Commercial Lawyering for the End of the World

With the apocalypse less than 24 hours away, it is probably too late for any last-minute precautions. This bit of flotsam, which has been drifting around since the early days of the Internet, shows that at least a few commercial lawyers had covered every eventuality for default:

12.7       
END OF WORLD.  In the event that the world as known to mankind shall come
to an end, whether through natural forces (including, without limitation,
plague, drought, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods), manmade forces
(including, without limitation, nuclear or biological war, pollution and global
warming), or divine forces (including, without limitation, the Second Coming,
the Mayan Cataclysm, and the Rapture, regardless of religious affiliation of
Bank or Borrower), then, in such event, all outstanding principal, interest,
fees and charges remaining under the Loan Documents shall immediately become
due and payable to Bank at Bank’s offices or designated shelter, without notice
of any kind of character, all such notice being hereby waived by Borrower, and
Borrower agrees that the end of the world shall not be deemed or construed to
constitute a valid excuse or defense to payment; provided further, that in the
event that the end of the world shall be divinely inspired, then, in such
event, Borrower further agrees that Bank shall be aligned with forces of
goodness and light, and Borrower shall be aligned with the forces of evil and
darkness, and that Borrower shall be cast into a pit of fire until all sums
owing under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, shall be fully paid;
provided further, that in the event that Borrower should be reincarnated
subsequent to the end of the world, whether as an animal, vegetable or mineral,
then, in such event, Bank shall have and possess, in addition to the collateral
stated in the Loan Documents, a security interest in all of Borrower’s useful
products, including, without limitation, any and all fur, hide, meat, edible
portions, medicinal properties, and mineral rights, to further secure the
prompt payment of all sums owing under the Loan Documents. 

This may be satire, but based on a few default clauses I have seen, only just so.

Hat tip to Alan Wenokur, an attorney in Seattle for sending this to me. And, thank you to Steven Roach of Miller Canfield in Detroit who disclaimed original authorship but, in the best tradition of our profession, built on the work of our predecessors to produce this gem.

Apocalypse image from Shutter stock.