Iowa Judge Dismisses Part of State Suit

A state judge dismissed part of an Iowa lawsuit against the tobacco industry, ruling that the state has no right to recover Medicaid dollars spent to treat sick smokers. The ruling follows an $11.3-billion settlement Florida reached with the industry Monday for such costs. Polk County Judge Linda Reade noted that Iowa, unlike Florida, has not enacted legislation that allows it to proceed against tobacco firms for Medicaid costs. Despite the ruling, Atty. Gen. Tom Miller said the counts left standing in the decision can be used to wrest money from the companies. Still, Miller said he will appeal the decision. A message left at the answering service for the Tobacco Institute, a Washington think tank representing the industry, was not immediately returned.