Tobacco companies, apparently fearing the worst from a Minnesota lawsuit whose trial was winding down, agreed Friday to pay an estimated US$6 billion to the state and an insurance company rather than leave things in the hands of a jury. The settlement marks the industry's fourth with an individual state: Mississippi got $3.36 billion, Florida $11 billion, and Texas $15.3 billion. Nice round numbers to shell out for not having done anything wrong. Another 37 states are still lined up with palms outstretched.
Up in Smoke
Tobacco companies, apparently fearing the worst from a Minnesota lawsuit whose trial was winding down, agreed Friday to pay an estimated US$6 billion to the state and an insurance company rather than leave things in the hands of a jury. The settlement marks the industry's fourth with an individual state: Mississippi got $3.36 billion, Florida $11 billion, and Texas $15.3 billion. Nice round numbers to shell out for not having done anything wrong. Another 37 states are still lined up with palms outstretched.
