Secured Transactions

I. Introduction to Secured Transactions

A. Article 9
1. Scope
-applies ONLY to security interests in personal property, NOT real estate

-§9-109 Scope: This article applies to:

(1) a transaction, regardless of its form, that creates a security interest in
personal property or fixtures by contract;

(2) an agricultural lien

(3) a sale of accounts, chattel paper, payment intangibles, or promissory
notes
(4) a consignment
(5) a security interest arising under Section 2-401, 2-505, 2-711(3), or 2A-
508(5), as provided in Section 9-110; and
(6) a security interest arising under Section 4-210 or 5-118.

-§9-109(c) and (d): what the scope does NOT apply to

2. Purpose of Article 9
-to generate working capital in the economy

-Lenders, more often than not, want security, which is the right to proceed against
specified collateral (and seize it) as a guarantee of repayment

3. Definitions
Security Agreement 9-102(73): an agreement that creates or provides for a
Security interest

Security Interest 1-201(35): (p. 11)

>interest in personal property of fixtures which secures payment or
performance of an obligation

>any interest of a consignor and a buyer of accounts, chattel paper, a

payment intangible, or a promissory note in a transaction that is subject
to Article 9

Debtor 9-102(28):
a. a person having an interest, other than a security interest or other lien,
in the collateral, whether or not the person is an obligor

b. a seller of accounts, chattel paper, payment intangibles, or promissory

notes

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 c. a consignee

Secured Creditor 9-102(72):

a. a person in whose favor a security interest is created or provided for
under a security agreement, whether or not any obligation to be
secured is outstanding
b. a person that holds an agricultural lien
c. a consignor
d. a person to which accounts, chattel paper, payment intangibles, or
promissory notes have been sold
e. a trustee, indenture trustee, agent collateral agent, or other
representative in whose favor a security interest or agricultural lien is
created or provided for; or
f. a person that holds a security interest arising under Section 2-401, 2-
505, 2-711(3), 2A-508(5), 4-210, or 5-118.

Inventory 9-102(48): goods, other than farm products, which:

a. are leased by a person as lessor
b. are held by a person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a
contract of service
c. are furnished by a person under a contract of service; or
d. consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or
consumed in business

4. Transactions:
a. Cash Transaction: payment is transferred from the buyer to the seller at the outset of
the transaction
>Advantage to Seller: the buyer loses the advantage of being able to
withhold payment because of defective performance by the seller and is
generally relegated to initiating a lawsuit to obtain relief.

b. Unsecured Credit: credit is extended without requiring collateral

>It is now the Seller/Creditor who may be required to initiate a lawsuit to
obtain satisfaction for non-payment

c. Secured Credit: credit is extended by requiring collateral

>A creditor who complies with procedural requirements may unilaterally
declare a default and repossess and dispose of the collateral to obtain
satisfaction of the indebtedness

-Lender NOT forced to go through litigation to collect $ of defaulting debtor:

** §9-609(a): After default, a secured party:
(1) take possession of the collateral; and
(2) without removal, render equipment unusuable and dispose of
collateral on a debtor’s premises under Section 9-610

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 §9-609(b): A secured party may proceed under subsection (a):
(1) pursuant to judicial process; or
>routine way of contract (litigating to enforce the claim
against the defaulting debtor)
>sheriff gets property of debtor
>time consuming and costly

(2) without judicial process, if it proceeds without breach of the

peace
>no lawsuit or sheriff involved
>case law defines “breach of the peace” because it is not
defined in Article 9

*In the event of default of debtor, the creditor has a right to seize
the collateral or foreclose on the collateral

*Self-Help Repossession*: creditor unilaterally tells debtor that

debtor is in default

5. Evolution of Secured Transactions

a. Clow v. Woods (1819; before Article 9)
-Debtor needed business loan
-Collateral: Mortgage in unfinished skins, bark, leather and tools (Chattel
Mortgage)
-MORTGAGE NOT RECORDED!!!
-Debtor retained possession of mortgaged property

-Debtor’s partner in business obtained judgment from Sheriff to levy against the
unfinished skins, etc., because debtor didn’t pay partner
-Creditor also wanted to foreclose on mortgage

-Partner got assets from property because Mortgage was Null and Void!!!
-NOT RECORDED

-Problem of Apparent/Ostensible Ownership!!!

-Misleading to the Public because Debtor retained possession without it
being recorded
>Public, since it had no way of discovering if property was
encumbered, thinks debtor owned property since it was in his
possession

-Debtor should have given notice to the public that the inventory was not
owned by debtor free and clear of encumbrance
>putting signs on property

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-At this point in the evolution, the only way to use personal property as collateral was
to TRANSFER POSSESSION to Creditor (Possessory Security Interest/ Pledge)
-Pledge: essential element is possession; lender holds possession of the
property involved to secure payment of the secured obligation

b. Chattel Mortgage
-used when can’t transfer possession of the collateral to the creditor
-possession remains with debtor
-recording was needed to give notice to competing creditors
-very formal instrument
-uses as collateral tangible personal property which the debtor already owns

Non-Possessory Security Interests (Recording System so general public could search to

discover if the property in which they are about to buy is encumbered, because
Possession is indicative of ownership):
>Creditor thus has duty of filing piece of paper that gives notice
that Debtor does NOT own property free and clear
>What follows are non-possessory security interests

c. Conditional Sales Contract

-uses as collateral tangible personal property which the debtor is acquiring
-if debtor defaults, seller can repossess what is sold to the debtor

d. Trust Receipt
-designed to give a security interest of relatively short duration while goods were
actively moving through channels of trade
-Filing: financing statement specifying merely the name of the secured party, the
name of the debtor and the type of property covered

e. Factors’ Lien Acts

-to confer a security interest in raw materials, goods in process, and finished
goods going through the manufacturing process

f. Accounts Receivable:
-purely abstract indebtedness; no possibility of a transfer of possession

6. Benefit of Article 9
-ALL forms of transactions are subject to one statute

-Unlike Pacific Metal Co. where there were two different statutes governing
chattel mortgages and conditional sales agreements
>In Washington (and without Art. 9), the transaction, because of its
substance, could only have been a chattel mortgage
>BUT, Pacific Co. did NOT comply with the recording statute for
chattel mortgages; thus transaction was void

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7. Problems p. 12

1-4: Floating Lien in Inventory

-NO Pledge: because hides would be required to be in possession of Creditor
-NO Chattel Mortgage: Debtor doesn’t have the property yet to use as collateral
-Conditional Sale: Maybe (property being acquired is collateral)
>won’t work perfectly
>the hides will be processed and will disappear from the inventory and
become finished leather goods to be sold

>thus, conditional sale applies specifically to the hides that are there
at the moment the agreement is signed only
-Conditional Sales: ONLY creates an interest in SPECIFIC
PROPERTY!!!

**Floating Lien §9-204: After-acquired Property; Future Advances (p. 802)

>(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a security agreement may create or
provide for a security interest in after-acquired collateral

-*This is USEFUL because Inventory is Constantly Changing!!!*

-Back to Prob. 1-4:

>To have a continuing security interest in the changing hides (hides-
finished leather goods), one needs a security interest in AFTER-
ACQUIRED COLLATERAL
-Collateral used for security should be described as existing
and after-acquired inventory!!!

Prob. 1-5: Floating Lien in Accounts

-A security interest CAN be created in accounts receivable owed to debtor-both
at the time the security agreement is signed and also thereafter as old accounts are
paid and new accounts are generated
>Floating Lien ideal because accounts are constantly being created and
changed in business

>Definition of “Account” §9-102(a)(2): a right to payment of a

monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance…

*Sum: Effective Secured Transaction Law Must:

1. Provide for validating non-possessory security interests
2. Provide for a public notice system and ways for enforcing the
security interest (§9-609)
3. Provide for Floating Liens, particularly when dealing with
inventory that is always changing

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 >otherwise, in a conditional sale, the debtor and the
creditor would have to sign a new security agreement
everyday

II. Generating Working Capital by Creating an Attached and Enforceable Security

Interest

A. §9-203: Attachment and Enforceability of Security Interest

(a) Attachment: A security interest attaches to collateral when it becomes
enforceable against the debtor with respect to the collateral, unless an agreement
expressly postpones the time of attachment

(b) Enforceability: 3 Conditions MUST be met:

(1) Value has been given (by the secured party) (§1-204)
(2) The Debtor has rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the
collateral to a secured party; AND
(3) One of the following conditions is met:
A. the debtor has authenticated a security agreement that provides
for a description of the collateral
B. the collateral is not a certified security and is in the possession of
the secured party under §9-313
>essentially, this is a pledge (oral agreement to create a
security interest in which creditor retains possession of
collateral)

