Commercial paper, secured transactions, and misc. contracts/prof responsibility Flashcards
All contracts in MA are subject to
an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
Courts will read in conditions to a K when they can be
inferred from facts (implied-in-fact condition) or should be read in on the basis of fairness (implied-in-law condition)
Specific performance is the appropriate remedy for a breach of K when _______ and ___________ but never when ________________ or _____________.
subject of K is unique; money damages are insufficient
never when it’s a K for services OR when subject of K has been sold to a subsequent BFP
Anticipatory repudiation is
generally not recognized in MA, unless in suits for specific performance of a land K
When is anticipatory repudiation a valid theory in MA?
In suits for specific performance of a land conveyance.
The four options for the nonbreaching party when the other party commits an anticipatory repudiation are:
- treat K as breached and sue immediately
- wait until time for performance, then sue for breach
- treat the repudiation as invitation to rescind and thus treat K as discharged
- ignore repudiation and urge party to perform
The difference between quasi-contract and promissory estoppel is
Quasi-contract (restitution) is about preventing unjust enrichment; promissory estoppel is about compensating a party who justifiably and foreseeably relied to her detriment on a promise.
Two requirements to be able to discharge K duties due to illegality:
- Illegality must make the SUBJECT of the K illegal, not merely some secondary purpose illegal
- Illegality must arise AFTER the K is made to discharge duties.
Can frustration/impossibility/impracticability arise because of a condition that developed before the K was made?
NO. These are things that discharge K duties only if they happen after the K was made. If before, look to mistake.
Referral fees among attorneys in MA are
generally unethical, but attorneys may divide fees with outside attorneys if the client consents AND the total fee is reasonable. The split need not be in proportion to the work done, and the split need not be revealed to client unless client asks.
Lawyer may reveal confidential client information for the following 7 purposes:
- To rectify client fraud in which the lawyer’s services have been used
- To prevent reasonably certain death…
- …SBI…
- …incarceration of another…
- …or serious injury to the property/financial interests of another
- to collect lawyer’s fee, OR
- to protect lawyer’s reputation
(think of these as 4 ways to protect others, 1 way to prevent fraud, and 2 ways to protect lawyer)
What types of collateral are governed by UCC Art. 9?
- consumer goods
- equipment
- inventory
- farm products
- fixtures
- intangibles – patents, trademarks, copyrights, stocks, bonds, accounts, promissory notes
How does one create an enforceable security interest in goods or fixtures?
BY ATTACHING. Need VCR to attach:
- Value given by creditor
- Contract – signed by debtor and reasonably identifying the collateral (NB: no K needed if secured party has possession of collateral! “I got you, Babe.”)
- Rights in collateral – debtor must have them! (No Mick Jagger & Brooklyn Bridge)
What’s a floating lien?
Are they enforceable?
an “after acquired security interest” – security interest in “all inventory acquired in future” kind of thing.
YES.
Is a contract always needed to create an enforceable security interest in personalty or fixtures?
Not always – if the creditor has possession of the collateral, no K is needed. (“I got you, Babe.”) Rationale: Unlikely to be fraud if creditor possesses the collateral – why else would she have it unless there was a security interest?
Perfecting a security interest in goods or fixtures means that
you’ve put the world on constructive notice of your existence as a secured party.
What are the three ways to perfect a security interest in goods or fixtures?
- By taking possession of the collateral (“I’ve got you, Babe.”). This puts world on constructive notice, because why else would you have the collateral??
- PMSIs: automatically perfect upon attachment
- Filing notice in public records (most common way)
What is a PMSI?
purchase money security interest – security interest that allows the debtor to buy the goods.
To perfect a security interest by filing in public records, you file a
financing statement. (Could also file security agreement (contract) but this is rare.)
What does an Art. 9 financing statement contain?
- Debtor’s and creditor’s name and address
2. Description of collateral (generic descriptions are OK here, but NOT in the security agreement (contract))
What is the purpose of an Art. 9 financing statement?
To give interested parties enough information to make follow-up inquiries.
Can you file an Art. 9 financing statement electronically?
YES. Art. 9 encourages this but is “media neutral.”
An Art. 9 financing statement should be filed with…
the secretary of state in the state where the debtor is located, UNLESS the collateral is timber, minerals, or fixtures. Then, file in county where the realty is located.