Commercial Paper Flashcards
What article governs commercial paper?
Art. 3
What does the “paper” call for?
For a party to pay money rather than deliver goods or perform a service.
2 types of commercial paper
- notes
2. draft
What parties are there in a NOTE?
- maker: person undertaking to pay
2. payee: person to whom the note is payable
What parties are there in a DRAFT?
- drawer: the person who is ordering payment
- drawee: the person ordered to make payment (bank)
- payee: the person to whom the draft is payable
When is it considered a check?
When the draft has:
- bank as a drawee AND
- it is payable on demand
What if commercial paper is non-negotiable, what principles apply?
General contract law principles
- the assignee stands in the shoes of the assignor
How does something become a negotiable instrument? (Requirements)
- writing
- signed by maker (note) OR signed by drawer (draft)
- unconditional
- promise to pay or order to pay
- fixed amount
- in money
- no other undertaking or instruction
- on demand or at a definite time
- to order or to bearer
Can an instrument be negotiable if oral?
NO.
What is the key to figure out whether an instrument has been “signed?”
Whether maker/drawer intended for it to be his signature
- includes stamps, initials, thumbprint
- can appear in the middle of the document as long as intent was there
What does it mean to have to be “unconditional” to be negotiable?
Instrument can’t make payment conditional on something happening.
Can refer to another document as long as payment is NOT conditioned on that document.
Negotiability must be CLEAR on the FACE of the instrument.
What will NOT destroy “unconditional status?”
- if the instrument refers to another writing that describes rights regarding collateral, repayment, etc
- if the instrument limits payment to a particular source
- if the instrument requires a countersignature later on (traveler’s checks)
Is an IOU a promise to pay (note)?
No. Use normal contract law for this b/c it is simply an acknowledgment that money is owed.
Fixed amount requirement to be negotiable
Holder must be able to determine from the instrument ITSELF the principal amount due.
*This does not apply to interest or collection fees or attorneys fees
Is it okay for an instrument to refer to outside sources for interest rates?
Yes.
If no interest is specified, it will be the judgment rate (rate on a court judgment)
Payable in money requirement to be negotiable
Your promise to pay must be for money NOT goods
“NO other undertaking or instruction” requirement to be negotiable
Instrument can’t be burdened with anything else.
Note CANNOT contain additional undertakings. (a few exceptions)
Exceptions to the “No other undertaking or instruction requirement”
Instrument may contain:
1. undertaking to give, maintain, or protect collateral to secure payment
- an authorization to the holder to confess judgment or dispose of collateral
- a waiver of a benefit intended to be a benefit to the obligor (jury trial, right to notice of dishonor)
What do all of the exceptions to the “no other undertaking or instruction requirement” have in common?
Each of these strengthens the promise to pay but has no independent value.
“On demand or at a definite time” requirement to be a negotiable instrument
Holder of the instrument must be able to figure out what when it is due.
What if there is no date on the instrument?
Treated as an instrument payable on demand
What if a check is post-dated?
Still negotiable. For this to be effective you must notify your bank of postdating or else you won’t have recourse if it is accidentally deposited before the post-date.
What is an acceleration clause?
Allows holder of the instrument to demand payment earlier than when it is due if she deems herself “insecure”
To accelerate, what must the holder have?
Good faith reason
What if the note contains an extension clause? Is this still a definite time?
Yes, still negotiable if the extension is to a further definite time.
What if the instrument provides that the holder can extend at his option, is this negotiable?
Yes. The holder always has the option to extend and give person extra time for payment.
What if the instrument mentions a specific event certain to happen but uncertain as to when it will happen?
Not negotiable b/c no definite time for payment
Ex: Payable on Uncle Buck’s death
“Order” or “Bearer” language: required to be negotiable
must contain these magic words to be negotiable
Ex: I promise to pay to the order of Paul
I promise to pay bearer
What is “pay to the order of cash”
Negotiable - bearer paper
What if the instrument indicates that it is NOT payable to an identified person?
It is bearer paper.
“Pay to the order of Happy Birthday”
Do words of “negotiability” have to be included?
NO
Can you make something negotiable just by stating/stamping that it is is negotiable on the instrument?
No. If it is not negotiable, no words will save it.
Can you take something that is negotiable and make in not negotiable by declaring on the instrument “Not Negotiable”
Yes. You can do this for everything EXCEPT checks.
Ex: Stamping “not negotiable” on a promissory note makes it non negotiable.
What if you just assign your negotiable instrument?
Assignee has no greater rights than assignor.
Any defenses that could be raised against the assignor (payee) can be raised against assignee
What if you negotiate the instrument to a third party? What does this person become?
A HOLDER
What if you negotiate the instrument to a third party and that third party gives value, in good faith, and with no notice?
A HOLDER in DUE COURSE
What are the 4 elements to be a holder in due course.
- a holder
- pay value
- no notice
- good faith
What is the benefit of being a holder in due course?
Takes free of most defenses that could have been raised by the payee (person who negotiated it to the third party)
What should be the first thing you ask when figuring out how an instrument is negotiated?
Figure out whether it is ORDER paper or BEARER paper because there are different rules
How is order paper negotiated?
transfer of possession + plus endorsement by the holder (person to whom the instrument is payable)
Ex: A check payed to the order or Kristi.
I would have to transfer possession and endorse it.
How can transfer of possession for order paper be done?
voluntarily or involuntarily
What are the 2 types of endorsements?
- specific endorsement
2. blank endorsement
What is a specific endorsement? Does it create order or bearer paper?
Specifies the person to whom the instrument is payable
Creates order paper
Ex: If I endorse a check to me by writing “pay to Publix, signed Kristi.”
What is a blank endorsement? Does it create order or bearer paper?
Doesn’t specify to whom the instrument is payable
Creates bearer paper
MERE signature
How do you transfer bearer paper?
Transfer of possession
NO endorsement needed
Bearer paper: what types of transfers of possession are ok?
Voluntary or involuntary
Ex: thief who steals a blank endorsed check
Who can endorse order paper?
Holder: issued to him OR properly endorsed to him
What if a thief steals your paycheck and forges your signature to give to Publix. Is Publix a holder?
No. To negotiate order paper you must transfer possession and have an endorsement by the holder.
An endorsement by the thief doesn’t work.
What happens if a forged check gets passed around?
No one from thief onward is a holder. None have good title.
What if you endorse + add the words “without recourse”
Still an endorsement but allows endorser to avoid contractual liability if it bounces.
What happens if a person deposits a check at a bank but forgets to endorse? Will bank still be a holder?
Yes. Even though there is no endorsement (usually required for order paper), bank is a holder.
Exception b/c of business reasons
Who is a holder?
- person who is possession of BEARER PAPER
OR - person who is in possession of ORDER PAPER + order paper is addressed to him or properly endorsed to him
Holder in due course: what does “value” mean?
Look for executed consideration. A party is a HDC to the extent that the agreed consideration has been performed.