Mr. Mitchell said the association settled the case "to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation."

It would also invite parents to use the threat of expensive and time-consuming litigation to harass local school boards and authorities into withdrawing controversial courses.

Perhaps this is a good reason to try compromise to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

The pursuit of these claims would have involved "time-consuming and costly litigation," M.T.A. officials said in their briefing paper for the board.

"The company wants to put this time-consuming and costly litigation behind it," he said.

Dozens of associations could then find themselves caught up in costly and time-consuming litigation that could have been avoided, he said.

Also favours arbitration system as alternative to expensive and time-consuming litigation.

One advantage for the owners is that they would avoid time-consuming litigation.

But officialdom has learned to frustrate the media with refusals that can be challenged with only costly time-consuming litigation.

The agreement also immunizes the city against the threat of costly and time-consuming litigation - at least from the 25 community groups that signed the agreement.