Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A murder clause is a rule in a contract that makes one person have to do really hard things that might not be fair. This usually happens in contracts for building things.
A murder clause is a provision in a contract that places unfair and difficult obligations on one party. These clauses are commonly found in construction contracts.
Imagine a construction company signs a contract with a client to build a new office building. The contract includes a murder clause that states if any worker on the construction site is killed, the construction company will be held responsible and must pay a large sum of money to the client. This clause places an unreasonable burden on the construction company, as accidents can happen on any job site and it is not always possible to prevent them.
Another example could be a contract between a landlord and a tenant that includes a murder clause. If the tenant or anyone on the property is killed, the landlord may be held responsible and required to pay damages. This clause places an unfair burden on the landlord, as they cannot control the actions of others on the property.
These examples illustrate how murder clauses can be unreasonable and place unfair obligations on one party in a contract.