Oklahoma AG says tobacco manufacturers are not following state law

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing 17 tobacco manufacturers for not following a state law. <br><br>The 1999 law requires tobacco companies that did not join the 1998

Thursday, January 1st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing 17 tobacco manufacturers for not following a state law.

The 1999 law requires tobacco companies that did not join the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement to pay into a state escrow fund.

Edmondson says the payments are about the same as what the companies would have paid if they had joined the tobacco settlement.

He says the money will pay for any future legal claims that Oklahoma may make against the companies.