51.   Those who start smoking in the future could only sue the industry under highly specific circumstances, the sources said.

52.   Tobacco firms have been engaged for weeks in talks with private lawyers and state attorneys general who are suing the industry.

53.   Tobacco representatives have been meeting behind closed doors for weeks with private lawyers, public health advocates and attorneys general suing the industry.

54.   Until recently, individual smokers pursuing wrongful death or products liability claims sued the industry.

55.   While the proposal is pending, states that have sued the industry can pursue those lawsuits or settle them.

56.   While California is not among the states that have sued the industry, state officials seem hopeful that California will benefit from any negotiated settlement.

57.   Jersey City, New Jersey, planned to sue the industry on Thursday, Henigan said.

58.   The farmers who are suing the industry say the companies want to do away with the quota system and contract directly with a select number of producers.

59.   The Justice Department also sued the industry last September, seeking additional billions of dollars to repay federal health-insurance costs.