Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 83 § 83.820 — Consumer paper; negotiability; exception; rights and liabilities of assignees

Consumer paper; negotiability; exception; rights and liabilities of assignees. (1) In any contract for the sale or lease of motor vehicles on any form of credit, or of consumer goods or services on credit, entered into between a motor vehicle dealer, retail seller or retail lessor and a retail buyer or retail lessee, such contract, note or any instrument or evidence of indebtedness of the buyer or lessee shall have printed on the face thereof the words “consumer paper,” and such contract, note, instrument or evidence of indebtedness with the words “consumer paper” printed thereon shall not be a negotiable instrument within the meaning of ORS chapter 73. However, this section shall have no force or effect on the negotiability of any contract, promissory note, instrument or other evidence of indebtedness owned or guaranteed or insured by any state or federal governmental agency even though said contract, note, instrument or other evidence of indebtedness shall contain the wording required by this subsection. (2) Notwithstanding the absence of such notice on a contract, note, instrument or evidence of indebtedness arising out of a consumer credit sale, consumer lease or the sale or lease of a motor vehicle on any form of credit as described in this section, an assignee of the rights of the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor is subject to all claims and defenses of the buyer or lessee against the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor arising out of the sale or lease. Any agreement to the contrary shall be of no force or effect in limiting the rights of a consumer under this section. The assignee’s liability under this section may not exceed the amount owing to the assignee at the time the claim or defense is asserted against the assignee. The restrictions imposed hereby shall not apply with respect to any promissory note, contract, instrument or other evidence of indebtedness owned or guaranteed or insured by any state or federal governmental agency even though said note, contract, instrument or other evidence of indebtedness shall contain the words required by subsection (1) of this section. (3) An assignee of “consumer paper” who in good faith enforces a security interest in property held by the buyer or lessee shall not be liable to such buyer or lessee for punitive damages in an action for wrongful repossession. The fact that a motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor has broken the warranties of the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor with regard to the property sold or leased shall not, of itself, make an assignee’s repossession wrongful. (4) Notwithstanding the absence of notice as provided in subsection (1) of this section, an assignee of the rights of the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor who lends money to the buyer or lessee for the purpose of paying off the amount owing to the assignee under the contract, note, instrument or evidence of indebtedness is subject to all claims and defenses of the buyer or lessee against the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor arising out of the sale or lease. The assignee’s liability under this subsection may not exceed the amount that would be owing to the motor vehicle dealer, seller or lessor under the contract, note, instrument or evidence of indebtedness at the time the claim or defense is asserted had the obligation not been paid off. Assignee shall include a parent, subsidiary or other business entity similarly related to the assignee, and the assignee’s liability shall extend to anyone who holds the buyer’s or lessee’s new instrument or evidence of indebtedness. [1971 c.744 §2; 1977 c.195 §11; 1995 c.79 §31; 2001 c.117 §2]