The coronavirus has toppled business as we know it, and many companies are attempting to right themselves by scaling back, including seeking to be excused from contractual obligations pursuant to a “force majeure” provision in their agreements. Force majeure is one of a handful of standard “boilerplate” contract terms that is often skimmed over (at best) or overlooked by the parties, given its relative unimportance as compared to more substantive provisions. However, when faced with unexpected and/or uncontrollable circumstances, a precisely worded force majeure clause can sometimes offer a lifeline that will excuse one party’s performance obligations.