Negotiable Instruments

1. BUSINESS LAW TODAYEssentials 9th Ed.Roger LeRoy Miller - Institute for University Studies, Arlington, TexasGaylord A. Jentz - University of Texas at Austin, Emeritus Chapter 14 Negotiable Instruments

2. Learning Objectives • What requirements must an instrument meet to be negotiable? • What are the requirements for attaining the status of a holder in due course (HDC)? • What is the difference between signature liability and warranty liability? • Certain defenses are valid against all holders, including HDCs. What are these defenses called? Name four defenses that fall within this category. • Certain defenses can be used against an ordinary holder but are not effective against an HDC. What are these defenses called? Name four defenses that fall within this category.

3. Articles 3 and 4 of the UCC • A “negotiable instrument” is a signed writing containing an unconditional promise to pay an exact sum of money. • 2002 Revisions updated UCC with regard to e-commerce and UETA. • The term “Record” now replaces “Writing.” • Other updates related to telephone transactions.

4. Types of Instruments

5. Drafts and Checks • Draft is Unconditional Order to Pay involving Three Parties: • Drawer (Customer), Drawee (Bank) and Payee.

6. Drafts and Checks • Time Drafts and Sight Drafts. • Time: payable at a future time. • Sight: payable on sight (on demand).

7. Drafts and Checks • Trade acceptances: Seller is drawer and Payee. • Checks (cashier’s, teller’s and traveler’s) are drafts on a bank.

8. Promissory Note

9. Promissory Notes and CD’s • Promissory Notes are PROMISES to pay. • Two party instruments: • Maker (Promisor) and • Bearer (Promisee). • Certificates of Deposit (CDs): two party instruments.

10. Small CD

11. Requirements for Negotiability • (1) Writing signed by the maker or the drawer. • (2) Unconditional promise or order to pay • (3) A fixed amount of money. • (4) Payable on demand or at a definite time. • (5) Payable to Order or Bearer.

12. Requirements for Negotiability • Written Form. • Must be on material that lends itself to permanence. • Writing must have portability. • Signatures. • Signed by maker (if note or CD) • Signed by drawer (if check or draft). • Any symbol (or electronic) is good.

13. Requirements for Negotiability • Unconditional Promise or Order to Pay. • Payment cannot be conditioned on the occurrence or nonoccurence of any event. Only unconditional promises are negotiable. • Express promise to pay. • Fixed Amount of Money. • Ascertainable on face of instrument.

14. Requirements for Negotiability • Payable on Demand or Definite Time. • Includes words “payable at sight” or “payable upon presentment.” • If no time presented, it is presumed payable on demand. • Definite Time. • To be negotiable, instrument must be payable on demand or at a definite time.

15. Requirements for Negotiability • Acceleration Clause. • Allows holder to demand payment if certain condition occurs. • Negotiable because exact value can be determined and payable on a specific date. • CASE 14.1Foundation Property Investments, LLC v. CTP, LLC (2007). Accepting repeated late payments waives the right to demand full payment under an acceleration clause. • Extension Clause. • Reverse of an acceleration clause, extends maturity date to be extended forward into time.

16. Requirements for Negotiability • Payable to Order or Bearer. • Order instrument is payable to identified person or order. Identified person may transfer check to whomever she wishes. • Bearer instrument is literally payable to the possessor of the instrument.

17. Factors That Do Not Affect Negotiability • Undated checks. • Pre or Post-Dating Checks. • Handwritten Terms. • Outweigh typed or printed terms. • Words outweigh Figures. • “With Interest.” • Check says “Nonnegotiable.”

18. Transfer of Instruments • Transfer by Assignment. • Transferee is an Assignee. • Transfer by Negotiation. • Transfer in which the transferee becomes a holder. • Negotiating Order Instruments. • Negotiating Bearer Instruments.

19. Indorsements • Indorsement is a signature, with or without words or statements. • Indorser: person who transfers instrument by signing it and delivering to another person.

