Tobacco settlement ruling vindicates Illinois, Madigan says

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says a ruling involving tobacco manufacturers is a victory for the state.

Madigan on Thursday lauded a ruling from a panel of arbitrators that denied tobacco manufacturers’ attempt to not pay Illinois under the state’s 1998 tobacco settlement agreement. Tobacco companies claimed Illinois didn’t properly collect cigarette sales taxes from small tobacco companies.

But the arbitrators ruled that Illinois’ enforcement was “very thorough.” Madigan says the ruling vindicates Illinois.

Tobacco companies must pay states billions of dollars annually to pay for smoking related-illnesses.