Legal Definitions - extraordinary circumstances

Extraordinary circumstances refer to events or situations that are highly unusual, unpredictable, and beyond the reasonable control or foresight of an individual or entity. These are not merely inconvenient or difficult situations, but rather unforeseen occurrences that significantly alter expected conditions or make it impossible to fulfill obligations through ordinary means. They often involve events that could not have been anticipated or prevented with reasonable care and planning.

Here are some examples illustrating extraordinary circumstances:

• Imagine a small, independent bookstore that had ordered a large shipment of new releases for a major holiday sales event. Just days before the shipment was due, an unprecedented, region-wide blizzard, the worst in 50 years, completely shut down all roads and transportation networks for over a week, making it impossible for the books to be delivered on time.

  Explanation: While bad weather is common, a blizzard of such extreme and paralyzing magnitude, occurring so close to a critical deadline and preventing all transportation, goes beyond ordinary weather disruptions. It's an unforeseen event that the bookstore, despite reasonable planning, could not have anticipated or mitigated, making timely delivery impossible.

• Consider a couple who booked a non-refundable cruise vacation months in advance. A week before their departure, one of them suffers a sudden, severe medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization and surgery, making travel impossible and unsafe.

  Explanation: A sudden, severe medical emergency that necessitates immediate hospitalization and prevents travel is an extraordinary circumstance. While minor illnesses can be anticipated, an unexpected, critical health crisis is unpredictable and beyond the couple's control, fundamentally altering their ability to proceed with their plans.

• A construction company is contracted to complete a building project by a specific date. During the final phase of construction, an unexploded historical ordnance (like an old bomb from a past war) is unexpectedly discovered deep underground at the site, requiring immediate evacuation and a lengthy, specialized removal process by authorities, halting all work for several weeks.

  Explanation: The discovery of unexploded ordnance is an extraordinary circumstance. It's a highly unusual, unpredictable event that poses a significant safety risk and requires specialized intervention, completely stopping the construction work. This is not something a construction company could reasonably foresee or prevent during routine site preparation, making it impossible to meet the original deadline.