C. the collateral is a certified security in registered form and the

security certificate have been delivered to the secured party
under §8-301;
>essentially a pledge

D. the collateral is deposit accounts, electronic chattel paper,

investment property, or letter-of-credit rights and the secured
party has control under §9-104, 9-105, 9-106, 9-107
>Deposit Account: a demand, time, savings, passbook, or
similar account maintained with a bank

>Chattel Paper: a record or records that evidence both a

monetary obligation and a security interest in specific
goods, a security interest in specific goods and software
used in the goods, a security interest in specific goods and
license of software used in the goods, a lease of specific
goods, or a lease of specific goods and license of software
used in the goods;

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 - a §9-103 Purchase-Money Security
Interest (a conditional sale); a piece of
paper that is signed in a purchase-money
security interest to chattel paper

- the pieces of paper which say that $ is

owed can be used as collateral (semi-
intangible asset)
>Investment Property: a security, whether certificated or
uncertificated, security entitlement, securities account,
commodity contract, or commodity account

>Letter-of-credit right: a right to payment or

performance under a letter of credit, whether or not the
beneficiary has demanded or is at the time entitled to
demand payment or performance

Prob. 2-4(a): Oral Security Agreement –“Non-possessory” Security Interest

-NO attached security interest because security interest is NOT
enforceable
>No Authenticated/Signed Agreement
>Creditor does NOT have possession

Prob. 2-4(b): Signed Security Agreement

(1): Has value been given? §1-204!! (Security for pre-existing debt
or common law consideration)
A person gives value for rights if the person acquires them:
(1) in return for a binding commitment to extend credit or for the
extension of immediately available credit…
(2) as security for, or in total or partial satisfaction of, a preexisting
claim (NOT common-law consideration)
>e.g. Debtor owes Creditor $1000 under a loan of
unsecured credit
>NOW, to secure repayment of the pre-existing loan of
$1000, Debtor must give Creditor an interest in his secured
computer
>This is NOT Common-law Consideration (because it is
past consideration); thus, this section is added

(3) by accepting delivery under a preexisting contract for purchase;

or
(4) in return for any consideration sufficient to support a simple
contract

(1)Value given?
(1) there is a binding commitment to extend credit

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 (4) consideration: something of value given by Creditor to Debtor in
return for promise to do something
>YES; debtor promises to pay monthly installments of $ in return
for Creditor’s giving the washing machine to debtor

(2) Debtor have rights?

>Apparent owners have rights in the collateral (case law)
>Thus, don’t have to be a complete owner to have rights in the collateral

Prob. 2-6: Control over a Security Entitlement

-Investment Property includes: stocks, stock certificates, commodity contracts

-How create a security interest in stock when owner doesn’t even receive stock
certificates anymore (it is all electronic)?
>Security Entitlement §8-102(a)(17): the rights and property interest of
an entitlement holder with respect to a financial asset specified in Part 5.
-The right one has as the owner of stock against the stockbroker
that he or she owns so much stock in the his/her account

-No more pieces of paper/stock certificates

-Control: §9-106 (Control of Investment Property): a person has control of a

certificated security, uncertificated security, or security entitlement as
provided in §8-106

-§8-106: Del Duca: similar to §9-104

>§9-104: A secured party has control…if:
(1) the secured party is the bank with which the deposit account is
maintained
(2) the debtor, secured party, and bank have agreed in an
authenticated record that the bank will comply with
instructions originated by the secured party directing
disposition of the funds in the deposit account without further
consent by the debtor; or
(3) the secured party becomes the bank’s customer with respect to
the deposit account

>Thus, creditor will have the requisite control when there is a

supplemental TRIPARITE agreement between the debtor, the
secured party, and the bank

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B. Scope of Article 9 (§9-109): INCLUSION

1. §9-109(a)(1): -Primary Coverage of Article 9 is §9-109(a)(1):

>a transaction, regardless of its form, that creates a security
interest in personal property or fixture by contract

-Personal Property: No Definition within the Code

>16-20 categories of personal property developed by Inference
>Includes: tangible, semi-intangible, and intangible personal property

-Security Interest: developed by definition and case law

>§1-201(35)
>”An interest in personal property or fixtures which secures payment, or
performance of an obligation
-HANDOUT!!! 5 Provisions are applicable
(A): Term includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of
accounts, chattel paper, a payment intangible, or a promissory note in a
transaction subject to Art. 9

(B): Special property interest of a buyer of goods on identification

of those goods to a contract for sale under §2-401 is NOT a security interest

(C): Right of a seller or lessor of goods under Art. 2 to retain or

acquire possession of the goods is NOT a security interest
-Article 2 and 2A addresses the right of a seller to retain or
acquire possession of [defective] goods; this is NOT a
security interest within the scope of Article 9

-WHY: §2-711 creates an Automatic Security Interest

that has a different meaning than what an Article 9
“security interest” involves

(D): The retention or reservation of title by a seller of goods

notwithstanding shipment or delivery to the buyer is limited in effect to a
reservation of a “security interest”

(E) Whether a transaction in the form of a lease is a “security

interest” is determined pursuant to §1-203

>Account Coverage:
Encumbrance of Accounts: used as collateral to secure repayment of a
Loan
-If debtor doesn’t pay Creditor back, Creditor can have
a security interest in accounts receivable (payments due)

-Accounts receivable is Personal Property

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 -First Sentence of §1-201(35) applies

Outright Sale of Accounts: debtor sells its accounts to a bank; bank is

Now a Buyer of Accounts
-Thus, this sale of accounts is a security interest because
it is covered by the Second Sentence of §1-201(35)

-This provision regarding buyer of accounts is included

because there is still the problem of Ostensible Ownership

>Public must have NOTICE if the debtor is not still

the owner of their accounts because otherwise no
one would know that the debtor sold the accounts
-Prevents Fraud and Deception

>Thus, the Buyer of Accounts must file a Financing

Statement to let the public know that their accounts
are now owned by the bank and NOT the debtor

2. §9-109(a)(2): agricultural lien

-Agricultural Lien: defined in §9-102(a)(5)

>Law automatically creates a lien in the property that the farmer owns
>NOT CONSENSUAL, but by LAW

>Lender now gets the right to repossess farmer’s crops and machinery
if farmer defaults on lender’s loan

>Because lien in created by law, there is a special inducement for the

banking and lending community to give loans to farmers

>Public Filing and Notice Requirements and Priority Rules are still
applicable

3. §9-109(a)(3): sale of accounts, chattel paper, payment intangibles, or promissory

notes
-Consistent with the definition of security interest in §1-201(35)(A)
-Forcing the Buyer of Accounts to fall into the shoes of a secured creditor
>Thus, must give NOTICE to the Public

4. §9-109(a)(4): Consignment
-Definition: §9-102(a)(20)
>”a transaction, regardless of its form, in which a person delivers goods
to a merchant for the purpose of sale and:…”

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5. §9-109(a)(5): security interest arising under §2-401, 2-505, 2-711(3), or 2A-508(5)
*Must Know §2-711(3)!!!

6. Transactions in the Form of a Lease (§1-203)

In re Marhoefer Packing Co: (Debtor went Bankrupt)

-1st Machine: NO dispute that there was a perfected security interest in the machine;
because Debtor went bankrupt, Creditor gets total value of property (§9-317)

-2nd Machine: Dispute whether the written agreement between “lessor and lessee” was a
true lease, in which Creditor is entitled to reclaim its property from the bankrupt estate,
or whether it was actually a lease intended as a security, in which case Creditor’s failure
to file a financing statement to perfect its interest renders it subordinate to the trustee

>If LEASE: no requirement to file public notice

Ownership still belongs to lessor
Lessor can get deductions for federal tax purposes because leased
Machine would be an “ordinary business expense”

>Look at Substance, NOT Form

-If, in substance, transaction was a conditional sales contract, it will be a
security interest, and not a lease, despite the fact that the form was a lease

-Lease agreement provided two option provisions:

1. At the end of the 4-year term, Marhoefer could purchase the machine for $9k
2. Marhoefer could elect to renew the lease for an addition 4 years at an annual rate of
$2,990, payable in advance. At the conclusion of this second 4-year term,
Marhoefer could purchase the machine for $1

>Marhoefer did NOT exercise either option

-Holding: TRUE LEASE

-TEST: “Whether a lease is intended as security is to be determined by the facts of each

case; however
a. the inclusion of an option, to purchase, does not of itself make the lease one intended
for security, and
b. an agreement that upon compliance with the terms of the lease the lessee shall become
or has the option to become the owner of the property for no additional consideration or
for a nominal consideration does make the lease one intended for security” (p. 40)

