A special assistant attorney general argues against allowing outsiders to get a piece of the $6.7 billion dollar tobacco settlement coming to Missouri. Tom Strong makes his case before a special panel of the State Supreme Court. The city of St. Louis, a hospital group and four individuals assert a right to a portion of the settlement. Strong says excluding them would allow the state to reach a final settlement and wouldn’t block St. Louis from pursuing its own lawsuit. No money has come to Missouri from the tobacco companies, because of the lawsuit. A special panel heard the case and will make a ruling because 5 of the 7 regular judges excused themselves. You can hear the full oral argument before the Missouri Supreme Court at https://www.missourinet.com/SupremeCourt.