2023 California Code › Commercial Code - COM › DIVISION 9 - SECURED TRANSACTIONS › CHAPTER 6 - Default › Section 9626.

9626. (a) 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:
(1) A secured party need not prove compliance with the provisions of this chapter relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance unless the debtor or a secondary obligor places the secured party’s compliance in issue.
(2) 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 chapter.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9628, if a secured party fails to prove that the collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance was conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter 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 attorney’s fees exceeds the greater of either of the following:
(A) The proceeds of the collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance.
(B) The amount of proceeds that would have been realized had the noncomplying secured party proceeded in accordance with the provisions of this chapter relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, or acceptance.
(4) For purposes of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3), the amount of proceeds that would have been realized is equal to the sum of the secured obligation, expenses, and attorney’s fees unless the secured party proves that the amount is less than that sum.
(5) If a deficiency or surplus is calculated under subdivision (f) of Section 9615, 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.
(b) In a consumer transaction, the following rules apply:
(1) In an action in which a deficiency or a surplus is an issue:
(A) A secured party has the burden of proving compliance with the provisions of this chapter relating to collection, enforcement, disposition, and acceptance whether or not the debtor or a secondary obligor places the secured party’s compliance in issue.
(B) If a deficiency or surplus is calculated under subdivision (f) of Section 9615, the secured party has the burden of establishing that the amount of proceeds of the disposition is not 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 debtor or any secondary obligor is liable for any deficiency only if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) It is not otherwise agreed or otherwise provided in the Retail Installment Sales Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1801), Title 2, Part 4, Division 3, Civil Code), and, in particular, Section 1812.5 of the Civil Code or any other statute.
(B) The debtor and obligor were given notice, in accordance with Sections 9611, 9612, and 9613, or Section 9614, as applicable, of the disposition of the collateral.
(C) The collection, enforcement, disposition, and acceptance by the secured party were conducted in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.
(3) Upon entry of a final judgment that the debtor or obligor is not liable for a deficiency by reason of paragraph (2) or subdivision (f) of Section 9615, the secured party may neither obtain a deficiency judgment nor retain a security interest in any other collateral of the debtor or obligor that secured the indebtedness for which the debtor or obligor is no longer liable.
(4) If, subsequent to a disposition that does not satisfy any one or more of the conditions set forth in paragraph (2), or subsequent to a disposition that is subject to subdivision (f) of Section 9615, the secured party disposes pursuant to this section of other collateral securing the same indebtedness, the debtor or obligor may, to the extent he or she is no longer liable for a deficiency judgment by reason of paragraph (2) or subdivision (f) of Section 9615, recover the proceeds realized from the subsequent dispositions, as well as any damages to which the debtor may be entitled if the subsequent disposition is itself noncomplying or otherwise wrongful.
(5) Nothing herein shall deprive the debtor of any right to recover damages from the secured party under subdivision (b) of Section 9625, or to offset any such damages against any claim by the secured party for a deficiency, or of any right or remedy to which the debtor may be entitled under any other law. A debtor or obligor in a consumer transaction shall not have any damages owed to it reduced by the amount of any deficiency that would have resulted had the disposition of the collateral by the secured party been conducted in conformity with this division.
(6) The secured party shall account to the debtor for any surplus, except as provided in Section 701.040 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(Amended (as to be added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991) by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1003, Sec. 47. Effective January 1, 2001. Addition and amendment operative July 1, 2001, by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 75, and Stats. 2000, Ch. 1003, Sec. 56.)