-Where a lease is structured so that the lessee is contractually bound to pay rent over a set
period of time at the conclusion of which he automatically or for nominal consideration
becomes the owner of the leased goods, then it is a conditional sale

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 >NOT A SECURITY INTEREST BECAUSE:
-The conclusive presumption in (b) applies ONLY where the option to
purchase for nominal consideration necessarily arises upon compliance
with the lease
-NOT here because lessee had a right to terminate the lease
before the option arose

-NOT NOMINAL!
>measure value of the property at the time the contract is signed
>$9k is NOT nominal purchase price

-Marhoefer was under NO obligation to pay the full purchase price

>total amount of rent Marhoefer was to pay under the lease was
substantially less than the amount with interest (as would be the
case under a conditional sales contract)

-Useful life of the machine exceeded the term of the lease

-This is an essential characteristic of a true lease

-Marhoefer received NO EQUITY interest in the lease machine

-Why not have the language “ALL leases must be filed” within the definition of
“security interest”, whether it is a true lease or only a lease intended as a security?
>Leasing Companies are against this because it will increase the cost of doing
business

C. Article 9: Exclusion

1. §9-109(c): Partial Exclusion

-Article does NOT apply to the extent that:
(1) a statute, regulation, or treaty of the U.S. preempts this article
(2) another statute of this State expressly governs the creation, perfection,
priority, or enforcement of a security interest created by this State or a
governmental unit
(3) a statute of another state….expressly governs creation….
(4) The rights of a transferee beneficiary or nominated person….

Example: Federal Aviation Act

-requires registration of title and liens upon aircraft with the Civil
Aviation Administration
-such registration is recognized as equivalent to filing under Art 9

-However, to the extent that the FAA does not regulate the rights of
parties to and third parties affected by such transaction, a security

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 interest in aircraft remains subject to Art 9
(Sanders v. M.D. Aircraft Sales 575 F.2d 1086)
Sanders:
*What is the priority as between a Creditor (bank) and a buyer of the airplane?*
Bank: gave public notice by filing
Buyer of Inventory Prevails, despite the inventory being properly perfected
By the bank!!!!!
>Buyer takes airplane superior in priority to the Bank
>Policy: If otherwise, no one would buy from inventory

Example: Congress regulating interstate commerce through its Art. I powers

>If Congress has pre-empted the field, the state may not act

>Congress has NOT pre-empted Art 9

-Lobbyists get best result going through process of adopting
the Commercial Code; best way to protect their interests

2. §9-109(d) Total Exclusion

-13 items of “collateral” are totally excluded from Art 9 coverage
-Different policy reasons for each exclusion

Examples: §9-109(d)(2): Mechanics Liens (which is created by law)

-doesn’t require filing
-§9-333 applies with respect to priority of the lien
>repairman who fixed care has a common law or statutory lien
>Priority given to repairman even though dealer of car has a perfected
security interest; Repairman prevails!!
-This is an Exception to the General Rule that Giving Notice
and Perfecting Interest Prevails

Example: §9-109(d)(4): Sale of Accounts as part of a sale of the business out of

which they arose
>If selling entire business, there is NO ostensible ownership problem
>Thus, no need for Article 9 coverage requiring giving public notice

Example: §9-109(d)(12): an assignment of a claim arising in tort, other than a

commercial tort claim…
-Definition: Commercial Tort Claim §9-102(a)(13)
>a claim arising in tort with respect to which:
(A) the claimant is an organization
(B) the claimant is an individual and the claim:
i. arose in the course of the claimant’s business AND
ii. does not include damages arising out of personal injury or
death of an individual

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 -MUST be a Commercial Tort Claim for Article 9 to apply!!!

Problem 2-2: Tort Claims as Collateral

(a) Mary may NOT use her tort claim as collateral; NOT a commercial tort claim (which
is recognized as personal property for Art 9) because she is NOT an organization, and
claim did NOT arise in the course of claimant’s business

(b) Commercial Tort Claim CAN be personal property and thus be covered by Article 9
-Brock Corporation can use the claim as collateral
-Survivors can’t because personal injury is Excluded

Example: §9-109(d)(13): an assignment of a Deposit Account in a Consumer

Transaction
-BUT, Deposit Account in a Commercial Transaction IS covered by
Article 9

D. Expansion of Scope: New and Modified Types of Collateral

1. Expansion of Article 9 in Two ways:

a. ADDITION of new kinds of personal property
b. Greatly expanding what is included within the definition of “accounts”

2. Personal Property
-No definition of personal property in the Code
-List developed through time

a. Tangible Collateral: movable corporeal things and fixtures

1. Generic category: Goods §9-102(44)
2. Subcategories:
Consumer Goods §9-102(a)(23)
Equipment §9-102(a)(33)
Farm Products §9-102(a)(34)
Inventory §9-102(a)(48)
Fixtures §9-102(a)(41)

b. Semi-intangible Collateral: brings together abstract rights that the law treats as
being incorporated or merged into a piece of paper
Subcategories:
Chattel Paper §9-102(a)(11)
Document §9-102(a)(30)
Instrument §9-102(a)(47)
Investment Property §9-102(a)(49)
-Certificated Security §9-102(b), §8-102(a)(4), (15), (16)
-Commodity Contract §9-102(a)(15)

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c. Intangible Collateral: non-corporal property rights such as rights to payments,
copyrights, trademarks or a liquor license
Subcategories:
*Account §9-102(a)(2)
*Commercial Tort Claims §9-102(a)(13)
*Deposit Account §9-102(a)(29)
*Electronic Chattel Paper §9-102(a)(31)
General Intangibles §9-102(a)(42)
*Health-Care-Insurance Receivables §9-102(a)(46)
Investment Property §9-102(a)(49)
-Securities Account §9-102(b), §8-501(a)
-Security Entitlement §9-102(b), §8-102(a)(17)
-Uncertificated security §9-102(b), §8-102(a)(18)
-Commodity Account §9-102(a)(14)
Payment Intangible §9-102(a)(61)

* New or Expanded in Reformed Article 9

Problem 2-3: Deposit Account as Collateral (all transactions presumed to be commercial)

(a) §9-203:
(1) Yes: value given by creditor to debtor by creditor giving Debtor a $1 million
loan
(2) Yes: Debtor has rights in the collateral because it is his account
(3) (D): Collateral is a Deposit Account
-Does Secured Party have control? §9-104
-YES: Under §9-104(a)(1), the secured party is the bank

(b) Manufacturer does NOT have an enforceable security interest

-Under §9-104(2), the debtor, secured party, and bank need a three-party
authenticated agreement that the bank will comply with instructions
originated by the secured party directing disposition of the funds in the
deposit account (when default) without further consent by the debtor

- Without this agreement, the Manufacturer does NOT have control needed under
§9-203(b)(3)(D)

E. Drafting a Security Agreement (Models: p. 31-33; 245)

1. Is a Separate Security Agreement Required?

American Card Company v. NMH (1963)

-Debtor filed a financing statement that described collateral as equipment and tools
-Did NOT file a separate security agreement

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-Court: No enforceable security interest because there is NO signed security
agreement
“It is NOT possible for a financing statement which does not contain the debtor’s
grant of a security interest to serve as a security agreement”

-Here, since the financing statement filed contained NO such grant of a security
interest, it does NOT qualify as a security agreement

-Under §9-102(a)(73), “creates or provides for” = “grants”

-Need an active granting of collateral, not just a mere description of collateral

In re Amex:
-Both a financing statement and a promissory note were filed
-Promissory Note said: “This note is secured by a Security Interest in subject personal
property as per invoices”
>The Invoices were attached

Composite Document Theory:

-It is enough if you have a financing statement with a description of collateral
and some other writing that referred to the creation of a security interest

-Thus, the Promissory Note “created” a security interest

>”creates or provides for” NOT synonomous with grant

-Collateral can be referenced in another doctrine

>Parol evidence is admissible to explain or supplement the general description
>No requirement that the description of the collateral be complete within the
four corners of the security agreement

2. Describing the Collateral in a Security Agreement( the contract itself)

-Creditor will only get a security interest in collateral that is described in the
agreement
>e.g. If the collateral is described as inventory, the Creditor does NOT
have a security interest in accounts

Problem 2-9: (p. 88)

-Problem from the Lender’s point of view: Lender’s security interest is only in
certain specific equipment and after-acquired equipment
>Lender wants to expand the coverage of collateral
-Inventory (existing and after-acquired)
-Accounts (because debtor is earning $ from the stuff in
business)

>As listed, the description of collateral is NOT SUFFICIENT to

the Creditor

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In re PDF (example of what NOT to do; parties “lucked” out here)
-Debtor and Creditor signed a Financing Agreement (should have been a security
agreement)
>Funds secured by “machinery and equipment listed in attached appraisal”

>Is this description sufficient? §9-108 Sufficiency of Description

-§9-108: A description is sufficient, whether or not it is specific, if it reasonably

identifies what is described
-Reasonably Identifies Test

(b) Examples:
(1) specific listing
(2) category
(3) a type of collateral defined in the UCC
(4) quantity
(5) computational or allocational formula or procedure
(6) any other method, if the identity of the collateral is objectively determinable

(c) Supergeneric Description NOT sufficient!!!

