---
title: O.C.G.A. § 44-12-45. When act of God or contract exception available as defense.
collection: code
id: 44-12-45
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 44-12-45 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-45
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-45.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-45/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t44-ch8-15-(v32)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9e9e06de_0#page=205
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-44.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-60.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PROPERTY / RIGHTS IN PERSONALTY / BAILMENTS / IN GENERAL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 44-12-45. When act of God or contract exception available as defense.

In order for a bailee to avail himself of an act of God or an exception under the contract as a defense, he must establish not only that the act of God or excepted fact ultimately occasioned the loss but that his own negligence did not contribute to the loss.

## History

Civil Code 1895, § 2265; Civil Code 1910, § 2713; Code 1933, § 12-106.

## Cross References

Risk of loss in the absence of breach, § 11-2-509.

## History of Section.

This Code section is derived from the decision in Richmond & D.R.R. v. White & Co., 88 Ga. 805, 15 S.E. 802 (1892).