20. Indorsements • Blank Indorsements. • Special Indorsements. • Qualified Indorsements.

21. Restrictive Indorsements • Conditional Indorsements. • Indorsements for Deposit and Collection.

22. Restrictive Indorsements • Trust (Agency) Indorsements.

23. Miscellaneous Indorsement Problems • Misspelled Names. Indorsement should be identical to the name on the instrument. • Alternative or Joint Payees. Only one of the payees needs to indorse. • Suspension of the Drawer’s Obligation.

24. Holder in Due Course (HDC) • A holder (assignee) is generally subject to the same defenses that the assignor is subject to. • A holder in due course (HDC) takes the instrument FREE of most of the defenses and claims that could be asserted against the transferor.

25. Requirements for HDC Status • A Holder in Due Course must: • Take for Value: • Performance. • Payment for preexisting debt. • Irrevocable commitment. • Taking in Good Faith (honesty in fact). • CASE 14.2Georg v. Metro Fixtures Contractors, Inc. (2008). Payee of check that was embezzled was an HDC taking in good faith. Loss is suffered by Metro.

26. Requirements for HDC Status • A Holder in Due Course must: • Take for Value: • Taking in Good Faith (honesty in fact). • Take Without Notice of any defect: • Overdue, dishonored, uncured, contains unauthorized signature or alteration, defense or claim, irregular or incomplete. • CASE 14.3South Central Bank of Daviess County v. Lynnville National Bank (2009).South Central took the check for value, in good faith, and without notice of a defects.

27. Holder Through an HDC • The “Shelter” Principle: Holder, who does not qualify as an HDC, can acquire the rights and privileges of an HDC. • Depends upon whether holder can ‘trace’ her title back to HDC. • Limitations: • Reacquired instruments. • Fraud or illegality.

28. Signature and Warranty Liability • Every party who signs a negotiable instrument is either primarily or secondarily liable for payment. • Primary Liability (only makers and acceptors are primarily liable). • Secondary Liability (contingent liability): • Proper and Timely Presentment. • Dishonor. • Proper Notice.

29. Signature Liability • Accommodation Parties. • Signs for the purpose of lending her name as credit for another party. • Authorized Agents’ Signatures. • If authorized, can bind the principal. • If unauthorized (forgery) signature is void.

30. Special Rules for Unauthorized Indorsements • Unauthorized Indorsements. • Burden of loss falls on first party to take the instrument with the forged/unauthorized instrument. • Imposter Rule. • Fictitious Payee Rule.

31. Warranty Liability • Transferors make certain implied warranties on instruments they are transferring: Transfer and Presentment. • Transfer Warranties (if consideration): • Transferor has the right to enforce the instrument • All signatures are authentic and authorized • Instrument has not been altered. • Instrument is not subject to a defense or claim. • Transferor has no knowledge of insolvency.

32. Warranty Liability • Presentment Warranties protect the person to whom the instrument is presented: • Person obtaining payment has the right to enforce the instrument. • Instrument has not been altered. • Person accepting has no knowledge that instrument is unauthorized.

33. Defenses, Limitations, and Discharge • Universal (Real) Defenses to Avoid Liability by ALL Holders, including HDC’s: • Forgery. • Fraud in the Execution. • Material Alteration. • Discharge in Bankruptcy. • Infancy (Minor). • Illegality. • Mental Incapacity. • Extreme Duress.

34. Personal Defenses • Personal (limited ) Defenses (only holders, not HDC): • Breach of Contract or Warranty. • Lack or Failure of Consideration. • Fraud in the Inducement. • Illegality (voidable). • Mental Incapacity. • Discharge by Payment/Non-Delivery.

35. Federal Limitations on HDC’s • Federal Trade Commission issued rule in 1976 that effectively abolished HDC status in consumer credit transactions. • FTC Rule 433. • Modern application is to car purchases that turn out to be ‘lemons.’

36. Discharge From Liability • All parties are liable when primary party pays the holder the amount in full. • Intentional cancellation discharges the liability of all parties. • Can occur when right of recourse is impaired.