-e.g. “ all the debtor’s assets”, or “all the debtor’s personal property”

>Since “equipment” is defined in the UCC, and is also a “category”, the

description of the collateral is sufficient

-Security Agreement: stated that the “collateral is described in the paragraph checked
below”
>INVENTORY checked off (§9-102(a)(48): goods held for sale or lease, raw
materials, NOT equipement)

>Also, handwritten words: “an inventory of which is attached at Exhibit A, the

Appraisal”

>Was this description sufficient in the security agreement, when it said the
collateral was inventory, but then attached by reference the appraisal listing the
equipment and machinery?
>YES, even though attorney used “inventory” in a completely wrong way
>Because the collateral description was ambiguous, extrinsic evidence-the
attachment of the Appraisal- was used to determine the parties’ intent
>Using testimony and the Financing Agreement, the court held that the
parties intended to secure the loan with the machinery and equipment
listed on the appraisal
>Thus, Description is Sufficient because collateral may be described by
incorporation

17
 >Good things about the Security Agreement:
-contained an “after-acquired property” clause (§9-204(a))

Sum of PDF:
-Although the word “inventory” was used in the wrong sense in describing the
collateral in the security agreement, the security agreement did reference the
Appraisal attachment, which was allowed into evidence because the agreement
Was ambiguous
>Thus, the Form Security Agreement sufficiently described the collateral
which therefore created a valid security interest in the machinery and
equipment

>The security agreement was also perfected because the financing

statement was filed accordingly

>To avoid problems, the security agreement must be drafted properly

to sufficiently describe the collateral
-otherwise, the “secured creditor” might lose his rights in
the collateral to the trustee in bankruptcy

3. Bankruptcy Discussion
-§544(a): the trustee in bankruptcy, who administers the bankrupt estate, gets all the
rights of a hypothetical lien creditor at the time the petition for bankruptcy is filed

>Lien Creditor: §9-102(a)(52): gets the right to assert encumbrance on

the property against the debtor’s will
-Imposed Encumbrance (vs. Secured Creditor who has a
voluntary encumbrance by agreement)

>Trustee acts for the benefit of Unsecured Creditors

>Secured Creditors have first claim to the property subject to the security
interest
>MUST be perfected!!! (Security Agreement + Financing Statement)

>Trustee’s duty: to test whether each security interest claimed by the secured
creditors withstands the tests set by the Bankruptcy Code

§9-317: Interests that Take Priority over Security Interest:

(a)(2): a security interest is subordinate to the rights of a lien creditor if the
security interest is not perfected by the time the lien creditor gains rights

4. Describing the Collateral in a Financing Statement

-Financing Statement: merely a statement giving the names of the Creditor,
Debtor, and indicating the collateral (§9-502)

18
a. “Indication” of Collateral vs. “Description”

Indication: §9-504: A financing statement sufficiently indicates the collateral if the

financing statement provides:
(1) a description of the collateral pursuant to §9-108
(2) an indication that the financing statement covers all assets or all personal property
>General Statement/Generic Statement is therefore sufficient to “indicate”
the collateral in a Financing Statement

>General Statement/Generic Statement NOT sufficient to describe

collateral in a Security Agreement (§9-108(c))

>WHY DIFFERENT STANDARDS:

POLICY: protects the unsophisticated debtor

4. Proceeds
§9-102(a)(64):
(A) whatever is acquired upon the sale, lease, license, exchange…
(B) whatever is collected on, or distributed on account of, collateral
(C) rights arising out of collateral
(D)
(E)

*Does a Security Agreement provide for a Security Interest in Proceeds?*

§9-203(f): The attachment of a security interest in collateral gives
the secured party the rights to proceeds provided by §9-315

§9-315(a)(1): A security interest or agricultural lien continues in

collateral notwithstanding sale, lease, license, exchange, or other
disposition thereof.

(a)(2): A security interest attaches to any identifiable

proceeds of collateral

-Thus, a secured creditor DOES have a right to proceeds after the sale
of collateral
-cash from sale of collateral is still a security interest
-security interest will continue, even if documents themselves
don’t expressly provide for an interest in proceeds

Problem 2-16: “Accounts Receivable”; Proceeds

Are “accounts” proceeds?
-YES
-§9-315(a)(2) says that a security interest attaches to any identifiable
proceeds of collateral

19
 >Extension of security interest is the extent it is identifiable
-Payment by Check: Instrument
-Payment by Credit Card: Accounts

*How broad is “Proceeds”?*

HYPO: Debtor owned an arcade, and the debtor defaulted. The foreclosing creditor
properly covered a security interest in the arcade machines.
>What claim does the secured creditor have in the QUARTERS used to
operate the arcade machines?
-§9-102(a)(64)(B): WHATEVER is collected on, or distributed on
account of, collateral
>Thus, quarters are the proceeds, and thus are included
in the security interest

HYPO: Creditor has a security interest in all inventory and equipment in plant. There is
a fire and the plant is destroyed. The insurance company gives the owner $2k to cover
the fire. Can the debtor secure the proceeds- the insurance pay-off?
>§9-102(a)(64)(C): the insurance is a right arising out of collateral
>YES, the debtor can secure these proceeds

5. After-Acquired Property; Future Advances

a. §9-204
-NEED to put an After-Acquired Property CLAUSE in the agreement
in order to have a security interest in the after-acquired property

-Nothing automatic about having the right to after-acquired collateral

>different from proceeds which are automatic
>must specifically specify an interest in after-acquired property

-Is this met by IMPLICATION because of the necessity of the collateral?

>e.g. Nature of Accounts and Inventory, which have a constant
turnover

>2 cases (p. 96)

American Employers Ins. Co: “It is reasonable to read a security
Agreement granting an interest in all inventory or receivables to
Include after-acquired inventory or receivables”

Graphic Resourcs: the court held that after-acquired equipment is

NOT covered by a description of collateral that included “all of
Debtor’s equipment, including replacement parts, additions, repairs,
And accessories incorporated therein or affixed thereto”

>DelDuca: Don’t rely on first case: not all courts are that generous
-Should be an after-acquired property clause in agreement

20
 to ensure security agreement in that collateral
b. §9-204(c): “Pursuant to Commitment”
-§9-102(a)(68): “Pursuant to commitment”, with respect to an advance
made or other value given by a secured party, means pursuant to the
secured party’s obligation, whether or not a subsequent event of default
or other event not within the secured party’s control has relieved or
may relieve the secured party from its obligation.

>quite different than saying “if I give you a future advance,

secured by collateral covered by the security interest”
-??????

c. Dragnet Case (p. 97)

-desire of courts to protect debtors from over-reaching lenders
-“the future advances, to be covered, but “be of the same class
as the primary obligation…and so related to it that the
consent of the debtor to its inclusion may be inferred”

-Revised Code REJECTS these tests of “similarity” and

“relatedness”
-Official Comment 5 to §9-204
-“This Article rejects the holdings of cases decided
under former Article 9 that applied other tests, such as
whether a future advance or other subsequently incurred
obligation was of the same or a similar type or class as
earlier advances and obligations secured by the collateral”

-Now, pro-creditor, healthy for the economy, not concerned

with protecting debtors

Problem 2-13: Security Agreement: Description of Collateral

Security Agreement with the following description of the collateral:
“all debtor’s personal property, including inventory, equipment, accounts
receivable, chattel paper, instruments, and general intangibles”

>pretty broad statement

>What about saying “general intangibles”, which is the residual type of
personal property?
-Lease: right to payment on lease=general intangible

>Put “General Intangibles” in Security Agreement!!!!

-That way, you get very valuable assets (e.g. copyrights)

21
III. DEFAULT, REPOSSESSION AND DISPOSITION
A. Default
-triggers the unique right of self-help (§9-609)
>right to take personal property that is encumbered
away from the debtor without a trial (no judicial
process necessarily needed)

>Creditor arbitrarily says debtor is in default and

can come in and take encumbered property

-Default is NOT defined in Article 9

-Must be defined in Security Agreement

-Question to always be asked: Assuming you properly repossessed property, did

you properly dispose of the collateral?

