Mississippi Court Blocks Documents’ Release

Mississippi’s Supreme Court blocked the release of hundreds of files that the Brooke Group Ltd.’s Liggett Group agreed to turn over when it broke ranks with the tobacco industry over the dangers of smoking. Earlier this week, a lower-court judge ordered the release of the files for use by the plaintiffs in a secondhand smoking lawsuit. But the high court put that on hold until at least April 11 while it considers objections from Philip Morris Cos., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., which want the records permanently sealed. Liggett agreed in a settlement with 22 states last week to turn over internal documents and acknowledge that smoking is addictive. Meanwhile, Brooke Group said its fourth-quarter loss from continuing operations widened to $22.7 million, or $1.23 a share, from $17.7 million, or 97 cents, in the year-ago period.