got given the lessors default. 2A519(4). 2A-520 defines the lessees incidental and consequential damages. The last two remedies are specific performance (2A-521) and the right to recover goods on the lessors insolvency (2A-522). Buyers Remedies with International Sales The buyer under the CISG may declare the contract avoided only if the sellers breach is fundamental or if the seller fails to deliver the goods on time or within any grace period that the buyer chooses to give the seller beyond the originally scheduled deliver date. Art. 49(1). Art. 46(1) gives the buyer who has not received the goods a right to specific performance unless the buyer has resorted to a
remedy which is inconsistent with this requirement. Art. 28 allows a court to restrict specific performance to whatever right would exist with the forum courts own sales law. Buyers cover rights under CISG are Art. 75. In order for the buyers cover to be valid, it must be done in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable time after avoidance. The properly covering buyer is also eligible for further damages recoverable under Art. 74 [consequential damages]. The buyers contract-market damages under Art. 76 also look very much like the UCC Art. 2 buyers rights under 2-713. Under CISG there must be a current market for the goods. 76(1). The market price is measured at the time the buyer aboided the contract (unless the buyer avoided the contract after taking over the goods, in which case the market price is measured at the time the buyer took over the goods rather than at the time of avoidance. 76(1). Under the CISG, the market price is measured at the place where delivery of the goods should have been made. 76(2). Art. 74 measure of consequential contains a sentence limiting such damages by the Hadley reason to know standard. CISG expressly excludes from its coverage liability of the seller for death or personal injury caused by the goods to any person. Art. 5. The only other limit on consequential is Art. 77, which says that if a party could have reasonably mitigated it damages but did not, the its damages must be reduced by the amount that they could have been mitigated. Buyers Remedies with Real Estate Where the seller simply refuses to close, the buyers standard remedy is an action for specific performance. In order to obtain specific performance, the buyer must (1) demonstrate that money damages are inadequate; and (2) the buyer must show that the buyer itself is fully capable of performing its side fo the bargain. The buyer can also choose to sue for damages which would at least included his outof-pocket expenses. Some states give the benefit-of-the-bargain damages if it can show that the price it agreed to pay was less than the market price for that property. All buyer that are aggrieved by a sellers refusal to close, even if they choose to demand specific performance, will also be eligible for consequential damages resulting form the delay. Jue v. Smiser: A purchaser of real property who learns of potential material misrepresentations about the property after execution of a purchase agreement but before consummation of the sale close escrow and sue for damages. When a party learns that he has been defrauded, he may, instead of rescinding, elect to stand on the contract an sue for damages, and, in such case his continued performance of the agreement does not constitute a waiver of his action for damages.
Special Remedies
Specific Performance The traditional common law rules says that the aggrieved buyer is entitled to specific performance only when it can demonstrate to the court that its remedies at law are inadequate. Art. 2s specific performance section, 2-716, rejects the common laws fairly limited approach to awarding specific performance to the buyer. 2-716(1) says that specific performance may be decreed when the goods are unique or in other proper circumstances. Comment 1 elaborates. Unique seems more or less to account for the situation in which the remedy at law is inadequate, and therefore does not by itself change the common law standard very much. Other proper circumstances has created an expansion in particular to aggrieved buyers in longterm output or requirements contracts involving fuel or other natural resources. Section 2-716 give a buyer a right to replevin whenever cover is reasonably unavailable and the goods have been identified to the contract. Section 2-716(2) has the practical effect of carrying forward the common law requirement that a buyer requesting specific performance must demonstrate that it, the buyer, is ready, willing, and able to perform its side of the agreement. Bander v. Grossman: Liquidated Damages 2-718(1 allows liquidated damages clauses to be enforced whenever those damages are in an amount which is reasonable in the light of the anticipated or actual harm caused by the breach, the difficulties or proof of loss, and the inconvenience or nonfeasibility of otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy. Liquidated damages that are unreasonably large will be held void as a penalty, whereas liquidated damages that are unreasonably small may be struck down as unconscionable. Comment 1 California & Hawaiian Sugar v. Sun Ship: The formula for the breaching buyers restitution for its prepayments under 2718(2)(b) may be espress as follows: R = P (< of .2t or $500 or P) R= pre-paying buyers right to restitution, t = the value of the total performance for which the buyer
