Images (50)
Document
| id |
id
26413724
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 50TaBAcco-
1998 state
ABCNEWS.com
Sittlement
The full text of the Master Settlement Agreement:
MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Master Settlement Agreement is made by the
undersigned Settling State officials (on behalf of their
respective Settling States) and the undersigned Participating
Manufacturers to settle and resolve with finality all Released
Claims against the Participating Manufacturers and related
entities as set forth herein.
This Agreement constitutes the documentation effecting
this settlement with respect to each Settling State, and is
intended to and shall be binding upon each Settling State and
each Participating Manufacturer in accordance with the terms
hereof.
I. RECITALS
WHEREAS, more than 40 States have commenced
litigation asserting various, claims for monetary, equitable and
injunctive relief against certain tobacco product manufacturers
and others as defendants, and the States that have not filed
suit can potentially assert similar claims;
WHEREAS, the Settling States that have commenced
litigation have sought to obtain equitable relief and damages
under state laws, including consumer protection and/or
antitrust laws, in order to further the Settling States' policies
regarding public health, including policies adopted to achieve
a significant reduction in smoking by Youth;
WHEREAS, defendants have denied each and every one
of the Settling States' allegations of unlawful conduct or
wrongdoing and have asserted a number of defenses to the
Settling States' claims, which defenses have been contested
by the Settling States;
WHEREAS, the Settling States and the Participating
Manufacturers are committed to reducing underage tobacco
use by discouraging such use and by preventing Youth access
to Tobacco Products;
WHEREAS, the Participating Manufacturers recognize
the concern of the tobacco grower community that it may be
1
Relations
belongs_to