One of the key aspects of negotiating force majeure clauses is to define the terms and conditions that will trigger and govern the application of the clause. You should be clear and specific about what constitutes a force majeure event, and avoid vague or broad terms that may create ambiguity or disputes.
Any events that are within the reasonable control of a party, occur as a result of negligence by one of the contracting parties, or are explicitly listed as exceptions in the force majeure clause, will not be deemed a force majeure event.
Clause 19.1 defines a force majeure event as one: which is beyond a Party's control, which such Party could not reasonably have provided against before entering into the Contract, which, having arisen, such Party could not reasonably have avoided or overcome, and.
The Limits of Force Majeure There are at least two principles that commonly limit the application of a force majeure clause: if the event (1) made performance impractical and (2) was the cause of a party's nonperformance.
Any events that are within the reasonable control of a party, occur as a result of negligence by one of the contracting parties, or are explicitly listed as exceptions in the force majeure clause, will not be deemed a force majeure event.
A force majeure clause typically excuses one or both parties from performance of the contract in some way following the occurrence of such events.
Parties seeking to rely on force majeure are required to show and evidence (i) that the event is unforeseeable and inevitable; (ii) that the event is out of the risks and liabilities under the contract; and (iii) the impact of such event on the performance of their obligations.
Examples of events that might trigger a force majeure clause into effect include a declaration of war, a disease epidemic, or a hurricane, earthquake, or other natural disaster events that fall under the legal term, “act of God.”
Either Party shall be excused from performance and shall not be in default in respect of any obligation hereunder to the extent that the failure to perform such obligation is due to a Natural Force Majeure Event.
Exhaustive, of examples of force majeure events. Force majeure events generally can be divided into two basic groups: natural events and political events. These may include earthquakes, floods, fire, plague, Acts of God (as defined in the contract or in applicable law) and other natural disasters.