Okla. Stat. tit. 12A § 7-210

Current through Laws 2024, c. 453.

Section 7-210 - Enforcement of warehouse's lien

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a warehouse's lien may be enforced by public or private sale of the goods, in bulk or in packages, at any time or place and on any terms that are commercially reasonable, after notifying all persons known to claim an interest in the goods. The notification must include a statement of the amount due, the nature of the proposed sale, and the time and place of any public sale. The fact that a better price could have been obtained by a sale at a different time or in a method different from that selected by the warehouse is not of itself sufficient to establish that the sale was not made in a commercially reasonable manner. The warehouse sells in a commercially reasonable manner if the warehouse sells the goods in the usual manner in any recognized market therefor, sells at the price current in that market at the time of the sale, or otherwise sells in conformity with commercially reasonable practices among dealers in the type of goods sold. A sale of more goods than apparently necessary to be offered to ensure satisfaction of the obligation is not commercially reasonable except in cases covered by the preceding sentence.

(b) A warehouse may enforce its lien on goods other than goods stored by a merchant in the course of its business, only if the following requirements are satisfied:

(1) All persons known to claim an interest in the goods must be notified.

(2) The notification must include an itemized statement of the claim, a description of the goods subject to the lien, a demand for payment within a specified time not less than ten (10) days after receipt of the notification, and a conspicuous statement that unless the claim is paid within that time the goods will be advertised for sale and sold by auction at a specified time and place.

(3) The sale must conform to the terms of the notification.

(4) The sale must be held at the nearest suitable place to that where the goods are held or stored.

(5) After the expiration of the time given in the notification, an advertisement of the sale must be published once a week for two (2) weeks consecutively in a newspaper of general circulation where the sale is to be held. The advertisement must include a description of the goods, the name of the person on whose account they are being held, and the time and place of the sale. The sale must take place at least fifteen (15) days after the first publication. If there is no newspaper of general circulation where the sale is to be held, the advertisement must be posted at least ten (10) days before the sale in not fewer than six conspicuous places in the neighborhood of the proposed sale.

(c) Before any sale pursuant to this section, any person claiming a right in the goods may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred in complying with this section. In that event, the goods may not be sold but must be retained by the warehouse subject to the terms of the receipt and this article.

(d) A warehouse may buy at any public sale pursuant to this section.

(e) A purchaser in good faith of goods sold to enforce a warehouse's lien takes the goods free of any rights of persons against which the lien was valid, despite the warehouse's noncompliance with this section.

(f) A warehouse may satisfy its lien from the proceeds of any sale pursuant to this section but shall hold the balance, if any, for delivery on demand to any person to which the warehouse would have been bound to deliver the goods.

(g) The rights provided by this section are in addition to all other rights allowed by law to a creditor against a debtor.

(h) If a lien is on goods stored by a merchant in the course of its business the lien may be enforced in accordance with subsection (a) or (b) of this section.

(i) A warehouse is liable for damages caused by failure to comply with the requirements for sale under this section and, in case of willful violation, is liable for conversion.

Okla. Stat. tit. 12A, § 7-210

Laws 1961, p. 143, § 7-210; Amended by Laws 2005 , HB 2035, c. 140, § 15, eff. 1/1/2006.

Oklahoma Code Comment

Prior Statutory Provisions:

2 O.S. §§ 9-91, 9-92.

Text and derivation of prior provisions, see Appendix at end of this title.

Comment:

(1) This is new. It is applicable only to commercial storage by merchants. Sale may be had by public or private sale, and if public, subsection (4) authorizes the warehouseman to buy. No rigid time limits are set, but it must be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.

(2) This is similar to former 2 O.S. § 9-92. The enforcement of a lien on goods other than goods stored by a merchant must follow the longer procedures.

(e) This changes Oklahoma law. The previous law required the sale at the place where the lien was acquired unless such place was manifestly unsuitable, then at the nearest suitable place. The Commercial Code simply provides "at the nearest suitable place."

(f) The requirement that the advertisement must contain a description of the goods and the name of the bailor is new. Also, the requirement that it be posted in the "neighborhood of the proposed sale" is new. The previous law only required posting in six conspicuous places.

(3) This is similar to former 2 O.S. § 9-92.

(4) This is new. It is thought that this will encourage higher bids.

(5) This is new. It changes the law in some states, but Oklahoma has no previous decisions.

(6) This is similar to former 2 O.S. § 9-92.

(7) This is similar to former §9-91.

(8) This is new and gives an election of remedies.

(9) This changes Oklahoma law. Previous Oklahoma decisions held the warehouseman liable for conversion if he did not comply with the statutory sale provisions, without regard to whether or not his actions were "willful". Roberts v. Callis, 177 Okl. 359, 58 P.2d 1232 (1936); Page v. Allison, 173 Okl. 205, 47 P.2d 134, 99 A.L.R. 261 (1935).