1. What constitutes Default

-Once contractual relation is established, what will constitute default, a proper
repossession, and a proper disposition of the collateral?

Spillers: For a $25K loan, there was a Judgment Note

>Judgment Note contained a promise to repay and
a clause that stated the debtor for a debt bona fide due
may confess judgment by himself without process
-Debtor authorizes creditor to confess judgment
without a trial

-Creditor entered judgment after default

*Whether this remedy being pursued by Credtior:

>was merely an exercise under §9-609 to dispose of the collateral
or
>was done pursuant to statute that the sheriff should take the property

*Turns on: Did the Creditor give the Debtor PROPER NOTICE of the private
sale of the collateral
>A Private Sale gives debtor a chance to redeem the collateral, even after
default, if debtor pays the entire balance of the debt

>General Notice:
-Private Sale: “I’m going to sell property after so many days”
-Public Sale: “I’m going to sell property WHEN and at WHAT
TIME

22
>Notice given by Creditor in Spillers:
-On March 7, Creditor sent debtor a letter informing him the
collateral (crane) would be sold 10 days after receipt of letter

-Debtor made offer to buy collateral, but couldn’t pay with a

cashier’s check as creditor wanted, thus negotiations fell

-April 22, the Collateral was sold

>Should Creditor have sent a 2nd notice to debtor
of this sale?
DEPENDS ON:
a. Was creditor using remedy of Commercial Code
>requires notice and commercially reasonable
disposition of collateral

>failure to give 2nd notice, or not disposing of

collateral in a commercially reasonable manner
means Article 9 is violated
-Creditor prevented from getting a
Deficiency Judgment (amount sill owing
To creditor by debtor)

Or

b. Confession of Judgment Proceeding?

>exercised through statute
>judicial sale by sheriff
>no notice required and assumed to be
commercially reasonable

>Creditor should have sent notice of this second sale

because he opted to used his §9-601 Rights, which
means all of Article 9 becomes applicable!!!
-NOTICE REQUIRED
-COMMERCIALLY REASOANBLE
-because no notice, creditor did not have a right to
a deficiency judgment
(if it were a judicial sale, advertising takes care of
both the notice and the disposition of collateral in a
commercially reasonable manner [highest bid])

23
SUMMARY:
Self-Help Repossession:
>ONLY collateral can be repossessed

Judgment Note:
>ALL of debtor’s personal property can be repossessed
-Expanded coverage

>Does not violate Due Process (there is no state action)

>Judgment note is constitutional among commercial parties

because they signed the note “voluntarily, intelligently, and
knowingly” waiving the rights it otherwise possessed to pre-
judgment and hearing (Overmyer p. 114)
-Different result might have been reached if there were
unequal bargaining power or overreaching

2. Examples of Conditions to serve as grounds for default if not performed by the

debtor:
a. Submission of certified financial statements
b. Maintenance of minimal levels of inventory
c. Maintenance of equipment and other properties in good condition and repair
d. Maintenance of insurance, with loss payee clauses
e. Payment of all taxes when due
f. Keeping of accurate and complete records
g. Notification of any pertinent litigation
h. Access to income tax returns
i. Notification of any change of address or location
j. Change of name, or entry into any merger, consolidation, or reorganization
k. Sale, transfer, lease or disposition of substantial part of assets.
l. Creation of any security interest in or lien upon any asset.
m. Incurring of indebtedness, whether absolute or contingent.
n. Disposing of assets other than in the ordinary course of business.

3. Problems: using Security Agreement of page 31-33

Problem 3-1: Other Security Interests:

-Bank DOES have a security interests in the new photocopy machine
>Machine is “after-acquired equipment”
>”After-Acquired Property” Clause: “All other equipment…in which
debtor has rights at present or in the future…”

>§9-204(a): Creditor can take after-acquired property

-Has Clemens defaulted under the security agreement with the bank?

24
 >IV: Events of Default
-(4) Encumbrance of Collateral: newly-acquired machine is
collateral and IS ENCUMBERED because it is the collateral of the
office supplier

-(1) Default in the Performance of a Covenant: Clemens violated

covenant entitled “Ownership free of encumbrances”

Problem 3-2: Insurance

-There IS a default because the Insurance Policy is made out to Clemens as beneficiary
and NOT bank as co-beneficiary in violation of security agreement
>II: Insurance: “All insurance policies shall be written for the
benefit of debtor and bank”
-Thus, under IV, there is a default in the performance
of a covenant

>Debtor would argue: Loan officer was fully aware that insurance policy
was only for the benefit of Clemens
-Estoppel: by implication, bank waived its right to assert
this

-Waiver: bank waived rights to assert this claim

>Bank would argue: VI: Final Provisions

-This is the ONLY Waiver Provision
-Bank would not come within this section

Problem 3-3: Change of Location of Collateral

-Mr. Clemens does not tell Bank that the press has been removed from the sole
proprietorship’s premises; has he defaulted?
-YES
-II: Change of residence or location of collateral (IIG)
>Thus, defaulted under IV (1)

-What if manufacturer removed key components of the press?

>DelDuca: Removal of parts is probably not removal of the machine;
machine is still on the premises

Problem 3-4: Disposition of Collateral:

-Clemens has defaulted
>IV(4): Prohibition against sale (covered explicitly)
-If manufacturer retains a security interest in the new press, IV(4) covers this too

Problem 3-5: Change in Debtor:

-Clemens transfers the assets of the sole proprietorship to the general partnership
-Default?

25
 >Not explicitly stated (e.g. no provision saying changing the form of business)
>But: IV(4): Prohibition against Sale
-Indirect
-Kinda can apply

B. Repossession
1. Breach of the Peace

Remedies for Default:

a. Sue for a Judgment
Advantages: Creditor gets a lien on real estate and personal property
Disadvantages: Time and Money
b. Court; Replevin Action
c. Unilaterally say Debtor is in default and repossess collateral

§9-609: Self-Help Repossession

Stone Machinery Company v. Kessler:

-Defendant purchased tractor, by conditional sales agreement, from plaintiff
-Defendant fell behind on payments
-Plaintiff located the tractor in Oregon
>SHERIFF: accompanied plaintiff in the repossession
in uniform, wearing his badge and sidearms
said, “We come to pick up the tractor”
had NO PROPER PAPERS

-Was this a Breach of the Peace?

>Defendant had a right to obstruct, by all lawful and reasonable means,
any attempt by plaintiff to forcibly repossess the tractor

>Secured Party must NOT INTIMIDATE by securing the aid of an

officer who pretends to ac colore officii
-Sheriff had NO AUTHORITY to become a participant in
the repossession when he said “we come to pick up the tractor”
-Sheriff deprived debtor of his right to resist the
repossession (debtor had right to say “I will not permit
you to take the collateral”, irrespective of whether debtor
truly defaulted or not)

-Breach of the Peace!!!

-The unauthorized actions of the sheriff in aid of the plaintiff
amounted to constructive force, intimidation, and oppression
constituting a breach of the peace and conversion of defendant’s
tractor

26
 -Constructive Force is good enough for breach of the peace
Tort Consequences for Wrongful Repossesion can be Severe!!!
>Creditor can NOT say “it’s not my fault” because a company took the
collateral away
-Creditor still liable!!!
-The hired company is just creditor’s agent

>Checklist to avoid wrongful repossession:

a. Make sure there actually has been a default
b. Consider a direct approach, asking Clemens to turn over the assets to the bank
voluntarily
c. Consider hiring a professional collection agency with experience in collecting
debts and repossessing collateral
d. If bank employees are sent to repossess, give clear directions
e. Direct bank employees to go during the regular office hours of the printing
business
f. Direct bank employees to withdraw if anyone protests the repossession
g. Direct bank employees not to break into a locked or barred area in order to
repossess the assets
h. Make sure that bank employees are given an accurate description of the
collateral
i. Employees should promptly make an inventory of the repossessed collateral
so creditor won’t be wrongly accused of taking property that is not collateral

Note: Collection Rights upon Default: p. 124

INTANGIBLE COLLATERAL:
>How does Creditor exercise his rights under §9-609(b)?

>§9-607: “If so agreed”

-Must say who will collect the accounts
-Make a deal in which debtor and creditor explicitly
provide that creditor should collect the accounts
>Bank is more experienced
or
>Debtor and creditor agree that accounts are going
to be sold outright
-distribution of proceeds from sale: §9-608

1. a. Write letters to account debtors to tell them they must pay the bank

C. Disposition Following Repossession: Part 6 (protects the Debtor)

1. §9-610: Collateral is Tangible
Commercially Reasonable Disposition
(b): “Every aspect of a disposition of collateral, including the method,
manner, time, place, and other terms, must be commercially reasonable.

