Commercial Paper Flashcards
What section of the UCC governs commercial paper?
UCC Article 3
What are the types of negotiable instruments?
- Promissory note
- Affirmative promise to pay money (not just an IOU)
- Draft
- Order to pay money
How do you determine whether a writing is a negotiable instrument?
Negotiable instrument requires (“WOSSUP”)
- W - writing
- O - payable to order or bearer
- S - signed by maker or drawer
- S - sum certain
- U - unconditional promise and no additional promises
- P - payable on demand or at definite time
- P - payable in currency
What meets the signature requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Any authentication - e.g., initials, defining mark, nickname, etc.
What does not meet the unconditional requirement for a negotiable instrument?
- Express conditions
- E.g., promise to pay if X occurs
- But not merely limiting payment to a source
- Governed by or subject to other agreements
- E.g., instrument is actually governed by the terms of another agreement, rather than:
- Merely referring to the agreement
- E.g., instrument is actually governed by the terms of another agreement, rather than:
What meets the sum certain requirement for a negotiable instrument?
You must be able to calculate amount to be paid, either from:
- What writing says
- Reference to outside source
- E.g., for undefined interest rate, use rate on court judgment
- E.g., reference to the prime rate
What meets the payable in currency requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Currency includes:
- Money
- Foreign currency
Currency excludes:
- Goods
What does not meet the no additional promises requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Writing cannot include promises other than the promise to pay money
What meets the payable on demand requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Instrument must specifically state that it is payable:
- On demand
- At sight
- On presentation
What if an instrument is silent as to the time of payment, is it still negotiable?
Yes. Payment is due on demand.
What meets the payable at a definite time requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Payment must be either:
- On a specific date
- Before a specific date
- At a fixed period after a specific date
Does an acceleration clause impact the payable at a definite time requirement for a negotiable instrument?
No. This does not destroy negotiability
What meets the payable to order requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Instrument must use the word “order” or “assigns” in connection with the payee’s name
E.g., pay to the order of Mark Flinn
E.g., pay to the assigns of Mark Flinn
What meets the payable to bearer requirement for a negotiable instrument?
Instrument must be payable to anyone who has it
E.g., pay to Mark Flinn or bearer
E.g., pay to cash
E.g., pay to the order of bearer
E.g., pay to the order of cash
If an instrument says, “Pay to Mark Flinn,” is it negotiable?
Only if it is a check.
Otherwise, not negotiable - it is just a contract
How does a defendant get sued in the commercial paper context?
- Contract or signature liability
- You signed the instrument, so you’re liable to pay
- Warranty or transfer liability
- You sold the instrument, so you’re liable for warranty
Can the drawee be liable under contract or signature liability?
No. The drawee (e.g., bank) does not sign.
Is it possible to disclaim contract or signature liability?
Yes, if your signature is accompanied by the words “without recourse”
Who can sue the defendant for breach of warranty?
- If defendant indorsed the instrument
- Any plaintiff in possession
- Warranty runs with the instrument
- Any plaintiff in possession
- If defendant did not indorse the instrument
- Only defendant’s immediate transferee
- Warranty does not run with the instrument
- Only defendant’s immediate transferee
What will always preclude warranty or transfer liability?
If the defendant was merely a donor - i.e., did not actually sell the instrument in the transfer
What are the warranties that a seller of a negotiable instrument makes?
- P has good title
- All signatures are genuine and authorized (no forgery)
- Instrument has not been materially altered
- There are no defenses or claims against D (instrument is enforceable)
- D has no knowledge of any bankruptcy or insolvency action against maker or drawer