If a contract is silent on force majeure or if the event does not meet the definition of force majeure under the parties' contract, a party's performance may still be excused in certain circumstances under the doctrine of commercial impracticability.
Typically, the clause will define the specific events or circumstances that qualify as force majeure, providing a non-exhaustive list of examples. These examples often encompass natural disasters, acts of God, riots, embargoes, or any other events that are considered extraordinary and beyond the control of the parties.
Commonly referred to as “acts of God”, force majeure events are unforeseeable, exceptional or out with the control of contracting parties. Examples include natural disaster, terrorism, industrial strike action, fire and pandemic/epidemic events such as Covid-19.
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.
Many contracts include a "force majeure" or "act of God" clause. A force majeure clause is a part of a contract that says if something unexpected happens, one or both parties may be excused from doing what the contract says they should do.
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.
Force majeure clause samples 10.2 The Party affected by Force Majeure shall not assume any liability under this Agreement. Section 15.12 Force Majeure. 6.4 If the agreement cannot be performed due to force majeure, the responsibility shall be exempted in part or in whole ing to the influence of force majeure.
The force majeure clause is a contract provision that relieves involved parties from performing their contract obligations if extreme circumstances or “major unforeseen events” outside of their control arise that would make performing these obligations impossible, inadvisable, or dangerous.
Templates. “Force Majeure: Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of any obligations under this Agreement, except for the obligation to make payments, if such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure event.