District Of Columbia § 28:7-306 - Altered bills of lading.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 28:7-306 — Altered bills of lading., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 28:7-306. Altered bills of lading.
28:7-306An unauthorized alteration or filling in of a blank in a bill of lading leaves the bill enforceable according to its original tenor.
Annotations
“Issuer”. Section 7-102.
“Bill of lading”. Section 1-201.
Sections 7-106 and 7-208.
An unauthorized alteration or filling in of a blank, whether made with or without fraudulent intent, does not relieve the issuer of its liability on the document as originally executed. This section applies to both tangible and electronic bills of lading, applying the same rule to both types of bills of lading. The control concept of Section 7-106 requires that any changes to the electronic document of title be readily identifiable as authorized or unauthorized. Section 7-306 should be compared to Section 7-208 where a different rule applies to the unauthorized filling in of a blank for tangible warehouse receipts.
None
Former Section 7-306.
“Issuer”. Section 7-102.
“Bill of lading”. Section 1-201.
The same rule is made applicable to the filling in of blanks, a matter on which the prior Acts were silent.
An unauthorized alteration whether made with or without fraudulent intent does not relieve the issuer of his liability on the document as originally executed. Uniform Warehouse Receipts Act 13 excused the issuer from any liability to a fraudulent alterer, other than the liability to deliver the goods according to the terms of the original document. It is difficult to conceive what liability the draftsman intended to excuse. Uniform Bills of Lading Act 16 contains no such excuse provision, and is followed in this respect in the present section. Uniform Bills of Lading Act 16 characterizes an unauthorized alteration as “void” but apparently nothing more was intended than that the alteration did not change the obligation of the issuer. This is sufficiently covered by the terms of this Section. Moreover cases are conceivable in which an alteration would not be “void”; for example, an alteration made by common consent of a transferor and transferee of a document might evidence an enforceable contract between them.
Generally revised and simplified; explicit treatment of the situation where a blank in an executed document is filled without authority.
Section 16, Uniform Bills of Lading Act.
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 28:7-306
What does D.C. Code § 28:7-306 cover?
Section 28:7-306 ("Altered bills of lading.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 28:7-306?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 28:7-306" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 28:7-306 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.