ANALYSIS: Coronavirus Shuts Down Contracts, Too

At what point does the coronavirus health crisis get you out of a contract? Short answer: when the epidemic interrupts delivery of services or products. Ripple effects from the widespread illnesses may also interfere with legal obligations. A market or supply chain may fail as a result of a series of disruptions, or a government may impose quarantines or impose public health regulations or other rules that make it impossible for parties to follow through with their commercial obligations.

Force Majeure (‘Superior Force’) Clauses

Disease and quarantine may not be listed specifically as force majeure events in many contracts. But ...