does a pandemic like covid 19 qualify for force majeure 
the 2020 pandemic opened new litigations regarding force majeure clauses in virginia regal cinemas theaters ceased operations because of the pandemic the united states district court for the western district of virginia ruled that the force majeure clause in the lease executed between the parties only applied if the complex or other improvements on the property or any part thereof are damaged or destroyed by fire flood natural causes or other casualties the covid 19 pandemic did not excuse regal cinemas from its performance under its contract a ruling in favor of the university of vermont also found that because its closure was due to the covid 19 pandemic and not another catastrophe the university did not have to issue refunds for housing or meal plans 5the bottom lineforce majeure clauses enable parties to better manage risk and protect themselves if something unthinkable happens to implement the clause and abandon provisions of a contract or actions under the contract an event must be unforeseeable external to the contract parties and serious enough to render it impossible for the party to perform contractual obligations 