1.   A two-year-old Texas law permitting such suits is being tested in the courts.

2.   But in a number of recent cases, federal courts made exceptions that permitted suits in state courts.

3.   California, Georgia and Missouri have passed laws permitting suits against the managed-care companies.

4.   Gonzaga argued that the law provided only for the withdrawal of federal financial assistance from an educational institution and did not permit private suits for damages.

5.   In its appeal, the company is arguing that the law does not permit a suit of that kind.

6.   Included, for example, has been a law permitting suits against countries that the government labels sponsors of terrorism.

7.   It called for limitations on when citizen suits would be permitted.

8.   Republicans have balked at permitting such suits, suggesting it would be a bonanza for trial lawyers and drive up health care costs.

9.   Such permission is usually granted under the federal Tort Claims Act, but that law does not permit suits based on claims arising from outside the United States.

10.   The appeals court upheld the continued validity of permitting infringement suits for similar, but not identical products.