Legal Definitions - Dieu son acte

Definition: Dieu son acte (dyuu sawnakt), n. [Law Latin “an act of God”] Hist. An act of God, beyond human control.

Explanation: Dieu son acte is a legal term that refers to an event or circumstance that is beyond human control. It is often used in insurance policies to describe events that are not covered by the policy because they are considered acts of God.

Examples: Examples of dieu son acte include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. These events are beyond human control and cannot be prevented or predicted. Other examples include pandemics, epidemics, and other health crises that are caused by viruses or other natural phenomena.

Illustration: For example, if a person's home is damaged by a hurricane, the insurance company may not cover the cost of repairs because the hurricane is considered an act of God. Similarly, if a business is forced to close due to a pandemic, the business owner may not be able to collect insurance benefits because the pandemic is beyond human control.