Aforce majeure is an event beyond the control of the parties to a contract, which prevents or delays the performance of a contract obligation in an unanticipated way. Although force majeure events such as labor strikes, bad weather and materials shortages may complicate a construction subcontractor’s efforts to perform on schedule, courts of law are reluctant to excuse a subcontractor’s failure to perform due to such occurrences. After all, the major function of any written contract is to apportion responsibility for both controllable and uncontrollable risks. Courts ordinarily will hold contracting parties to the letter of a written agreement, rather than excuse either party’s performance due to occurrence of a force majeure event.