OTHER NEWS - Aug. 22, 1996

Michigan Joins in Suing Tobacco Industry: As expected, Michigan became the 13th state to take the tobacco industry to court, filing a lawsuit seeking $14 billion in damages from major tobacco firms and their wholesale distributors. Michigan Atty. Gen. Frank Kelley said the suit, which names 28 separate defendants, seeks $2 billion in restitution to the state for past smoking-related health-care costs, $2 billion for future anticipated health-care costs and $10 billion in punitive damages. Kansas and Arizona filed similar suits Tuesday, and Oklahoma is expected to file later this week. Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, a jury was expected to begin deliberations today in the case of Richard Rogers, a lawyer who began smoking at age 6 and died of lung cancer at age 52. His family is suing four tobacco companies for unspecified damages.