71.   A federal judge is expected to decide whether to give final approval to a national settlement plan in May.

72.   Hiner said the company had made progress toward resolving asbestos claims through a national settlement program and thought that a bankruptcy protection filing could be avoided.

73.   It is one of only six states that have not yet received any money from the national settlement.

74.   Settlements of suits in other states and major jury verdicts against American Home have recently raised questions about whether enough fen-phen users will accept the national settlement.

75.   The national settlement covers all illness claims except for patients who say they suffer from primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare but serious lung disorder.

76.   The national settlement still must be approved by a judge.

77.   The plant has been hurt by slumping cigarette sales as tobacco companies have raised prices to meet the demands of the national settlement.

78.   The state plans to use money from its share of the national settlement with tobacco companies to pay farmers not to grow the dominant crop in southern Maryland.