30-9A-626. Action in which deficiency or surplus is in issue. (1) In an action arising from a transaction, other than a consumer transaction, in which the amount of a deficiency or surplus is in issue, the following rules apply:
(a) A secured party need not prove compliance with the provisions of this part relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance unless the debtor or a secondary obligor places the secured party's compliance in issue.
(b) If the secured party's compliance is placed in issue, the secured party has the burden of establishing that the collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance was conducted in accordance with this part.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in 30-9A-628, if a secured party fails to prove that the collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance was conducted in accordance with the provisions of this part relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance, the liability of a debtor or a secondary obligor for a deficiency is limited to an amount by which the sum of the secured obligation, expenses, and attorneys fees exceeds the greater of:
(i) the proceeds of the collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance; or
(ii) the amount of proceeds that would have been realized had the noncomplying secured party proceeded in accordance with the provisions of this part relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance.
(d) For purposes of subsection (1)(c)(ii), the amount of proceeds that would have been realized is equal to the sum of the secured obligation, expenses, and attorneys fees unless the secured party proves that the amount is less than that sum.
(e) If a deficiency or surplus is calculated under 30-9A-615(6), the debtor or obligor has the burden of establishing that the amount of proceeds of the disposition is significantly below the range of prices that a complying disposition to a person other than the secured party, a person related to the secured party, or a secondary obligor would have brought.
(2) The limitation of the rules in subsection (1) to transactions other than consumer transactions is intended to leave to the court the determination of the proper rules in consumer transactions. The court may not infer from that limitation the nature of the proper rule in consumer transactions and may continue to apply established approaches.
History: En. Sec. 123, Ch. 305, L. 1999; Sec. 30-9-626, MCA 1999; redes. 30-9A-626 by Code Commissioner, 2001.