Commonwealth v. Philip Morris Inc.

This case arises out of a settlement agreement between the defendants, a number of tobacco companies, and the Attorneys General of the several States. The so-called “Master Settlement Agreement” (settlement agreement) ended a host of lawsuits in which the States sought massive payments from the companies under a range of liability theories. The damages claimed by the States were based on the expense of providing health care to those suffering from smoking-related ailments. While denying liability, the companies accepted (among other things) a scheme of regular payments to the States and…