61.   But it still faces suits from the federal government, individuals, and health insurers who say that cigarette makers knew for decades how deadly their products are.

62.   But it would not shield cigarette makers from future class-action lawsuits or cap their liability in any suits.

63.   But since then, cigarette makers have won several important legal and political victories and were driving a harder bargain this time.

64.   But many said they also believed that there were enough remaining weapons in the marketing arsenal to enable cigarette makers to continue selling their products profitably for decades.

65.   But that bill was opposed by the tobacco industry because it was costly and did not give cigarette makers the legal protections they sought.

66.   But on Tuesday President Clinton tried to rise above the legal slog, making a direct appeal to cigarette makers.

67.   But one industry lawyer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Scruggs had presented the plan to producers and that cigarette makers had rejected it.

68.   But the number of both individual cases as well as class-action lawsuits against cigarette makers has been steadily growing.

69.   But the state argues that the judge can order the papers disclosed to the jury because lawyers helped cigarette makers prepare the documents to mislead and defraud the public.

70.   But the cigarette makers abandoned the bill as too costly and mounted a nationwide advertising and lobbying campaign to defeat the bill.