Can a gold store make you pay back money after theybuy your item and then later find out it’s fake?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can a gold store make you pay back money after theybuy your item and then later find out it’s fake?

I had no clue that it was not genuine.

Asked on December 27, 2011 under Business Law, Tennessee

Answers:

Kenneth Avila / Kenneth Avila, Patent Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

There are two areas of law that are applicable here - Common Law Contract Law and UCC Contract Law.  If the gold was in such a form to make it unique than Common Law will apply, otherwise UCC will apply.  The gold item is unique if it is the only one of its kind.  Example would be a gold sculpture by a famous artist or a gold ring that had been in the family for many years.  Those are one of a kind and cannot be replaced if lost.  The facts here seem to indicate that the item is not unique.  If that is the case then UCC law will apply.  However I will analyze your question under both laws.

Common Law - Mutual Mistake

Mutual Mistake is a material misrepresentation of fact that goes to the essence of the contract.  The facts do not indicate how you represented the gold item but if you told the gold store that the item was gold then you made a misrepresentation.  If you stated to the store that the gold was the "best gold to be found in the state" then your statement is not of fact but what we call "puffing".  However if you stated that the item was gold then it would be a fact.  Here is suspect that you were not puffing but stating a fact to the store.  Finally the fact went to the essence of the contract (your selling of the item to the store in exchange for money is considered a contract) because both you and the store believed the item to be valuable gold.

So in summary we have what is referred to as a mutual mistake.  At common law there is no contract formed when both parties were mutually mistaken by the subject matter of the contract.  Since no contract was formed the store has the right to request that you return the money.

UCC Law - Express Warranty

As discussed in the first paragraph I believe that UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) law is applicable here.  Under UCC Law there exists a concept called "Express Warranty".  An express warranty exists when the seller (you) makes a statement of fact, in writing or orally, about the goods being sold to the buyer.  If you told the store that the item was gold then you have made an express warranty to the store that the item is indeed gold.  If you told the store "I think this item is gold but I am not sure" then you have not made an express warranty that the item is gold.  If you did make an express warranty to the store then the store can sue you to recover their loss.

Good Faith Sale

You stated that you believed the item to be gold.  In legal terms we say that you acted in "good faith".  However note that good faith does not "trump" an express warranty or a mutual mistake.

Conclusion

In conclusion, from the simple facts presented, it would seem to me that the gold store has the legal right to get back from you the money they paid for the "gold" item as long as they are willing to return the "gold" item to you.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption