2020 — Force Majeure SHOOK SHB.COM and Common Law Defenses A National Survey APRIL 2020 — Force Majeure and Common Law Defenses A National Survey Contractual force majeure provisions allocate risk of nonperformance due to events beyond the parties’ control. The occurrence of a force majeure event is akin to an affirmative defense to one’s obligations. This survey identifies issues to consider in light of controlling state law. Then we summarize the relevant law of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 2020 — Shook Force Majeure Amy Cho Thomas J. Partner Dammrich, II 312.704.7744 Partner Task Force [email protected] 312.704.7721 [email protected] Bill Martucci Lynn Murray Dave Schoenfeld Tom Sullivan Norma Bennett Partner Partner Partner Partner Of Counsel 202.639.5640 312.704.7766 312.704.7723 215.575.3130 713.546.5649 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SHOOK SHB.COM Melissa Sonali Jeanne Janchar Kali Backer Erin Bolden Nott Davis Gunawardhana Of Counsel Associate Associate Of Counsel Of Counsel 816.559.2170 303.285.5303 312.704.7716 617.531.1673 202.639.5643 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] John Constance Bria Davis Erika Dirk Emily Pedersen Lischen Reeves Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate 816.559.2017 816.559.0397 312.704.7768 816.559.2662 816.559.2056 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Katelyn Romeo Jon Studer Ever Tápia Matt Williams Associate Associate Vergara Associate 215.575.3114 312.704.7736 Associate 415.544.1932 [email protected] [email protected] 816.559.2946 [email protected] [email protected] ATLANTA | BOSTON | CHICAGO | DENVER | HOUSTON | KANSAS CITY | LONDON | LOS ANGELES MIAMI | ORANGE COUNTY | PHILADELPHIA | SAN FRANCISCO | SEATTLE | TAMPA | WASHINGTON, D.C. THE CHOICE OF A LAWYER IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION AND SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY UPON ADVERTISEMENTS. FORCE MAJEURE AND COMMON LAW DEFENSES Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Alabama ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Alaska ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Arizona ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Arkansas ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 California ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Colorado .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Delaware ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Florida ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 Georgia ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 Hawaii ............................................................................................................................................................ 28 Idaho .............................................................................................................................................................. 30 SHOOK SHOOK Illinois ............................................................................................................................................................ 33 SHB.COM SHB.COM Indiana ........................................................................................................................................................... 36 Iowa ............................................................................................................................................................... 38 Kansas ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 Kentucky ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 Louisiana ........................................................................................................................................................ 45 Maine ............................................................................................................................................................. 50 Maryland ........................................................................................................................................................ 52 Massachusetts ................................................................................................................................................ 56 Michigan ........................................................................................................................................................ 60 Minnesota ...................................................................................................................................................... 65 Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................... 70 Missouri ......................................................................................................................................................... 73 Montana ..........................................................................................................................................................75 Nebraska ......................................................................................................................................................... 77 Nevada............................................................................................................................................................ 80 FORCE MAJEURE AND COMMON LAW DEFENSES New Hampshire ............................................................................................................................................. 83 New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................... 85 New Mexico .................................................................................................................................................... 89 New York ........................................................................................................................................................ 94 North Carolina ............................................................................................................................................... 99 North Dakota ................................................................................................................................................ 101 Ohio ............................................................................................................................................................. 104 Oklahoma ...................................................................................................................................................... 107 Oregon ........................................................................................................................................................... 110 Pennsylvania ................................................................................................................................................. 113 Rhode Island ................................................................................................................................................. 116 South Carolina ............................................................................................................................................. 120 South Dakota ................................................................................................................................................. 123 Tennessee ...................................................................................................................................................... 125 Texas ............................................................................................................................................................ 128 SHOOK SHOOK Utah .............................................................................................................................................................. 133 SHB.COM SHB.COM Vermont .......................................................................................................................................................