27
 >If commercially reasonable, a secured party may dispose of
collateral by public or private proceedings (VERY Fact Sensitive)

Public: Auction/Public Advertising

Private: e.g. on a Bank Parking Lot

2. §9-607: Collateral is Intangible

>HYPO: Wal-mart sells appliances on open accounts (unsecured credit)
>Account
Wal-mart gets a loan; the collateral is the Accounts (Bank has
Right to payment from the account debtors)

-How does Bank foreclose on the collateral after Wal-mart defaults?

>§9-607(1): “If so agreed…a secured party may notify an account
debtor…to make payment or otherwise render performance to or
for the benefit of the secured party”
-“If so agreed”: debtor tells the creditor to collect the accounts
upon default

a. Walmart can also SELL the ACCOUNTS to the Bank Outright instead of
Encumbering them
>Collateral sold right from the beginning; from the time of the
creation of the security interest
>Banker must notify the account debtors at the very beginning
that they must pay the bank (secured party)

-Outright Sale: Bank/Secured Party can keep the extra $ collected

vs.
-Encumbrance: Secured party can ONLY keep what the debtor owes,
and then must return the extra $ to the Debtor

Problem 3-10: Compulsory Disposition of Collateral

-Collateral is a Consumer Good; obligation by debtor was paid 75%
-Upon default, can the creditor retain the collateral and treat the balance
of obligation as being satisfied?

-§9-620: Compulsory Disposition of Collateral

(e): Mandatory Disposition of Consumer Goods:
>If 60% of the cash price has been paid in the case of a
purchase-money security interest in consumer goods
or
>If 60% of the principal amount of the obligation secured
has been paid in the case of a non-purchase-money security
interest in consumer goods

28
 -Thus, Creditor MUST Dispose of the Collateral because 75% has been
paid and the collateral is a consumer good

-This 60% Rule is NOT applicable to Non-Consumer Goods

>Thus, if the collateral was equipment, the Creditor can keep the truck

Problem 3-11: Redemption of the Collateral

-§9-623: Right to Redeem Collateral
>A Debtor MUST pay the entire obligation + reasonable expenses to redeem the
collateral; can’t just make up missed payments

>Timing: A redemption may occur at any time before a secured party:

1. has collected collateral under §9-607 (intangible collateral)
2. has disposed of the collateral or entered into a contract for its disposition
under §9-610 (tangible collateral)
3. has accepted collateral in full or partial satisfaction of the obligation it secures
under §9-622

A. Proper Notification to Debtor upon Disposition of Property

-§§9-611-9-614: Notice Requirements

-Spillers Case: Debtor initially received notice of the sale of the collateral. But,
no other notice was given to debtor after the creditor rejected debtor’s bid on the
collateral. The collateral wasn’t sold until about a month later.
>Secured party MUST notify debtor of ALL and EVERY proposed sale!!
-Because notice had to be given for “any” sale

-§9-611(b): Reasonable Authenticated Notification of Disposition

>WHO: debtor
obligor
others who have filed financing statements against the same
collateral

>EXCEPTION: No Notice needed when collateral is perishable or

threatens to decline speedily in value
-Achieves the Goal of Getting the Maximum Price for the
Collateral

>Best way for Notification: Certified Mail (avoids any evidentiary

problems; creates a record)
-TEST: NOT whether or not the debtor receives the notice, but
only whether the secured party made a good faith effort
and took such steps as a reasonable person would have
taken to give notice (Hall v. Owen)
>Here, notice was insufficient because creditor
only left notice with Hall’s partner over the phone

29
 -§9-612: Reasonable Time is a Question of Fact
>BUT, in a transaction other than a consumer transaction, a notification
of disposition sent after default and 10 days before the earliest time of
disposition…is reasonable
-10 Days=Safe Harbor for non-consumer transaction

-§9-613: Contents and Form of Notification

-Provides Predictability
-Context: Non-Consumer Goods Transaction

-§9-614: Content and Form of Notification for CONSUMER GOODS

>Incorporates protections of non-consumer goods transactions
AND
>Provides Additional Protections because consumers don’t have the
sophistication that business people will have
-e.g. A description of any liability for a deficiency MUST
be provided

B. Commercially Reasonable Disposition

-No Specific Definition in the Code
-§9-627: Examples of a commercially reasonable sale, but not exclusive

-Hall v. Owen:
>Important Factor: PRICE received by the secured party
BUT
>§9-627(a): “The fact that a greater amount could have been obtained by
a collection, enforcement…at a different time or in a different method
from that selected by the secured party is NOT of itself sufficient to
preclude the secured party from establishing that the collection….was
made in a commercially reasonable manner.”
-Closer Scrutiny when there is a Substantial Difference between
sale price and FMV

>Other Factors:
-Price recovered by the buyer of collateral in a subsequent sale
-Whether collateral is sold on a retail or wholesale market
-# of bids received, particularly in a private sale
-Time and place of the sale must be such that they are reasonably
calculated to bring a satisfactory turnout of bidders
-Public Sale vs. Private Sale
>VERY FACT SENSITIVE
>If close case, will go to the jury

-Advertising: MUST advertise in a relevant medium where it will

reach the appropriate audience

30
 >Held: Commercially Reasonable: Bank employees were experienced
in selling repossessed cars and trucks; good faith on part of the
bank

C. Rules for Recovery of Deficiency or Surplus

1. Absolute Bar Rule: A creditor that fails to comply with commercially
reasonable standards upon disposition of collateral is barred from obtaining a
deficiency judgment against the debtor to recover the balance of the debt due if
the disposition of the collateral produces less than the outstanding debt. (Spillers)
2. Rebuttable Presumption Rule: If a creditor fails to comply with commercially
reasonable standards upon disposition of collateral, a presumption arises that
any amount received from the sale of the collateral is equal to the total debt.
>Secured Party must then rebut this presumption (the collateral is worth
less than the debt) as a prerequisite to
obtaining a deficiency judgment against the debtor to recover the balance
of the debt due. (Hall v. Owen)

>§9-626
-Non-Consumer Transactions: Rebuttable Presumption Rule
-Consumer Transactions: Left up to the courts
>either the Absolute Bar or Rebuttable Presumption

-(a)(1): Debtor has burden of placing the secured party’s

compliance in issue

-(a)(2): Then, secured party has the burden of establishing that the
collection, enforcement, disposition, etc was conducted in
accordance with this part

-(a)(3): If secured party fails to meet this burden, the liability of a

debtor for a deficiency is limited to an amount by which the
sum of the secured obligation, expenses, and attorneys fees
exceeds the greater of…
(A): the proceeds of the collection, enforcement…
or
(B): the amount of proceeds that would have been realized
had the noncomplying secured party proceeded in
accordance with the provisions of this part
>This Explains how to calculate the deficiency
>Creditor is to be credited with the greater of the
actual proceeds of the disposition or the proceeds
that would have been realized had the secured
party complied with the relevant provisions
>If a deficiency remains, the secured party is
entitled to recover it!!!

31
3. Remedies for Secured Party’s Failure to Comply with Article
-§9-625
a. Court Order (Debtor can get a Court order to order or restrain collection,
enforcement, or disposition of collateral on appropriate terms and conditions)
b. Damages: Debtor may recover any loss from a secured party for failure to
comply with Article 9
c. Statutory Damages in Consumer-goods Transaction: If secured party failed to
comply with Article 9, Debtor may recover for that failure in any event an
amount not less than:
1. The Credit Service Charge PLUS
2. 10% of the Principal amount of the obligation PLUS
3. 10% of the Cash Price
>Very Effective Consumer Protection Provision
d. Recovery when deficiency eliminated or reduced: A debtor whose deficiency
is eliminated under §9-626 may recover damages for the loss of any surplus
e. Statutory Damages: In addition to damages recovered in (b), the debtor may
recover $500 in each case from a person that:
-See Statute for Specific Situations when $500 recovery
applicable

IV. PERFECTION AND PRIORITY

A. Methods of Perfection
GENERAL RULE: TWO STEP DANCE
Perfection occurs when:
a. Security Interest Attaches (when becomes enforceable)
b. One of the applicable steps for perfection has been satisfied (§§9-
310-9-316; financing statement, possession, control, automatic)

1. General Rule: A Financing Statement Must be Filed to Perfect All Security

Interests
>§9-310(a)
>§9-310(b): Exceptions

2. Four Ways Perfection can Occur (part of §9-310[b] exceptions)

a. Filing Financing Statement (§9-310[a])
b. Possession (§9-313); (required for negotiable instruments, negotiable
documents of title, or money)
c. Automatically (§9-309); (purchase money security interest: a security
interest in which the creditor extends a line of credit to permit the debtor
to buy the collateral)
>Policy: Financing statements are expensive/ would slow
commerce down

