Arizona's lawsuit, filed in August 1996, demands that tobacco companies pay for the costs of treating people with smoking-related illnesses. In October 1996, Symington ordered the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid agency, to withdraw. Symington said he wanted the lawsuit dropped on grounds that it was too risky, too costly and a lost cause. Woods revised the case to accuse the industry of contributing to the delinquency of minors with advertising encouraging them to smoke. A judge subsequently limited Arizona's claims in that regard.
Trial is to begin next year.
On Sept. 16, Woods asked U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to investigate Symington's relationship with tobacco companies after finding notes from a 1996 meeting involving Symington, his top aides and a key tobacco attorney, the Republic said. The Republic said the notes made by Nancy Baehre, then Symington's assistant legislative director, suggest Symington sought a written commitment from tobacco companies for a fund to help him respond to any negative public reaction to taking the Cost Containment System out of the lawsuit. Baehre declined comment, saying she was involved in a deposition in the matter. In a deposition, Baehre said she recalled little of the meeting but confirmed she made the notes. Jay Heiler, Symington's former chief of staff, who attended the meeting, said Wednesday there was no deal for tobacco to help defend Symington's action on the lawsuit.