§ 3—311. Accord and satisfaction by use of instrument
(a) If a person against whom a claim is asserted proves that (i) that person in good faith
tendered an instrument to the claimant as full satisfaction of the claim, (ii) the
amount of the claim was unliquidated or subject to a bona fide dispute, and (iii)
the claimant obtained payment of the instrument, the following subsections apply.
(b) Unless subsection (c) of this section applies, the claim is discharged if the person
against whom the claim is asserted proves that the instrument or an accompanying written
communication contained a conspicuous statement to the effect that the instrument
was tendered as full satisfaction of the claim.
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, a claim is not discharged under subsection
(b) of this section if either of the following applies:
(1) The claimant, if an organization, proves that (i) within a reasonable time before
the tender, the claimant sent a conspicuous statement to the person against whom the
claim is asserted that communications concerning disputed debts, including an instrument
tendered as full satisfaction of a debt, are to be sent to a designated person, office,
or place, and (ii) the instrument or accompanying communication was not received by
that designated person, office, or place.
(2) The claimant, whether or not an organization, proves that within 90 days after payment
of the instrument, the claimant tendered repayment of the amount of the instrument
to the person against whom the claim is asserted. This subdivision does not apply
if the claimant is an organization that sent a statement complying with subdivision
(1)(i) of this subsection.
(d) A claim is discharged if the person against whom the claim is asserted proves that
within a reasonable time before collection of the instrument was initiated, the claimant,
or an agent of the claimant having direct responsibility with respect to the disputed
obligation, knew that the instrument was tendered in full satisfaction of the claim.
(e) This section shall not apply to 9 V.S.A. § 4461, relating to security deposits for residential rental units. (Added 1993, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; amended 2009, No. 129 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)