But he won't talk unless the federal government grants him immunity from prosecution. The tobacco industry doesn't want this secret out, so its lawyers file a sealed motion to keep everything under wraps. This little drama, which played out recently in Ramsey County District Court, is a prime example of the web of secrecy that has descended on the Minnesota attorney general's lawsuit against cigarette makers. Two closed court hearings also have been held, though the transcript of one was later made public. In place of open pleadings, lawyers on both sides have frequently filed redacted versions of court papers.
Key passages are removed, usually the parts considered by the tobacco industry to be confidential.
The attorney general's office, which has aggressively sought out secret tobacco industry research, has so far done little to lift the lid of confidentiality still imposed on such information by cigarette makers. Secret findings by Ramsey County District Judge Kenneth Fitzpatrick in his May 9 order that triggered a court review of tobacco industry documents held by industry attorneys. Four newspapers, including the St. Paul Pioneer Press, are seeking disclosure of those findings. A U.S. Justice Department request to review tobacco industry documents submitted in the Minnesota case. The judge in March held a closed hearing with a federal prosecutor investigating the tobacco industry.