The deal ends a summer-long strike that was filled with lawsuits, finger pointing and piles of fetid trash filling cans and dumpsters. Republic insisted it was ready to bargain even as the union accused company negotiators of dragging their heels. Several municipalities unsuccessfully sued, demanding the company clean up the refuse and pay the towns for their own costs in picking up the trash hauler's slack. Republic's lawyers also rushed to the courthouse, trying and failing at least twice to convince a judge that the striking workers were menacing managers and replacement drivers. Republic said if anyone was in in breach, it was the property owner, who hired a different trash company to pick up the refuse Republic couldn't.