Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A commodity or article of commerce offered or sold in trade.
Sources & Authorities· 29 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Foreign Manufacturer Ships Merx
A foreign company places merx into the national distribution network without directing any shipments to a particular state. Mason McCarthy receives defective merx in his home forum and sues the manufacturer there. The court dismisses for lack of personal jurisdiction because the company never targeted the forum state specifically.
Oral Promise Involving Merx
Megan Moore orally promises to pay a broker if the broker induces a seller to transfer merx located on Blackacre. The broker performs but Moore refuses to pay. The court holds the promise is not within the statute of frauds because it concerns a commission rather than an interest in land itself.
Marathon Logistics contracts to sell merx but the buyer repudiates before identification. The seller elects to stop any bailee from delivering the still-unidentified merx. The buyer later claims the goods, but the seller's action under the code prevents release.
State Conditions on Merx Resale
A state sells merx it owns to local buyers but requires them to process the goods inside the state before any out-of-state shipment. Mirage Hotels purchases the merx and challenges the restriction. The court invalidates the downstream condition as an improper burden on interstate commerce.
Buyer Seeks Replevin of Merx
Metro Bank contracts to buy identified merx but the seller fails to deliver. The bank sues and obtains a court order for replevin of the goods. The seller's refusal to release the merx is overcome by the statutory remedy.
Service on Owner of Merx
Musa Mensah owns merx located inside the forum state. A plaintiff serves process on the merx itself to enforce a claim against it. The court recognizes the proceeding as one in rem that binds only the property within the state's borders.
Pennoyer v. Neff95 U.S. 714, 732–33 (1878)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
Does the term merx encompass only tangible goods?+
The term refers to articles of commerce that qualify as goods under property law and are distinct from interests in land.
How does placement of merx in the stream of commerce affect jurisdiction?+
Mere placement into national commerce without purposeful targeting of the forum state is insufficient to support personal jurisdiction over a foreign seller of the merx.
When may a buyer obtain replevin of merx?+
A buyer may replevy merx identified to the contract when the seller fails to deliver and cover is not reasonably available.
326 U.S. 310 (1945)Civil Procedure
…places of business in several states, other than Washington, at which its manufacturing is carried on and from which its merchandise is distributed interstate through several sales units or branches located outside the State of Washington. Appellant has no office in Washington and makes no contracts either for sale or…
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