California · Commercial Code

COM §9404: (a) Unless an account debtor has made an enforceable agreement not to assert defenses or claims, and subject to subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, the rights of an assignee are subject to both of the

What this law says, in plain English

An assignee's rights are generally subject to defenses and claims that the account debtor could assert, unless the account debtor agreed not to assert them.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Unless an account debtor has made an enforceable agreement not to assert defenses or claims, and subject to subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, the rights of an assignee are subject to both of the following: (1) All terms of the agreement between the account debtor and assignor and any defense or claim in recoupment arising from the transaction that gave rise to the contract. (2) Any other defense or claim of the account debtor against the assignor which accrues before the account debtor receives a notification of the assignment signed by the assignor or the assignee. (b) Subject to subdivision (c) and except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), the claim of an account debtor against an assignor may be asserted against an assignee under subdivision (a) only to reduce the amount the account debtor owes. (c) This section is subject to law other than this division which establishes a different rule for an account debtor who is an individual and who incurred the obligation primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. (d) In a consumer transaction, if a record evidences the account debtor’s obligation, law other than this division requires that the record include a statement to the effect that the account debtor’s recovery against an assignee with respect to claims and defenses against the assignor may not exceed amounts paid by the account debtor under the record, and the record does not include such a statement, the extent to which a claim of an account debtor against the assignor may be asserted against an assignee is determined as if the record included such a statement. (e) This section does not apply to an assignment of a health care insurance receivable.

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