The early Court of Chancery dealt with verbal contracts, matters of land law and matters of trusts, and had a very liberal view when setting aside complaints; poverty, for example, was an acceptable reason to cancel a contract or obligation.
The District's inspector general, meanwhile, had looked into the contracting matter and found no evidence that Walker or Tyson had acted improperly.
"The failures in this contract matter," Hodge said, "because the NHS will be making increasing use of private providers to deliver NHS services.
"The question in this case," Cochran said the other day, "is 'Does the Mouse keep its word?' " Obviously, there are many other questions, starting with how a breach-of-contract matter grew into a Beverly Hills "Bleak House".
When the offensive coordinator Charlie Weis was called to testify at last week's league hearing on the Belichick contract matter, this Charlie wasn't afraid to say, sorry Tuna, Little Bill should be let off the hook.
As captain, he's certainly obligated to keep contract matters submerged for the greater good of the team.
Mike Milbury has survived as general manager, but it remains to be seen how much his influence has been reduced in contract matters.
These sheets, often called memorandums of understanding, are increasingly common, according to Robert Lattinville, the chairman of the sports division at the law firm Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, which represents coaches in contract matters.
During Friday's talks, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., no offers were exchanged, but discussions involved pension issues, procedural contract matters and the biggest stumbling block in talks so far — how the league will honor existing contracts under a lower salary cap.
