State Court Order Requiring Tobacco Companies To Pay $270 Million Blocked

Posted: Sep 14, 2010 2:39 PM by Melissa Canone

WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has
temporarily blocked a state court order requiring tobacco companies
to pay $270 million for a smoking cessation program in Louisiana.
Scalia granted a request from the companies on Tuesday, but said
he would reconsider his order later this month after hearing from
Louisiana plaintiffs who won a class-action lawsuit against the
cigarette makers.
The companies lost their bid in state court to throw out the
award or at least delay the payment. They want the high court to
throw out the judgment against them and relieve them of having to
pay out the money while the case is being appealed.

Topics: State, Court, Order, Requiring, Tobacco, Companies, To, Pay, $270, Million, Blocked