Two Defendants Settle Tobacco Suit

Washington state reached an out-of-court settlement with two defendants in its suit against the tobacco industry that seeks up to $2.2 billion in damages. King County Superior Court Judge George Finkle approved the settlement, under which United States Tobacco Co. and the Smokeless Tobacco Council agreed to discontinue billboard and transit advertisements of products and to support efforts to enact legislation that would ban vending machines in all but adult-only facilities. Greenwich, Conn.-based United States Tobacco, maker of Skoal and other smokeless tobacco products, also agreed to pay the state $2 million, which under the agreement is specified to be reimbursement of legal costs rather than damages. The trial is expected to continue Monday against the remaining nine defendants--six tobacco companies, a public relations firm and two tobacco industry organizations.