51.   The lawsuit could still be affected by a proposed national settlement of litigation against the industry, which would prohibit class-action lawsuits against the industry.

52.   The national settlement calls for an independent oversight panel made up of marketing and public-health experts.

53.   The national settlement would also supersede the agreements reached in Mississippi and Florida and in any subsequent states that agree to settle their suits against the industry.

54.   The national settlement also calls for an arbitration board to establish the amount of legal fees.

55.   The president will endorse the idea of a national settlement, while asking for several changes in the version negotiated earlier this year.

56.   The prospects for a national settlement are already in doubt.

57.   The suit filed by Moore, who led the negotiations in the national settlement, was the first brought by a state seeking to recover health-care costs.

58.   The trial could be affected by a proposed national settlement, which would prohibit class-action lawsuits against the tobacco industry.

59.   The state did not sue smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc., which is a party to the national settlement proposal.

60.   The union is expected to push the company to reach a national settlement before a scheduled Saturday meeting of UAW leaders from around the country.