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Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Weil v. Murray Case Brief

District Court, S.D. New York2001Docket #2233855
161 F. Supp. 2d 250 44 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 482 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4117 2001 WL 345222 Contracts Agency Commercial Law

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: An art dealer signed a contract to buy a painting, listing himself as “Buyer” but also referencing an “undisclosed principal.” The court held the dealer personally liable for the price and found a triable issue of fact as to whether another dealer was a liable principal.

Legal Significance: An agent who signs a contract for a partially disclosed principal is personally liable. An act inconsistent with the seller’s ownership, such as altering the goods, constitutes acceptance under UCC § 2-606, entitling the seller to an action for the price under § 2-709.

Weil v. Murray Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Plaintiffs Robert and Jean Weil agreed to sell an Edgar Degas painting for $1 million. Defendant Mark Murray, an art dealer, negotiated the purchase. The final written agreement, signed by Murray and the Weils, identified Murray as the “Buyer.” However, the contract also stated, “It is understood that the eventual Buyer is an Undisclosed Principal client of Mark Murray, and that said undisclosed principal shall also be bound by this agreement.” Murray claimed he was acting for another dealer, defendant Ian Peck, who denied authorizing the purchase but whose attorney drafted an initial version of the agreement. After the contract was signed but before payment was due, the painting was sent to a conservator for restoration work, which Peck paid for. The Weils never received the $1 million payment and eventually took back possession of the painting. They sued Murray for the contract price and Peck as the alleged principal.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Under UCC Article 2 and the common law of agency, is an agent who signs a contract as “Buyer” personally liable for the purchase price, and can the partially disclosed principal also be held liable if a jury finds an agency relationship existed?

Yes. Summary judgment for the seller against the agent (Murray) for the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea c

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Under UCC Article 2 and the common law of agency, is an agent who signs a contract as “Buyer” personally liable for the purchase price, and can the partially disclosed principal also be held liable if a jury finds an agency relationship existed?

Conclusion

This case illustrates the intersection of UCC sales principles and agency law, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris n

Legal Rule

1. Under N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-709(1)(a), a seller may recover the full Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est

Legal Analysis

The court first addressed Murray's liability. It rejected his argument that the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • An agent (Murray) who signs a contract as “Buyer” is personally
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Ex

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