The opportunity came when United Airlines, citing poor service, canceled a contract making Mesa its feeder in Denver and on the West Coast--a gut-wrenching 48% of Mesa's revenues.

FORBES: Second act

By 2009, however, the cost of the program had ballooned, and, under political pressure, President Barack Obama canceled the contract and asked the Navy to find a cheaper option.

WSJ: China Eyes U.S. Defense Contracts

Shapiro refused to pay and later canceled the contract.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In 2005 the South African High Court canceled a 2002 contract with the Limpopo province after a competing agency accused a Net 1 partner of bribery.

FORBES: Great Expectations

Deals between insurers are sometimes canceled midstream by invoking contract clauses or through negotiation.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But in February 2011, the government canceled Devas's contract with Antrix, saying that the bandwidth allotted was needed for "strategic requirements, " such as defense, railways and public utilities.

WSJ: Deutsche Telekom, U.S. Firms Scrap With India Over Scuttled Satellite Deal

Then Venezuela abruptly canceled a huge voting machine contract, but only after AVM had borrowed up to the hilt to tool up for the order.

FORBES: Indestructible

"They did not fulfill their contract, so it was canceled, " he says of Lukoil.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The contract bidding for a "senior government-to-government assistance adviser" was canceled after questions were raised.

NPR: AP Exclusive: Possible USAID Bid Rigging Probed

These failures represent canceled sales contracts resulting from unqualified mortgage applications, appraisal values below the sales price, unsatisfactory home inspections and unfulfilled contract contingencies.

FORBES: Why You Should Wait To Buy A House