N.J.S.A. 12A:7-302 — Through bills of lading and similar documents of title.

12A:7-302. Through bills of lading and similar documents of title. 12A:7-302. Through Bills of Lading And Similar Documents of Title. a. The issuer of a through bill of lading, or other document of title embodying an undertaking to be performed in part by a person acting as its agent or by a performing carrier, is liable to any person entitled to recover on the bill or other document for any breach by the other person or the performing carrier of its obligation under the bill or other document. However, to the extent that the bill or other document covers an undertaking to be performed overseas or in territory not contiguous to the continental United States or an undertaking including matters other than transportation, this liability for breach by the other person or the performing carrier may be varied by agreement of the parties. b. If goods covered by a through bill of lading or other document of title embodying an undertaking to be performed in part by a person other than the issuer are received by that person, the person is subject, with respect to its own performance while the goods are in its possession, to the obligation of the issuer. The person's obligation is discharged by delivery of the goods to another person pursuant to the bill or other document and does not include liability for breach by any other person or by the issuer. c. The issuer of a through bill of lading or other document of title described in subsection a. of this section is entitled to recover from the performing carrier, or other person in possession of the goods when the breach of the obligation under the bill or other document occurred: (1) the amount it may be required to pay to any person entitled to recover on the bill or other document for the breach, as may be evidenced by any receipt, judgment, or transcript of judgment; and (2) the amount of any expense reasonably incurred by the issuer in defending any action commenced by any person entitled to recover on the bill or other document for the breach. L.2013, c.65, s.2. 12A:7-303. Diversion; reconsignment; change of instructions. a. Unless the bill of lading otherwise provides, a carrier may deliver the goods to a person or destination other than that stated in the bill or may otherwise dispose of the goods, without liability for misdelivery, on instructions from: (1) the holder of a negotiable bill; (2) the consignor on a nonnegotiable bill, even if the consignee has given contrary instructions; (3) the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill in the absence of contrary instructions from the consignor, if the goods have arrived at the billed destination or if the consignee is in possession of the tangible bill or in control of the electronic bill; or (4) the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill, if the consignee is entitled as against the consignor to dispose of the goods. b. Unless instructions described in subsection a. of this section are included in a negotiable bill of lading, a person to which the bill is duly negotiated may hold the bailee according to the original terms. L.2013, c.65, s.2.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 12A:7-302, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.