Fruit of the poisoned tree

David Orchard's settlement with the Conservative Party has finally been judicially ordered...and the Con position suggests that the party is going to great lengths to prevent any new details about the Alliance/PC merger from coming to light:

Orchard was in a Toronto courtroom to resolve the final details of a December 2004 court settlement awarding him nearly $70,000 in campaign funds. The money was raised in 2003 as he sought to lead the Progressive Conservative Party...

While the judge imposed a release on both parties stating Orchard would not seek further litigation against the Conservatives regarding the disputed funds, it does not prevent Orchard from making other claims on other parties, such as MacKay.

Orchard's lawyer argued for a simple declaration that cleared the party of future claims regarding the disputed money.

But lawyers for the Conservative Party wanted assurances that no one associated with the party could face a claim for anything done in the past, even aside from the disputed funds.

Now, I don't doubt that it's generally in the Cons' interest to seek out the widest enforceable release possible. But surely a general release related to the money recovered by Orchard should have been enough to take care of most of the party's concerns. And if there is anything more worth trying to bring to light now, the Cons' rejected position will only encourage Orchard to keep up his devoted opposition to the party...and to see what else can be dragged up about the merger.