Contractors Sue For Having To Pay For Their Own Mistakes

from the another-government-computer-special dept

If we're learning anything about the many many failed government computer upgrade projects, it's that they're not limited to the US. The latest international flop comes from Canada, where the government of Ontario just settled with contractors suing over a canceled project attempting to link the entire provincial justice system. Apparently, the contractors -- a consortium led by EDS -- weren't happy about spending $200 million of their own money in capital investments before the government pulled the plug. They settled for $63 million and a promise not to talk trash about each other. Of course, the government is at fault for naively buying into these overambitious plans, and it's unfortunate that taxpayers must foot the bill. That's why we're glad the contractors here are sucking up a decent share of the cost -- eventually, someone needs to make these companies take responsibility for overselling untenable goals, which the companies charge more to pursue when they inevitably require more work than planned. And maybe as an evenly distributed punishment, both parties should be forced indefinitely to use their clunky new systems (if they reach this point) that take 15 steps to save a document.

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