Legal Term: DAMNUM FATALE

Definition: civil law. Damages caused by a fortuitous event, or inevitable accident, damages arising from the act of God. Among these were included losses by shipwreck, lightning, or other casualty, also losses by pirates or by vis major, by fire, robbery, and burglary, but theft was not numbered among these casualties. 2. In general, bailees are not liable for such damages. Story, Bailm. p. 471.

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