Kinder vows more tobacco action

The fight about how much private attorneys representing the state in its settlement with the tobacco industry will be paid isn’t over, despite a State Supreme Court ruling. Senate Republican Leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau brought suit against Attorney General Jay Nixon, objecting to the fee arrangement he worked out with the private lawyers. At present, the lawyers would submit fees to an arbitration board which would determine their fees and bill the tobacco companies. Lawyers representing Illinois received more than $100 million. Kinder says he will introduce legislation in the upcoming session to limit the fees. He recommends $500 per documentable hour worked for law partners involved in the suit; $150 per hour for their associates and investigators. [To listen to the oral arguments before the Missouri Supreme Court, visit our website at https://www.missourinet.com/SupremeCourt ]