32
 d. Control (§9-314); (investment property, deposit accounts, electronic
chattel paper, letter-of-credit rights)

3. Steps to take in whether a security interest is perfected:

a. Classify the collateral (§9-102)
b. Determine whether the interest in a purchase money security interest (§9-
103)
c. Find out if the Security Interest has attached (§9-203)
d. Determine if a Filing is required by §9-309,9-310, 9-311
e. Check §9-312 to see if that section permits or requires the secured party to
take possession in order to perfect the interest
f. If filing is required or permitted, examine relevant UCC sections to
determine if a validly completed notice was filed in the proper office in the
proper jurisdiction and has not lapsed by the passage of time

4. Focus on Possession
Problem 4-1: Perfection by Possession-Priority over Unperfected Security
Interests
>Attached?
i. Value Given
ii. Rights; Debtor owns watch
iii. Possession

>§9-313(a): Possession proper for negotiable documents, goods,

instruments, money, or tangible chattel paper

>Thus, when creditor takes possession of watch (goods), he has a

perfected security interest

>Priority: Perfected vs. Unperfected Security Interest: §9-317

§9-317: A Security Interest is SUBORDINATE to the rights of
(1): a person entitled to property under §9-322
-§9-322(a)(2): A perfected security interest has priority over
a conflicting unperfected security interest

Problem 4-2: Perfection by Possession-Priority in Bankruptcy; Perfected vs.

Unperfected Security Interest
-Does trustee in Bankruptcy have priority over the Promissory Note?
>§9-317(a)(2): A security interest is SUBORDINATE to a person that
becomes a lien creditor (trustee) before the earlier of the time:
(A) the security interest is perfected; or
(B) one of the conditions specified in §9-203(b) is met and a
financing statement covering the collateral is filed

>Lien Creditor takes priority over an unperfected security interest

33
 (§9-317[a][2][A])
-Which bank has priority over the Promissory Note?
>Promissory Note= Instrument (§9-102[a][47])
>§9-313: Possession of Instrument = Perfection

>Conflict between 2 perfected Security Interests:

-§9-330: Special Priority Rule for Instruments:
-(d): A purchaser (includes buyer) of an instrument has
priority over a security interest in the instrument perfected by
a method other than possession…

-Thus, Bank with POSSESSION has PRIORITY

-Possession = Huge Protection

5. “Filing OR Perfection” Language of §322(a)(1)

“Conflicting perfected security interests rank according to priority in time of
Filing OR Perfection”
>HYPO: Jan. 15: Creditor #1 signs financing statement to extend a
loan, but doesn’t give the loan yet (collateral secures any loan in
bank’s discretion that it can give 6 months from now)
-NOT Perfected
-NO Value given under §1-204 (NOT a Binding
Commitment)

March 15: Creditor #2 takes POSSESSION of watch

-Perfected

June 15: Creditor #1 Extends loan and wants watch as a

Security interest

-Although Creditor #2 has perfected first, Creditor #1 Prevails!!!

>Creditor #1 FILED first under language of §9-322(a)
>(Notice Filing)

Problem 4-3: Priority by Automatic Perfection

-Purchase Money Security Interests in Consumer Goods (Dealer)
>Automatic Perfection under §9-309
>Policy: Too Expensive to file financing statements; cost of ordinary
consumer goods would be significantly higher to
consumers

-Both Dealer and Bank have Perfected Security Interests: Who Prevails?
>Under §9-322(a)(1), Dealer has priority because he perfected earlier
in time than the bank (filing OR perfected)

Problem 4-4: Perfection by Control- Deposit Accounts as Collateral

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 -Account as Collateral to Bank
-Bank have enforceable security interest?
-YES: §9-203(b)(3)(D)
>Value Given: $1 million loan
>Rights: Debtor’s Account
>Control: §9-104(a)(1): Secured Party IS the Bank with which
the deposit account is maintained

-(b): Manufacturer Extends loan, using this bank account as security interest
-Manufacturer have an enforceable security interests?

-NO: §9-203(b)(3)(D)
>NO Control under §9-104; thus, no perfection
>Because the Secured Party is a third party, there would need
to be a Triparite Agreement between the Bank, Debtor, and
Secured Party

B. Required Filings and Exceptions

Attachment of Security Interest Applicable Steps for Perfection

a. Creation of a Security Agreement a. Filing of a Financing

(§9-203(b)(3)) Statement for Personal Property
and Fixtures (§9-310(a))
b. Extension of Value by Creditor to Debtor
(§1-204; §9-203(b)(1)) EXCEPTIONS: §9-310(b)
>Possession (b)(6)
c. Acquisition of Rights in Collateral by >PMSI in consumer goods
Debtor (§9-203(b)(2)) (§9-309(1))
>Compliance with Federal
Statute or Treaty providing for
National or International
Registration or Certificate of
Title (§9-311(a)(1))

>Compliance with State

Certificate of Title Statutes
(§9-311(a)(2))
-BUT, if car is sold to
dealer, the car is
inventory, which thus
requires a financing
statement to be filed to
perfect

>Deposit Accounts, Electronic

Chattel Paper, Investment
Property, or Letter-of-Credit
Rights which is perfected by
Control (§9-310(b)(8))

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1. When does Filing Occur?
-Filing officially occurs when the Document and the Filing Fee are Presented for
Filing, NOT when Actually Filed (don’t even have this problem with electronic
Mediums)

C. Priorities
1. Lien Creditor vs. Unperfected Security Interest
Lien Creditor: interest acquired AGAINST THE WILL of the Debtor
>Also, a Trustee in Bankruptcy

§9-317(a)(2): Lien Creditor takes priority over an Unsecured Party

2. Repairman’s Lien vs. Perfected Security Interest

-§9-333(b): A possessory lien on goods has priority over a security interest in the
goods unless the lien is created by a statute that expressly provides
otherwise

-Problem 4-7:
>Bank: Perfected Security Interest in truck by noting its encumbrance on
the certificate of title under 9-311

>Repairman: When Clemens defaults, repairman resells the truck to

satisfy the repair bill

>Priority: Repairman: §9-322(b)

3. Priority of a Buyer in Ordinary Course of Business “with knowledge”

Buyer in Ordinary Course of Business: §1-201(b)(9): Person who:
a. In Good Faith
b. Without Knowledge that the sale to him is in violation of the rights of a third
party in the goods
c. Buys in Ordinary Course
d. From a person other than a pawnbroker in the business of selling goods of that
kind

§9-320: Gives Priority to the “buyer in ordinary course of business” over the prior
perfected security interest, even though the buyer knew of the prior
perfected security interest

>There is a Distinction between:

a. Knowledge that the sale is in violation of third party rights
b. Knowledge of prior perfected security interest
>This is Perfectly OK

>Policy: Goods would never be bought out of inventory otherwise

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4. Seller and Buyer of “Consumer Goods” – Priority Requirements
§9-320(b): Buyer takes free of a perfected security interest in the property

A Buyer who buys goods from a consumer seller takes free of any security interest if the
buyer buys the goods:
(1) without knowledge of the security interest
(2) for value
(3) for the buyer’s own personal use
(4) prior to the filing of a financing statement covering such goods

Policy: Don’t want to impose on consumers the heavy cost of filing fees, especially
when the goods are high-volume, low cost

*IF Consumer Buys Consumer Goods from Consumer Buyer, and meets the
requirements above, he gets protected status, and takes the goods free of prior
security interest
>5 STEPS Needed (4 required + 1 in preamble)

>If seller was using goods in his office, NOT a “consumer good”, but
equipment, and thus, this rule would not apply

>If buyer bought goods to use for his office, this would be
inventory, NOT consumer goods, and thus, rule would not apply

>At what point in time do you determine the classification of

collateral?
>INITIAL Classification is usually the determinative factor

D. Where to File
1. Which State to File in: §9-301
a. Non-Possessory Security Interest: LOCATION OF DEBTOR
b. Possessory Security Interest: LOCATION OF THE COLLATERAL

>§9-301(3)(C): Tangible, Semi-intangible, and non-possessory collateral

-This section is out of place; it is only good for when the secured
creditor
forecloses on the collateral when the debtor corporation is
incorporated in one state and the collateral is located in another
state

2. Where is the Location of the Debtor: §9-307

(1): Debtor is an Individual: Individual’s Principal Residence

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(2): Debtor has Only One Place of Business: Place of Business
(3): Debtor is Organization and has more than one place of business: Chief Executive
Office

>Registered Entity: State of Incorporation!!!! (where registered entity

is incorporated is the law that governs)
-§9-102(a)(70): organization organized solely under the law of a
single state as to which the State must maintain a public record…

>Foreign Debtor: If country of debtor does have a registration system

like Article 9 to provide notice, then that country’s laws govern
BUT
-Most countries do NOT have a registration system:
>Thus, Debtor located in Washington, D.C.

