PRIORITIES Flashcards
INTRODUCTION
- The heart of Article 9 is its allocation of priority among conflicting interests in the same collateral.
- Ex. one creditor has a PMSI in collateral & another creditor has a prior perfected security interest in the same collateral by virtue of an after-acquired property clause; if debtor defaults on the obligations owed to both creditors, which creditor has priority in the collateral?
SECURED PARTY VS. SECURED PARTY: Priority Between Perfected Secured Parties
- When there are conflicting perfected security interests in same collateral, priority goes to whichever party was the first to either file/perfect—whichever is earlier—provided that there is no period thereafter when there is neither filing nor perfection.
Tip
Remember that it’s the date of filing/perfection that determines priority—not date of attachment.
Priority Between Unperfected Secured Parties
- When 2 unperfected security interests conflict, first to attach has priority
Priority Between Unperfected and Perfected
Secured Parties
- A perfected security interest generally prevails over an unperfected security interest
PMSI Superpriority
- PMSIs enjoy a superpriority—they’re superior to prior perfected security interests in the same collateral if certain conditions (discussed below) are met.
PMSI in Goods Other than Inventory and Livestock
- A PMSI in goods other than inventory & livestock (ex. equipment) has priority over conflicting security interests in the same goods/their proceeds if the interest is perfected w/in 20 days after debtor receives possession of the goods.
PMSI in Inventory and Livestock
- A PMSI in inventory collateral has priority over a conflicting security interest in the same inventory/ proceeds of the inventory that are chattel paper, instruments, or cash if:
(1) It is perfected at the time debtor gets possession of the inventory (filing must take place b/f inventory
is delivered to debtor), and
(2) Any secured party who has filed their security interest in the same inventory receives authenticated notification of the PMSI b/f debtor receives possession of the inventory, & notification states that the purchase money party has/expects to take a PMSI in inventory of debtor described by kind/type. - The notification is effective for deliveries of the same type of collateral for 5 years.
- Note: A PMSI in livestock generally follows the same rules.
Consignor Has PMSI in Inventory
- Under Article 9, a consignor’s interest in the consigned goods is considered to be a PMSI in inventory.
- Therefore, a consignor can acquire PMSI superpriority in consigned goods if the consignor complies with the above requirements for gaining PMSI superpriority in inventory.
Conflicting PMSIs
- If more than one party has PMSI superpriority in collateral, the following rules apply:
(1) A secured party who has a PMSI in collateral as a seller (a seller-financed PMSI) has priority over a secured party who has a PMSI in the same collateral as a lender (a financer-financed PMSI)
(2) Otherwise, first secured party to file/perfect prevails
Tip
- It’s very important to determine the class of collateral when a PMSI is involved because what’s
necessary for perfection varies. Remember:
(1) A PMSI in consumer goods is automatically perfected,
(2) A PMSI in equipment can be perfected (usually by filing) any time w/in 20 days after debtor gets possession of collateral, and
(3) A PMSI in inventory must be perfected (usually by filing) by the time debtor gets possession of the collateral— there is no 20-day grace period—& others w/ a previously filed security interest in the inventory must be given notice
Special Priority Rules for Conflicting Security
Interests in Investment Property
- A security interest perfected by control has priority over a security interest perfected by any other method (by filing/automatic perfection).
- For conflicting security interests perfected by control, they rank according to the time of obtaining control (unless one of the secured parties w/ control is a securities intermediary, in which case the securities intermediary will prevail).
- In all other cases, the “first to file/perfect” rule governs priority questions for investment property.
Special Priority Rules for Conflicting Security
Interests in Deposit Accounts
- A security interest in a deposit account that is perfected by control has priority over a conflicting security interest that is perfected by another method (namely, as proceeds of other collateral).
- If there are conflicting security interests that are perfected by control, they rank according to the time of obtaining control, subject to the following exceptions:
(1) A secured party who has obtained control by putting deposit account in party’s name has priority over all other secured parties w/ control, and
(2) A bank that has control b/c it maintains the deposit account has priority over all secured parties w/ control, other than the party who has obtained control by putting account in their name. - Note: If debtor transfers money/deposit account funds (ex. by writing a check/making an electronic
funds transfer) to a person, that person takes free of any security interest in the money/funds, unless transferee acts in collusion w/ debtor in violating rights of secured party.
“Purchasers” of Chattel Paper and
Instruments
- Article 9 contains special rules for “purchasers” chattel paper & instruments, which includes parties who take a security interest.
Chattel Paper Purchasers
- If a purchaser of chattel paper in good faith gives new value & takes possession of chattel paper in the ordinary course of business (or takes control of electronic chattel paper), purchaser has priority over:
(1) A security interest in chattel paper that arises merely as proceeds of inventory, as long as the chattel paper doesn’t indicate that it has been assigned to anyone other than the purchaser, and
(2) Any other security interest in chattel paper, as long as chattel paper purchaser acquired their interest
w/o knowledge that its purchase violated rights of secured party.
- Note: A chattel paper purchaser also has priority in the proceeds of chattel paper if either
(1) purchaser would have had priority under the general priority rules (the purchaser was the first party to file/perfect), or
(2) proceeds are the specific goods covered by the chattel paper/cash proceeds of the specific goods.
“Purchasers” of Chattel Paper and
Instruments: Instrument Purchasers
- A purchaser of an instrument has priority over a perfected security interest in the instrument if the purchaser gives value & takes possession of the instrument in good faith & w/o knowledge that purchase violates rights of secured party.
(1) Gives value, (2) takes posssession, (3) in GF & w/o knowledge