is obligated under the contract and P= the sum of the pre-payments made by the buyer. 2-718(3) says that the buyers right to restitution as defined tin 2-718(2) is subject to offset to the estent that the seller establishes: (a) actual damages occasioned by the buyers breach, or (b) any benefits that the buyer has received directly or indirectly by reason of the contract. R = P (< of .2t or $500 or P) SD BB. SD=sellers damages BB = buyers benefit. Section 2-718(2) and (3) cover the breaching buyers right to restitution of its prepayments not only when the parties have failed to create their own liquidated damages clause, but also when the parties have included a liquidated damages clause that is valid under 2-718(1). Special Remedies When the Breaching Party Is Insolvent 2-702 and 2-705 protect a seller who sells goods on unsecured credit to a buyer who is insolvent. Where the seller discovers the buyers insolvency prior to deliver, the seller can refuse delivery except for cash, including payment for all goods theretofore delivered under the K. 2-702(1). In the case where the seller does not discover the buyers insolvency until the goods are in transit, the seller has the right to stop the delivery under 2-705 when the buyer repudiates or fails to make a payment due before delivery. In the case were the seller discovers that the buyer has received the goods while insolvent, the seller is given a right to reclaim the goods under 2-702(2) as long as the seller makes the reclamation demand upon the buyer with 10 days of the buyers receipt of the goods. The sellers reclamation demand must be in writing. The bankruptcy time limit for the sellers written reclamation demand is not relaxed even where the buyer has misrepresented its solvency.
North American Lighting, Inc. v. Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. -The period where revocation of a purchase contract is allowable may be extended where the seller gives continuous assurances, and where the seller repeatedly fails to repair defects of which the buyer complains.
-In order to effectively cure a breach, a seller must make a conforming tender, and the buyer must accept the tender. Mere suggestions of solutions regarding potentially curative performance by the seller are not enough; the seller holds the burden of performance, and cannot shift any part of that burden to the buyer.
In re Rafter Seven Ranches, L.P. -Keeping and using a nonconforming good constitutes acceptance. One only has a reasonable amount of time to inspect and reject nonconforming goods; in this case, six weeks was an unreasonable amount of time. - A reasonable time to inspect under the UCC must allow an opportunity to put the product to its intended use, or for testing to verify its capability to perform as intended. -The reasonable time period is tied to the difficulty of discovering the nonconformity -Acceptance occurs when lessee does any of three things after a reasonable opportunity to inspect the goods: (a) signifies acceptance (b) fails to make an effective rejection (c) does any act that signifies acceptance
Delchi Carrier SpA v. Rotorex Corp. -If a breach is fundamental, the buyer may either require delivery of substitute goods or declare the contract void under the CISG. A breach is fundamental if it results in such detriment to the other party as substantially to deprive him of what he is entitled to expect under the contract, unless the party in breach did not foresee and a reasonable person of the same kind in the same circumstances would not have foreseen such a result.
-Although lack of strict compliance with the statutory mandate may give rise to the remedy of rescission, plaintiffs must first prove that the failure to comply caused their injuries.
Cook Specialty Co. v. Schrlock -A contract is improper under U.C.C. 2-504 if the seller agrees to an inadequate valuation of the shipment and thereby extinguishes the buyers opportunity to recover from the carrier. Design Data Corp. v. Maryland Casualty Co. -Where the revocation of acceptance is timely, the risk of loss remains on the seller.
Jaz, Inc. v. Foley -Under UCC 2A-220, 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. -Under UCC 2A-407, in the case of a finance lease that is not a consumer lease the lessees promises under the lease contract become irrevocable and independent upon the lessees acceptance of the goods. -Here, the lessee did not accept the goods, so it did not owe rental payments on those goods.
BP Oil Intl. v. Empresa Estatal Petroleos de Ecuador -Here, under CISG, gasoline shipment sent CFR was conforming where it passed gum content test at time of loading on to ship at port of delivery, even though it failed to pass same test when received by buyer, unless it could be shown that seller knowingly sent cargo with hidden defect. -Therefore, the risk of loss passed to the buyer at the point of departure.
-Incoterms were applied to this contract; the CISG allows parties to international contracts to vary the provisions of the CISG by using standard shipping terms (in the form of Incoterms) to contract around the CISGs default rules for risk of loss.
Chicago Prime Packers, Inc. v. Northam Food Trading Co. -Under the CISG, the buyer of goods in a contract bears the burden of proving nonconformity of the goods to the contract.
