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Avoid Installment Sale Disputes

Banks do it.  Credit card issuers do it.  Horses can be expensive, and buyers often want to spread out their payments over time.  Should you, the horse seller, do it?

The business of extending credit is risky. The horse seller and the bank have much in common when they agree to extend financing.  Both take a risk that the buyer will make payments faithfully.  But that is where the similarities end.  Banks protect themselves by credit checks, financial disclosures, and detailed contracts.  Not so in the horse industry.  Horse sellers often part with a horse merely on a handshake and with only a tiny fraction of the purchase price paid up front -- just minutes after meeting a total stranger who wants to buy the horse.

This article discusses some pitfalls of installment sales transactions and offers some practical suggestions for avoiding them.

Problems in Installment Sales and Ways to Address Them

In an installment payment arrangement, the seller and buyer agree that the purchase price can be satisfied through a series of payments (often called installments) spread out over months and sometimes years. 

Problem: The Buyer Stops Paying

With installment payment arrangements, the most common risk is the most foreseeable – the buyer fails to pay.  To avoid this, here are two ideas for sellers:

  • Hold the Registration Papers Until The Final Payment Clears.  Especially if the horse's value for racing, showing, or breeding purposes depends on the papers, sellers can retain them until the last installment payment clears the bank.
  • Properly Document the Seller's Right to Repossess.  Banks repossess cars and equipment when loans are not paid.  When they do this, they typically follow -- to the letter -- rights available to them in their contracts and under the law.  Horse sellers, who often have no contract and no knowledge of the law, learn the hard way that repossession is not that easy.  Over the years, horse sellers have entered another's private property (a barn or pasture) attempting to repossess a horse -- only to face costly legal battles and sometimes criminal charges of trespass and theft.  To help avoid these and other problems, a carefully-written sales contract can give the seller a security interest in the horse, include a legally-proper UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) form, and specify from the start how and when the seller can repossess the horse.

Problem: The Horse Becomes Injured, Ill, or Dies Before the Final Payment

What if the horse becomes lame or sick while in the buyer's care?  Even worse, what if the horse dies before the seller has been fully paid?  When these unfortunate events occur, some buyers simply stop paying.  To protect the seller, a sales contract can specify that the buyer exclusively bears all risk of the horse's loss after the horse is delivered to the buyer or after the buyer signs the contract.  Also, the contract can require that the horse be insured with a full mortality insurance policy with proceeds, if any, payable to the seller representing the remaining installments.

Problem: Legal Fees

Installment sales arrangements can generate costly legal battles.  Banks are prepared with a staff of lawyers, but horse sellers often have limited funds.  A sales contract can specify that the buyer agrees to pay the seller's legal fees in the event of a legal dispute.  Sometimes, sales contracts state that the "loser pays" if a legal dispute arises out of the contract.  As this author has learned, there is never a guarantee that a court will enforce these provisions, but without them the seller has virtually no chance of recouping the cost of his or her legal bills.

If you have questions about installment sales, please give me a call or send me an email using the form below.

Categories: Sales/Disputes

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is considered to be one of the nation's leading attorneys in the field of equine law. She has successfully tried equine cases before juries in four states. A frequent author and speaker on legal issues, she has written over 400 published articles, four books, and has lectured at seminars, conventions, and conferences in 29 states on issues involving law, liability, risk management, and insurance. For more information, please also visit www.fershtmanlaw.com and www.equinelaw.net, and www.equinelaw.info.

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Contact Us - Julie Fershtman

"Julie Fershtman is considered by many to be the nation's leading expert on equine activity liability acts. Her 30-minute presentation for a recent educational webinar on equine activity liability acts for the American Horse Council is available for viewing. Please take a look, here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCROISSPMJs

Fershtman’s Equine Law Book Wins Fourth National Award

Julie Fershtman’s latest book, Equine Law and Horse Sense, won its fourth national award on May 31, 2021. It was selected to receive a "Finalist" Medal in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. 

The 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards are presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group, which is the largest International awards program for indie authors and independent publishers. Here’s a link for the complete list of 2021 winners and finalists: https://www.indiebookawards.com/winners.php?year=2021 

Fershtman’s Equine Law Book Receives Third National Award

Julie Fershtman’s book, Equine Law & Horse Sense, published by the American Bar Association, has been selected to receive a 2020 NYC Big Book Award in the category of “Reference” books.

The NYC Big Book Awards draws nominations world-wide. This is the third award for Fershtman’s book since its publication last year. Here is a link for more information, and to see the list of winners: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2020winners

Information on the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/164105493X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

Equine Blog Ranked in Feedspot

Foster Swift's Equine Law Blog was ranked #8 in Feedspot.com's "15 Best Equine Law Blogs and Websites".

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

In 2022, Julie Fershtman is scheduled to be a speaker on equine liability at these conventions:

Fershtman’s Equine Law Book Receives Second National Award

Julie Fershtman’s book, Equine Law & Horse Sense, published by the American Bar Association, has been selected to receive a 2020 NYC Big Book Award in the category of “Reference” books.

The NYC Big Book Awards draws nominations world-wide. This is the third award for Fershtman’s book since its publication last year. Here is a link for more information, and to see the list of winners: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2020winners

Information on the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/164105493X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

Honors & Recognitions

Equine lawyer, Julie Fershtman, has received these prestigious equine industry awards from respected equine organizations:

"Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award" - American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Law Section Animal Law Committee

"Distinguished Service Award" - American Youth Horse Council

"Industry Service Award" - Michigan Equine Partnership

"Catalyst Award"- Michigan Horse Council

"Outstanding Achievement Award" - American Riding Instructors Association 

"Partner in Safety Award" - American Riding Instructors Association 

"Associate Service Award" - United Professional Horseman's Association

"National Partnership in Safety" Award" - Certified Horsemanship Association 

Some of our Equine Law Services

Handling breach of contract, fraud/ misrepresentation, commercial code, and other claims involving equine-related transactions including purchases/sales, leases, mare leases/foal transfers, and partnerships.

Litigating a wide variety of equine-related disputes in court or through alternative dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation, facilitation).

Defending equine/farm/equestrian industry professionals,  businesses, and associations in personal injury claims and lawsuits.

Drafting and negotiating contracts for boarding, training, sales, waivers/releases, leases, and numerous other equine-related transactions.

Representing and advising insurers on  coverage and policy language as well as litigation;

Advising equine industry clubs and associations regarding management, rules, bylaws, disputes, and regulations.

Representing some of the equine industry's top trainers, competitors, stables, and associations.

Counseling industry professionals, stable managers, and individual horse owners. 

THE NATION'S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER EQUINE LAW SPEAKER

Did you know Julie Fershtman has spoken at the American Horse Council Annual Meeting, Equine Affaire, US Hunter/Jumper Association Annual Meeting, Midwest Horse Fair, Equitana USA, US Dressage Federation Annual Meeting, North American Riding for the Handicapped (now PATH International) Annual Meeting, American Paint Horse Association Annual Meeting, US Pony Clubs, Inc.'s Annual Meeting, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, American Youth Horse Council Annual Meeting, American Riding Instructors Association Annual Meeting, CHA Annual Meeting, and numerous others? Consider signing her up for your convention. Contact Julie directly.

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