1.   Eight states have sued the industry, seeking to recover the Medicaid insurance costs of treating poor people with tobacco-related diseases.

2.   Also, New York City sued the industry, becoming the latest government seeking to recover billions in smoking-related health-care costs.

3.   And although his state has not sued the industry, Mike Easley of North Carolina participated as well.

4.   Any such accord would require congressional approval because it would radically alter the rules under which states and individuals could sue the industry for actual and punitive damages.

5.   Attorneys for states and smokers suing the industry included Mississippi attorney Richard Scruggs and Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore.

6.   Attorneys for states and smokers suing the industry included Mississippi attorney Richard Scruggs and Moore.

7.   Blumenthal -- along with Dennis Vacco, attorney general of New York, another of the states suing the industry -- said blanket immunity is out of the question.

8.   Besides Texas and Mississippi, the states suing the industry are Minnesota, Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana and West Virginia.

9.   A core group of tobacco representatives, private lawyers and attorneys general suing the industry have been meeting for the last two weeks in New York.

10.   About a dozen state attorneys general, public health advocates and attorneys representing smokers suing the industry were there, too.