30-3-607. Discharge of indorsers and accommodation parties. (1) For the purposes of this section, the term "indorser" includes a drawer having the obligation stated in 30-3-423(3).
(2) Discharge of the obligation of a party to the instrument under 30-3-605 does not discharge the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the discharged party.
(3) If a person entitled to enforce an instrument agrees, with or without consideration, to a material modification of the obligation of a party to the instrument, including an extension of the due date, there is discharge of the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the person whose obligation is modified to the extent the modification causes loss to the indorser or accommodation party with respect to the right of recourse. The indorser or accommodation party is considered to have suffered loss as a result of the modification equal to the amount of the right of recourse unless the person enforcing the instrument proves that no loss was caused by the modification or that the loss caused by the modification was less than the amount of the right of recourse.
(4) If the obligation of a party to an instrument is secured by an interest in collateral and impairment of the value of the interest is caused by a person entitled to enforce the instrument, there is discharge of the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the obligor to the extent of the impairment. The value of an interest in collateral is impaired to the extent the value of the interest is reduced to an amount less than the amount of the right of recourse of the party asserting discharge or the reduction in value of the interest causes an increase in the amount by which the amount of the right of recourse exceeds the value of the interest. The burden of proving impairment is on the party asserting discharge.
(5) If the obligation of a party to an instrument is secured by an interest in collateral not provided by an accommodation party and the value of the interest is impaired by a person entitled to enforce the instrument, the obligation of any party who is jointly and severally liable with respect to the secured obligation is discharged to the extent the impairment causes the party asserting discharge to pay more than that party would have been obliged to pay, taking into account rights of contribution, if impairment had not occurred. If the party asserting discharge is an accommodation party not entitled to discharge under subsection (4), the party is considered to have a right to contribution based on joint and several liability rather than a right to reimbursement. The burden of proving impairment is on the party asserting discharge.
(6) Under subsection (4) or (5), causation of impairment includes:
(a) failure to obtain or maintain perfection or recordation of the interest in collateral;
(b) release of collateral without substitution of collateral of equal value;
(c) failure to perform a duty to preserve the value of collateral owed, under chapter 9A or other law, to a debtor or surety or other person secondarily liable; or
(d) failure to comply with applicable law in disposing of collateral.
(7) An accommodation party is not discharged under subsection (3) or (4) unless the person agreeing to the modification or causing the impairment knows of the accommodation or has notice under 30-3-415(3) that the instrument was signed for accommodation. There is no discharge of any party under subsection (3), (4), or (5) if:
(a) the party asserting discharge consents to the event or conduct that is the basis of the discharge; or
(b) the instrument or a separate agreement of the party provides for waiver of discharge under this section, either specifically or by general language, indicating that parties to the instrument waive defenses based on suretyship or impairment of collateral.
History: En. Sec. 154, Ch. 410, L. 1991.