FORCE MAJEURE
[French, A superior or irresistible power.] An
event that is a result of the elements of nature, as
opposed to one caused by human behavior.
The term force majeure relates to the law of
insurance and is frequently used in construc-
tion contracts to protect the parties in the event
that a segment of the contract cannot be per-
formed due to causes that are outside the con-
trol of the parties, such as natural disasters,
that could not be evaded through the exercise of