Voorde Poorte v. Evans -Early possession does not have a legal affect on contractual provisions that allocate risk of loss. -If a contract is unambiguous, summary judgment is proper even if the parties dispute the legal effect of a certain provision. Interpretation of an unambiguous contract is a question of law. -Even when an early possession amounts to a breach of a sales contract, if the early possession has nothing to do with the loss that occurs, the early possession does not affect the risk of loss.
Sack v. Lawton -In New York, the general rule for measuring damages for a breach of contract is the amount necessary to put the plaintiff in the same economic position he would have been in had the defendant fulfilled his contract. -An aggrieved seller may also recover incidental damages, that is, commercially reasonable charges incurred in [for example] stopping delivery [or] in the transportation, care and custody of goods after the buyers breach. -Although New Yorks commercial code provides for incidental damages in the event of a breach by a buyer, there is no comparable provision allowing an aggrieved seller to recover consequential damages.
Firwood Mfg. Co. v. General Tire -Lost use of money or funds is considered a consequential damage.
C.I.C. Corp. v. Ragtime, Inc. -The mere fact that an injured party can make arrangements for the disposition of the goods or services that he was to supply under a contract does not necessarily mean that by doing so he will avoid loss. If he would have entered into both transactions but for the breach, he has lost volume as a result of the breach. In that case the second transaction is not a substitute for the original one. Then the remedies are based on the net profit that he has lost as a result of the broken contract.
Williams v. Ubaldo -In an action for breach of contract for the sale of real property, the claimant is entitled to the benefit of the bargain which equals the difference between the contract price and the fair market value at the time of breach. A claimant is entitled to special damages resulting from the unique needs and characteristics of the parties, if the parties were reasonably aware of those circumstances at the time of contracting.
Sure-Trip, Inc. v. Westinghouse Engineering -If a plaintiff fails to meet its burden as to proof of damages, this burden cannot be shifted upon the court. -a sellers damages under UCC 2-708(2) equal the contract price less the sellers costs associated with performing the contract (direct costs) plus incidental damages. Therefore, the formula is KP DC + ID.
Young v. Franks Nursery & Crafts, Inc. -Where a buyer commits an anticipatory breach of a contract and the seller proceeds under UCC 2-704(2) and 2-708 for his remedy, the burden of proving that the seller acted in a commercially unreasonable fashion in deciding to cease manufacturing is on the buyer.
In re Beeche Systems -The mere fact that a party to a contract is in bankruptcy and fails to disclose this fact to the other party to the contract does not amount to an anticipatory repudiation of the contract. -When a party has already performed all that was required of it under an agreement, and does not give any indication that it will not honor its obligations under the agreement, there are no reasonable grounds for insecurity sufficient to trigger the provisions of UCC 2609(1).
Jue v. Smiser -When a party learns that he has been defrauded, he may, instead of rescinding, elect to stand on the contract and sue for damages, and, in doing so, his continued performance of the agreement does not constitute a waiver of his action for damages.
Jetpac Group v. Bostek, Inc. -For breaches of contract, a buyer is entitled to damages in the amount of any loss that resulted in the ordinary course of events from the sellers breach as determined in any manner which is reasonable. -For breaches of warranty, a buyer is entitled to damages in the amount of the difference between the value of the goods accepted and the value they would have had if they had been as warranted.
Texpar Energy v. Murphy Oil -The measure of damages for non-delivery 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 UCC 2-715, but less expenses saved in consequence of the sellers breach. -Limiting the buyers damages in breach cases to the buyers out of pocket losses could, depending on the market, create a windfall for the seller, and the court here decided that if
shifting market prices are going to give somebody a windfall, it ought to be the non-breaching party rather than the breacher.
KGM Harvesting Co. v. Fresh Network -Where a buyer covers by making in good faith and without unreasonable delay any reasonable purchase of goods in substitution for those due from the seller, that buyer may recover from the seller as damages the difference between the cost of cover and the contract price.
Bander v. Grossman -A court of equity should not grant an award that would be disproportionate in its harm to defendant and its assistance to plaintiff. -When a buyer does not cover the difference between the market price when it learns of the breach and the contract price, contract damages are to be given under the standard of UCC 2-713.
