401.204
401.204
Time; reasonable time; "seasonably". 401.204(1)(1) Whenever
chs. 401 to
411 require any action to be taken within a reasonable time, any time which is not manifestly unreasonable may be fixed by agreement.
401.204(2)
(2) What is a reasonable time for taking any action depends on the nature, purpose and circumstances of such action.
401.204(3)
(3) An action is taken "seasonably" when it is taken at or within the time agreed or if no time is agreed at or within a reasonable time.
401.204 History
History: 1979 c. 89;
1991 a. 148,
304,
315.
401.205
401.205
Course of dealing and usage of trade. 401.205(1)
(1) A course of dealing is a sequence of previous conduct between the parties to a particular transaction which is fairly to be regarded as establishing a common basis of understanding for interpreting their expressions and other conduct.
401.205(2)
(2) A usage of trade is any practice or method of dealing having such regularity of observance in a place, vocation or trade as to justify an expectation that it will be observed with respect to the transaction in question. The existence and scope of such a usage are to be proved as facts. If it is established that such a usage is embodied in a written trade code or similar writing the interpretation of the writing is for the court.
401.205(3)
(3) A course of dealing between parties and any usage of trade in the vocation or trade in which they are engaged or of which they are or should be aware give particular meaning to and supplement or qualify terms of an agreement.
401.205(4)
(4) The express terms of an agreement and an applicable course of dealing or usage of trade shall be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but when such construction is unreasonable express terms control both course of dealing and usage of trade and course of dealing controls usage of trade.
401.205(5)
(5) An applicable usage of trade in the place where any part of performance is to occur shall be used in interpreting the agreement as to that part of the performance.
401.205(6)
(6) Evidence of a relevant usage of trade offered by one party is not admissible unless and until the party has given the other party such notice as the court finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise to the latter.
401.205 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
401.205 Annotation
A single incident does not constitute a "course of dealing" within the meaning of this section. Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines, LTD. v. STI Holdings, Inc.
481 F. Supp. 2d 963.
401.206
401.206
Statute of frauds for kinds of personal property not otherwise covered. 401.206(1)
(1) Except in the cases described in
sub. (2) a contract for the sale of personal property for the price of $5,000 or more is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless there is some writing which indicates that a contract for sale has been made between the parties at a defined or stated price, reasonably identifies the subject matter, and is signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by the party's authorized agent.
401.206(3)
(3) A contract which, but for
sub. (1) would be enforceable, is enforceable:
401.206(3)(a)
(a) If the party against whom enforcement is sought admits in that party's pleading, testimony or otherwise in court that a contract for sale was made, but the contract is not enforceable under
sub. (1) beyond the quantity or extent of personal property admitted; or
401.206(3)(b)
(b) With respect to personal property for which payment has been made and accepted or which has been received and accepted.
401.206 History
History: 1991 a. 316;
1997 a. 297.
401.206 Annotation
A memo regarding negotiations for a sale did not satisfy the statute of frauds. Dairyland Financial Corp. v. FICB of St. Paul,
852 F.2d 242 (7th Cir. 1988).
401.207
401.207
Performance or acceptance under reservation of rights. 401.207(1)(1) A party who, with explicit reservation of rights, performs or promises performance or assents to performance in a manner demanded or offered by the other party does not thereby prejudice the rights reserved. Such words as "without prejudice", "under protest" or the like are sufficient.
401.207(2)
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an accord and satisfaction.
401.207 History
History: 1995 a. 449.
401.207 Annotation
This section does not apply to "full payment" checks. Three rules relating to consideration and accord and satisfaction are discussed. Flambeau Products v. Honeywell Systems,
116 Wis. 2d 95,
341 N.W.2d 655 (1984).
401.208
401.208
Option to accelerate at will. A term providing that one party or the party's successor in interest may accelerate payment or performance or require collateral or additional collateral "at will" or "when the party deems himself or herself insecure" or in words of similar import shall be construed to mean that the party may do so only if the party in good faith believes that the prospect of payment or performance is impaired. The burden of establishing lack of good faith is on the party against whom the power has been exercised.
401.208 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
401.209
401.209
Subordinated obligations. An obligation may be issued as subordinated to payment of another obligation of the person obligated, or a creditor may subordinate the creditor's right to payment of an obligation by agreement with either the person obligated or another creditor of the person obligated. Such a subordination does not create a security interest as against either the common debtor or a subordinated creditor. This section shall be construed as declaring the law as it existed prior to the enactment of this section and not as modifying it.
401.209 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
