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act of God

An Act of God is a natural force outside of human control (such as an earthquake, tsunami, or hurricane), and may relieve a party or parties to a contract or agreement from having to perform their obligations. Such Acts of God are often addressed in a force majeure clause, which typically appears near the end of the contract or agreement.

In Ohio, as in many jurisdictions, an 'Act of God' refers to natural events that are outside human control and cannot be anticipated or prevented, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or hurricanes. These events may excuse parties from performing their contractual obligations if such performance becomes impossible or impracticable due to these unforeseen events. Force majeure clauses, which are commonly included in contracts, specifically address the consequences of such Acts of God by defining the scope of unforeseeable events and setting forth the rights and obligations of the parties when such events occur. The enforceability and interpretation of force majeure clauses in Ohio depend on the specific language of the clause and the circumstances surrounding the event. Ohio courts will generally enforce these clauses according to their terms, provided they are clear and specific, and the event falls within the scope of the clause. It is important for parties to a contract to carefully review and understand the force majeure clause to ensure it adequately protects their interests in the event of an Act of God.

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Contracts

act of God

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Contracts

act of God

Ohio State Code