New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-508. Lessee’s remedies
(1) If a lessor fails to deliver the goods in conformity to the lease contract (section 55-2A-509 N.M. Stat. Ann.) or repudiates the lease contract (Section 55-2A-402 N.M. Stat. Ann.), or a lessee rightfully rejects the goods (Section 55-2A-509 N.M. Stat. Ann.) or justifiably revokes acceptance of the goods (Section 55-2A-517 N.M. Stat. Ann.), then with respect to any goods involved, and with respect to all of the goods if under an installment lease contract the value of the whole lease contract is substantially impaired (Section 55-2A-510 N.M. Stat. Ann.), the lessor is in default under the lease contract and the lessee may:
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-508
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- goods: means all things that are movable at the time of identification to the lease contract or are fixtures (Section New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
- installment lease contract: means a lease contract that authorizes or requires the delivery of goods in separate lots to be separately accepted, even though the lease contract contains a clause "each delivery is a separate lease" or its equivalent. See New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- lease: means a transfer of the right to possession and use of goods for a term in return for consideration, but a sale, including a sale on approval or a sale or return, or retention or creation of a security interest is not a lease. See New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
- lease contract: means the total legal obligation that results from the lease agreement as affected by this article and any other applicable rules of law. See New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
- lessee: means a person who acquires the right to possession and use of goods under a lease. See New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
- lessor: means a person who transfers the right to possession and use of goods under a lease. See New Mexico Statutes 55-2A-103
(a) cancel the lease contract (Section 55-2A-505(1) NMSA 1978);
(b) recover so much of the rent and security as has been paid and is just under the circumstances;
(c) cover and recover damages as to all goods affected whether or not they have been identified to the lease contract (Sections 55-2A-518 and 55-2A-520 N.M. Stat. Ann.), or recover damages for nondelivery (Sections 55-2A-519 and 55-2A-520 N.M. Stat. Ann.); or
(d) exercise any other rights or pursue any other remedies provided in the lease contract.
(2) If a lessor fails to deliver the goods in conformity to the lease contract or repudiates the lease contract, the lessee may also:
(a) if the goods have been identified, recover them (Section 55-2A-522 N.M. Stat. Ann.); or
(b) in a proper case, obtain specific performance or replevy the goods (Section 55-2A-521 N.M. Stat. Ann.).
(3) If a lessor is otherwise in default under a lease contract, the lessee may exercise the rights and pursue the remedies provided in the lease contract, which may include a right to cancel the lease, and in Section 55-2A-519(3) NMSA 1978.
(4) If a lessor has breached a warranty, whether express or implied, the lessee may recover damages (Section 55-2A-519(4) NMSA 1978).
(5) On rightful rejection or justifiable revocation of acceptance, a lessee has a security interest in goods in the lessee’s possession or control for any rent and security that has been paid and any expenses reasonably incurred in their inspection, receipt, transportation and care and custody and may hold those goods and dispose of them in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, subject to Section 55-2A-527(5) NMSA 1978.
(6) Subject to the provisions of Section 55-2A-407 N.M. Stat. Ann., a lessee, on notifying the lessor of the lessee’s intention to do so, may deduct all or any part of the damages resulting from any default under the lease contract from any part of the rent still due under the same lease contract.