California & Hawaiian Sugar Co. v. Sun Ship, Inc. -Under UCC 2-718(1), the amount of liquidated damages must be reasonable in light of either the anticipated or actual harm caused by the breach; this is true even if damages are reasonable in light of anticipated harm but are not reasonable in light of actual harm. -This allows the awarding of damages even when there wasnt any actual damage done. Review 1. Does the UCC Apply/ what law applies Article 2 o Sale of goods (predominant purpose; gravamen test) o Includes sales disguised as leases Article 2A (true leases) CISG o International sale of commercial goods (Article 2 of CISG) o Can assume any foreign countries mentioned are signatories dont have to memorize them
**He wont ask us an essay question on real estate law** 2. 3. 4. Is there an enforceable K? Offer 2-205: firm offers Acceptance 2-206: acceptance methods Consideration 2-304: types of consideration Certainty 2-204(3): formation Statute of Frauds 2-201 What are the terms of the K? Parties agreement 2-207: battle of the forms Custom and usage 2-202: parol evidence rule look to see what kind of things can come in Gap-fillers - 2-300s: various gap-fillers including warranties Risk of loss 2-509: risk in absence of breach; 2-510: risk with breach Have the parties performed: Has the seller tendered? 2-503: tender; 2-507: tender condition precedent o Can the seller cure? 2-508: cure rights Has the buyer accepted? 2-606: acceptance o Has the buyer paid? 2-511: payment condition precedent **note: payment is not an absolute sign of acceptance** Remember adequate assurance 2-609: adequate assurance If not, is performance excused? Excused by other partys failure to perform? 2-610J: anticipatory repudiation; 2-507 & 2-511: conditions precedent Excused by unexpected circumstances? 2-615: changed conditions (instead of the common law impossibility doctrine) Excused by damage or destruction w/o fault? 2-613; 2-614
5.
6.
if the breach by buyer, what remedies? Insolvency: o Reclaim goods; insist on cash (2-702) stop delivery; insolvency or by truckload/carload (2-705) identify goods and resell or complete production of goods in process (2-704) resell and recover damages (2-706) recovery damages for non-acceptance (2-708) o market-contract
7. 8.
o contract-expenses saved, if lost volume seller recover contract price (2-709) If breach by seller, what remedies? Reject goods 2-601 Revoke acceptance 2-608 Cover and collect damages 2-712 Recover damages for non-delivery 2-713 Security interest in nonconforming goods to extent of payments 2-711(3) Recover identified goods on sellers insolvency 2-502 Pay only part of price, set off for damages 2-717 Specific performance 2-716 Other Remedies Considerations Liquidated damages clauses 2-718 o (if breach by buyer who had made partial payments: restitution of amounts paid, subject to Rule of Thumb 2-718 Limitations on remedies 2-719 o If conscionable o Provide minimum adequate remedy Notice issues? 2-607(3) Privity issues? 2-318
Sample Problem What warranties are at issue and which should Jay pursue? o Express warranty probably puffery o Warranty of merchantability applies b/c its a merchant, was excluded because it was oral and said merchantability o Warranty of fitness Does it apply? Is it a particular purpose rather than the ordinary purpose? Was it disclaimed? No must be in writing. o Warranty of title Not specific enough to disclaim title must be very specific How should the court resolve the Mule Traders statue of frauds defense? o The performance is the key here. the SOF defense is a loser. What damages could Jay seek under his warranty claims, and what are his chances of recovery? o 2-715 does not require a writing to disclaim consequential damages. o Is the towing expense a consequential damage? Could also be incidental. o 2-711 applies to both rejection and revocation need to analyze if he did either of these
o 2-714 .. o Can he reject? Probably not. Hes had the car a couple weeks, and then even longer before it was impounded. He had it for probably a month total; this is probably beyond the reasonable inspection period. Once the reasonable inspection period is over, you have accepted by silence. o Can he revoke? 2-608. o He can probably get consequentials and incidentals either way (Im not sure what the ways are), and also the car was basically worthless at the time of delivery because no title. o The code says you dont get consequential sunless the code provides for it, or if they are properly disclaimed. o The $1000 that he paid, he can get under either theory. o The only way he can get the cost of the Saturn is if its cover and only if its reasonable cover (not a much better car, etc). He cant get this in addition to the contract-market difference. If Jay pursues a claim under Magnuson-Moss, is he likely to recovery attorneys fees? Why or why not? o This is where the courts are divided. Look at 110/ 15 U.S.C. 2310. o We dont have a written warranty, but we do have an implied warranty. McCurdy and McNamara are the relevant cases for the split. This is the issue here. McNamara courts would all say he cant recover attys fees. McCurdy courts would say yes, under the implied warranties.