The war between the Jewish Times and H.G Roebuck reminds me of another contract signed in haste, repented at leisure -- the deal to share Laurel Park slots profits between Joe De Francis and Frank Stronach. Jewish Times signed a long-term printing deal with Roebuck 20 years ago that proved to be a bad proposition. Stronach agreed to give huge potential slots profits to De Francis to get De Francis to sell him Laurel and Pimlico.

Both cases seem to have turned into games of chicken that ended up before a bankruptcy judge. Stronach delayed putting up a deposit for a slots license, probably in an attempt to get De Francis to rewrite the contract. The Jewish Times tried to get Roebuck to rewrite its printing contract, then pulled the business to a less-expensive printer. Roebuck sued and won a $362,000 judgment, which would seem to be the precipitating factor in the bankruptcy filing.

Both of these cases seem to be as much about bad blood and besting a business opponent as about a weak economy. The Jewish Times bankruptcy may shield it from having to pay the $362,000 judgment. But I would bet one thing quite confidently: The case will cost the company a heck of a lot more in lawyer fees than $362,000.