If the government acted negligently in its handling of a civil matter, how does the law work?

Second, even if the government acted negligently, negligence does not weigh in favor of the defendant unless it actually lengthened the delay. That is because negligence is not a reason for the delay, Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182 (emphasis added), unless there is a causal connection. Thus, delay cannot be attributable to a failure of diligence if diligence would have been futile. Cf. United States v. Blanco, 861 F.2d 773, 778 (2d Cir.1988) ; United States v. Diacolios, 837 F.2d 79, 83 (2d Cir.1988).