State Ex Rel. Bullock v. Philip Morris, Inc.

¶1 The State of Montana appeals from an order entered by the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, granting the motion of Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Lorillard Tobacco Company to compel arbitration. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

BACKGROUND

¶2 This appeal arises out of litigation that began in 1997, when the State sued the nation’s largest tobacco manufacturers for the public health costs caused by the industry’s alleged ongoing misrepresentations to consumers about the risks of smoking. Other states and territories filed similar…