2006 New York Code - Special Provisions

 
  Section 7--304. Bills of Lading in a Set.
    (1)  Except  where  customary  in  overseas  transportation, a bill of
  lading must not be issued in a set of parts. The issuer  is  liable  for
  damages caused by violation of this subsection.
    (2)  Where  a bill of lading is lawfully drawn in a set of parts, each
  of which is numbered and expressed to be valid only if  the  goods  have
  not  been  delivered  against  any  other  part,  the whole of the parts
  constitute one bill.
    (3) Where a bill of lading is lawfully issued in a set  of  parts  and
  different  parts  are  negotiated to different persons, the title of the
  holder to whom the first due negotiation is made prevails as to both the
  document and the goods even though any later holder  may  have  received
  the  goods  from  the carrier in good faith and discharged the carrier's
  obligation by surrender of his part.
    (4) Any person who negotiates or transfers a single part of a bill  of
  lading  drawn  in  a set is liable to holders of that part as if it were
  the whole set.
    (5) The bailee is obliged to deliver in accordance with Part 4 of this
  Article against the first presented part of a bill  of  lading  lawfully
  drawn  in a set. Such delivery discharges the bailee's obligation on the
  whole bill.