My Latin is rusty, but I believe the above phrase
describes exactly what we are now witnessing in the case of Johnson vs. Sandwich School Committee, Marshall, Crossman, Kangas and Linehan.
While most of the general public has moved on to iPads,
STEM, and other pressing issues (soccer, Pop Warner, and North Face jackets), the Johnson case continues to wind its way slowly through the
justice system. The most recent report is
that the "Discovery" phase of the case is expected to run through March 15 of next year. So far, the State Appeals Court & the State Supreme Court have "discovered" that there was a valid contract and that nobody made a proper effort to void it.
I'm not sure what's left ..... other than running up the legal bills and continuing to delay accepting responsibility for the "real" decision -- who wants to be in the room when its time to approve a settlement?
Without talking to anybody, if I was a fly on the wall, this is what I bet i would hear:
From the School Committee: "We have no money. She's a Town employee, the BOS needs to fund a settlement."
From the BOS: "The School Committee caused this when they didn't bother going to court to void the contract. We warned them they were being irresponsible, but they did it anyway. We know that two of the four culprits aren't on the Committee anymore -- but, Screw them!"
From FinCom: "The Schools would have had the money to settle this lawsuit if they hadn't gone on their year-end shopping spree. We like the Superintendent, but he left his Committee hanging in the breeze with their pants down on this issue. The Committee should have discussed year-end spending including a litigation reserve -- not just allow this hot potato to get dumped back on the Town."
From Kangas: "We need to stop kids from leaving the District, regardless of what it costs ... What? That wasn't what you asked? Oh, What was the question again?"
From Crossman: "We were thinking about maybe having a meeting to talk about forming a subcommittee to maybe have a fundraiser for the pool maybe, um, someday ......."
From 93% of the Electorate: "When does soccer practice start?"