{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-28-7-403","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 28:7-403","heading":"Obligation of bailee to deliver; excuse.","body":"(a)\nA bailee shall deliver the goods to a person entitled under a document of title if the person complies with subsections (b) and (c) of this section, unless and to the extent that the bailee establishes any of the following:\n(1)\nDelivery of the goods to a person whose receipt was rightful as against the claimant;\n(2)\nDamage to or delay, loss, or destruction of the goods for which the bailee is not liable;\n(3)\nPrevious sale or other disposition of the goods in lawful enforcement of a lien or on a warehouse’s lawful termination of storage;\n(4)\nThe exercise by a seller of its right to stop delivery pursuant to § 28:2-705 or by a lessor of its right to stop delivery pursuant to § 28:2A-526;\n(5)\nA diversion, reconsignment, or other disposition pursuant to § 28:7-303;\n(6)\nRelease, satisfaction, or any other personal defense against the claimant; or\n(7)\nAny other lawful excuse.\n\n(b)\nA person claiming goods covered by a document of title shall satisfy the bailee’s lien if the bailee so requests or if the bailee is prohibited by law from delivering the goods until the charges are paid.\n\n(c)\nUnless a person claiming the goods is a person against which the document of title does not confer a right under § 28:7-503(a):\n(1)\nThe person claiming under a document shall surrender possession or control of any outstanding negotiable document covering the goods for cancellation or indication of partial deliveries; and\n(2)\nThe bailee shall cancel the document or conspicuously indicate in the document the partial delivery or the bailee is liable to any person to which the document is duly negotiated.","path":["Title 28. Commercial Instruments and Transactions. [Enacted title]","Subtitle I. Uniform Commercial Code.","Article 7. Documents of Title.","Part 1. General."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/28:7-403","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"3b65a35f4b9b8290a1e1798bf63c0255e5fd469910d0bd99375f4e3c68bc2097","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-28-7-402","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-28-7-404"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}