1.   Anti-tobacco activists have predicted the industry would settle the Texas case to avoid the negative publicity that the first phase of the trial would likely produce.

2.   Black said he expects the industry to also settle with Florida, whose case is scheduled to go to trial in August.

3.   But auto executives worry that the dealership industry is now settling into a contentment that might make it vulnerable to some new, Internet business model.

4.   Even when there is no class-action threat, the industry has been settling some cases.

5.   He doubts the industry will settle, and predicts the case may be delayed until next year in any case.

6.   In addition to financing the changeover, the industry must also settle critical questions about control of the digital data coursing through these new systems.

7.   That more than covers the up-front payments to lawsuits the industry settled with Florida and Mississippi.

8.   The industry has already settled cases in Mississippi, Florida, and Texas.

9.   The industry has been settling the early cases to avoid the costs and publicity associated with trials while deliberations on the national accord are under way.

10.   The move accelerates the rush of record companies to the Internet even before the industry settles on a standard.