Problem 4-11(a): Non-Possessory Security Interests: Which State to File in

a. -Registered Organization: DE
-Principal Place of Business: TX
>File in DE to be perfected

b. Possessory Security Interest

>Law of Where Collateral is Located governs perfection, the effect of perfection
or non-perfection, and the priority of a possessory security interest in the
collateral

3. Which office to File in: §9-501

>Central Filing Rule!!!
-Local filing ONLY for a Fixture Filing, Timber to be cut, and as-
extracted collateral

>Reminder: A Supergeneric Description of Collateral is NOT sufficient for a

security agreement, but is sufficient for a financing statement (§9-502 and
§9-504)

4. What Constitutes a Filing: §9-516

a. Communication of a record to a filing office and tender of the Filing Fee
>§9-102(a)(18) Communicate
-to send a written or other tangible record
-to transmit a record by any means agreed upon by
the persons sending and receiving the record
-to transmit a record by any means prescribed by the
filing-office rule

b. Grounds For Refusal: All the requirements in §9-516(b) must be satisfied

for an effective filing to occur

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 c. Effect of Errors or Omissions: §9-506
-If a Financing Statement has only minor errors or omissions, the filing
will still be deemed effective
-If the errors or omissions are seriously misleading, the financing
statement will not be effective
>Debtor’s Name is the HEART of the Financing Statement
-Thus, an error in the debtor’s name can be seriously
misleading because the security interest will not be
able to be found by other potential creditors

d. Proper Name of the Debtor: §9-503

(a)(4): Must provide the individual or organization name of the debtor if debtor
has a name; if no name, must provide the names of the partners, members,
etc.

(c): Debtor’s Trade Name is Insufficient!!!!

e. Change in the Form of Debtor: Partnership

>§9-507(c): If Debtor so changes its name that it becomes seriously
misleading, the secured party must change the debtor’s name on the
financing statement within four months
-Secured Party retains its security interest for 4 months from the
time the debtor changes its business organization

>If not seriously misleading, §9-503 provides that the name of the
individual debtor or organization is still sufficient

f. Change in the Form of Debtor: Corporation

-Because the Debtor is now becoming incorporated, the secured party
must now file in the state of incorporation

g. Can a Second Secured Party request information from the First Secured
Party regarding the status of Debtor’s Loan?
>§9-210: Gives DEBTOR the right to get a statement of his account from
his creditor; this first creditor MUST give information to the DEBTOR
-Economic Pressure is on the Debtor, and NOT the second secured
party in order to protect the debtor’s privacy rights

>Second Creditor must contact the DEBTOR to get this information about
his loan status, and NOT the First Creditor

E. Priority Between Competing Claims to Collateral

1. Starting Point for Priority:
a. §9-317
b. §9-322
c. Specialized Priority Rules

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2. Chattel Paper Practices: Conditional Sales Contracts
a. §9-312(a): A Security Interest in Chattel Paper may be perfected by Filing
b. §9-313: Possession: A Security Interest in Chattel Paper may also be perfected
by Possession

c. PRIORITY as between security interest in chattel paper perfected by filing vs.

perfected by possession:
>§9-330: Special Priority Rule
>A Purchaser (§1-201: includes creditor, etc) of chattel paper has
priority
over a security interest in chattel paper if the purchaser:
(1) gives new value
(2) takes possession of the chattel paper

*Possession of Chattel Paper Prevails over Filing a Financing Statement in

Collateral*
>Filing liberates the creditor from handling lots of individual pieces of
chattel paper, but runs a risk that he will not have priority

Collateral: Security Interest Claimed Merely as Proceeds:

§9-330(a)

3. Chattel Paper: Lease of Specific Goods

-Lease = Chattel Paper
-Proposed sale of outstanding leases: covered by Article 9

4. PMSI in Inventory Goods

Includes:
-3rd Party lenders extending loans to debtor in order for debtor to be able to pay
cash to a dealer

-§9-324: Priority of PMSI

(b): Inventory PMSI: A Perfected PMSI in inventory has priority over a
conflicting security interest in the same inventory…if:
(1): PMSI is perfected when the debtor receives possession of the inventory
(2): the Purchase-money secured party sends an authenticated notification to the
holder of the conflicting security interest
(3): the holder of the conflicting security interest receives the notification within
five years before the debtor receives possession of the inventory; and
(4): the notification states that the person sending the notification has or expects
to acquire a PMSI in inventory of the debtor and describes the inventory

FIXTURES

A. Definition: §9-102(a)(41): Goods that have become so related to particular real

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 property that an interest in them arises under real property law
>A Security Interest does NOT exist under this Article in ordinary
business materials incorporated into an improvement on land.
§9-334(a) (Bricks, lumber and mortar, which start out as personal
property and are subsequently incorporated into a permanent structure
lose their identity and become part of the real estate and may NOT be
considered as fixtures.

Fixture Filing: §9-102(a)(40): The Filing of a Financing Statement covering

goods that are or are to become fixtures and satisfying §9-502(a) and (b).
§9-502(a): Financing Statement must provide:
1. name of the debtor
2. name of the secured party
3. indicate the collateral covered by the financing statement

§9-502(b): A financing statement which is filed as a Fixture Filing and

covers goods that are or are to become fixtures, must satisfy (a) and also:
1. indicate that it covers this type of collateral
2. indicate that it is to be filed in the real property records
3. provide a description of the real property to which the collateral is
related
4. if the debtor does not have an interest of record in the real property,
provide the name of a record owner

*Fixtures have a Local Filing Requirement: §9-501

B. Criteria to be used in Determining whether Specific Collateral is to be classified

as Goods or Fixtures or Real Estate
1. Degree of Annexation
2. Use of Property attached to the real estate (Adaptation)
3. Intent of the Parties

Application of Factors: Rosebushes were considered Fixtures because:

1. Degree of Annexation: Rose Bushes were planted directly into the earth, and
each bush has a root system that extends three or four feet into the earth.
Thus, the bushes were affixed to the reality.
2. Adaptation: Flores intended to produce successive crops of cut roses from
these bushes for a period of seven to eight years. Greenhouses were
specifically designed for the production of cut roses.
3. Intent: Flores had no intent to sell or dispose of the rose bushes; intended to
be a long term producer of cut roses. Bushes had useful life of 7-8 years
In re Flores de New Mexico, Inc.

C. Super-Perfection/Double Filing
-If Secured Creditor is in doubt as to whether collateral is goods, fixtures, or real
estate, he should File both a Financing Statement and a Fixture Filing

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D. Priority Rule and Fixtures: §9-334
1. General Rule: Priority of Real Estate Interest (§9-334(c))
-“In cases not governed by subsections (d) through (h), a security interest in
fixtures is subordinate to a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the
related property other than the debtor.

2. Exceptions:
a. §9-334(e): A perfected security interest in fixtures has priority over a conflicting
interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real property if:
i. (1): First in Time Rule

ii. (2): Security interest is perfected by any method, before the goods become
fixtures, and the fixtures are readily removeable:
(A): factory or office machines
(B): equipment that is not primarily used or leased for use in the operation
of the real property; or
(C): Replacements of Domestic appliances that are consumer goods

iii. (3): The conflicting security interest is a Lien on the real property
AFTER the security interest was perfected by any method…
>Really no different than the rule in §9-322 (first in time, first
in right)

b. §9-334(d): Fixtures purchase-money priority:

-A perfected security interest in fixtures has priority over a conflicting interest
of an owner of real property if the debtor has an interest of record in or is in
possession of the real property and:
(1): the security interest is a PMSI
(2): the interest of the owner arises before the goods become fixtures
(3): the security interest is perfected by a fixture filing before the goods become
fixtures or within 20 days thereafter
>20 day Grace Period

3. Construction Mortgagee’s Priority over PMSI: §9-334(h)

a. Construction Mortgage: a mortgage is a “construction mortgage” to the
extent that is secures an obligation incurred for the construction of an
improvement on land including the acquisition cost of the land

>Usually, a construction mortgage is recorded before delivery

of construction materials.

b. Priority: Holder of Construction Mortgage has priority, even against creditors

perfecting a PMSI within 20 days after the goods become fixtures if:
(1) the construction mortgage is recorded before the goods become
fixtures

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(2) the goods become fixtures before the construction is finished

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