We've been at this for three and a half years and we're not going to stop now this industry and yeah, they can run and they can run to the Supreme Court, but they can no longer hide from the truth day was to wear a ring Master's hat and a whip because it was obvious for him. This was a political circus saying that nicotine was an addictive. They don't admit it today on advice of counsel. I respectfully decline to answer based on my fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination because there is an ongoing criminal investigation. It'll be the first time that many of the people in the tobacco industry of related to put on the spot and to ask the tough questions and it'll be the first time that a lot of these documents that have been the secret away for decades. I will hit the light of day smokers individual smokers had a knowledge of words containing these documents would not have made a different decision.Once they are in the public domain the genie is out of the bottle states case is full of Sound and Fury, but it signifies nothing. Officially there aren't supposed to be any winners and losers when lawsuits are settled out of court Minnesota. However is declaring Victory the tobacco industry says skip Humphrey has surrendered. Hello. This is Gary. I can do this how we're going to take a closer. Look at the historic 7 billion dollar agreement settling the lawsuit brought by the state of Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield against the major. Tobacco companies. The agreement was reached on the last day of the trial Friday just hours before the case was scheduled to go to a Ramsey County jury that it listened patiently to testimony in the case since January 20th will hear from Humphrey will hear from attorneys for the tobacco industry will take a look at what Minnesota politicians might do with all that money and we'll hear from some of the jurors who listened and listened but in the end never returned a verdict First of all with an overview of the terms of the settlement here is Minnesota Public Radio is Elizabeth's to Wiki the trial came to a sudden finish when the settlement announcement pre-empted. What was supposed to be the last day of closing arguments that announcement came as no surprise to those seated in the courtroom that is except for the drawers settlement rumors flew early in the day as swarms of press camped in front of the federal courthouse in st. Paul for attorney general in gubernatorial candidates. Skip Humphrey the settlement ended a four-year battle with the tobacco industry, so it wasn't surprising he decided to have his victory speech at a hotel crammed with supporters rather than speak before the Press outside the courthouse. The tobacco industry has surrendered and they have surrendered on our terms. Those terms included money and advertising restrictions under the deal. The tobacco companies will pay the state of Minnesota 6.1 billion dollars over the next 25 years the industry also agree to pay Blue Cross Blue Shield 450 million and the state's attorney's fees of more than 460 million dollars other parts of the settlement banned certain kinds of tobacco advertising in the state Billboards direct mailings and companies can't give or sell non-tobacco merchandise with brand logos. Nationally the industry can't pay to have it cigarettes placed in movies. The industry has also agreed to stop making comments about the health effects of smoking. It must disclose the money it pays to lobby and it cannot oppose legislative proposals in Minnesota about youth tobacco use even though it can challenge them after the bills become laws. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the settlement a court-ordered injunction Banning. Tobacco marketing to children that can play It was strictly part of the settlement. It could not have been part of a jury verdict and this injunction puts them on parole. If we find new evidence that they are marketing their deadly products to kids. We're going right back into court to hold them in contempt and impose fines and other penalties. It's an ironclad instant Justice Swift and certain punishment Swift and certain punishment that will save our kids lives for the tobacco industry the settlement also meant an end to uncertainty from what they called a biased judge for the past three and a half months Philip Morris attorney Peter Blakely. However, appear to play down at Baez though when he talked with reporters after the settlement announcement, especially since I believe that during the past few weeks the strength of the defense case began to appear and become a parent. I think that we had a very very good chance of winning this case or at least that denying the plaintiffs in the case where they would regard as a Victory Inn Tolleson Wall Street greed at the news of a settlement with relief. That's according to Tobacco analyst Martin Feldman of Smith Barney industry has ever faced. It was a it was a Potential Threat in the multibillion-dollar Range Rover than in in millions or hundreds of thousands like the the award in 96 was for so what it means is that in Package has the sense to what the national settlement would have done from Lost year. Minnesota settlement will likely have other National implications as well, Mississippi attorney general. Mike Moore says, he believes the settlement will spark a proposed National tobacco deal in Minnesota would be the cases that were actually ready for trial and would come up and now that these four cases are resolved. I think what's going to happen is the actions going to return to Congress. I was just informed just a while ago that week of May 18th has been set for senate floor action on the McCain bill. So that means it so there's a good chance that we'll have some national legislation passed this year. Only jury selection. I'm Elisabeth Shue Wiki, Minnesota Public Radio victory for the state and for Andy's Smoking forces all across the country Humphrey along with Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Andy schakowsky and Lead plaintiffs attorney Michael ceresi met with reporters and supporters to talk about the settlement and what it means there's Minnesota attorney general. Skip Humphrey ladies and gentlemen, this is truly a historic day. The tobacco industry has surrendered and they have surrendered on our terms. They have surrendered on our terms. Now before I give you some of my thoughts I want introduce you to a good friend a great partner. A person who said I will be there with you. Who has led a great company? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and who has been a stalwart Ally in this effort? He and his team and I'll tell you their members here that are here, and they're great people really made the difference for us in some of those long and darker days years ago, but I want to introduce to you. Mr. Andy Tchaikovsky, and personally Andy. I just want to say I've never had a better time and a better Ally to be with so I want to thank you and it was back. Thank you. Thank you very much. This really is in a stork day. We're announcing today a major breakthrough against the number one epidemic of our age and that's tobacco. Thing that this lawsuit is accomplished more than anything else is getting out the truth. And I think you all know that Mike ceresi and his team did a masterful job of getting the truth out. We are now at the beginning of the end of the culture that has supported the use of tobacco. The trial really was not about what we knew but it was about what we didn't know the industry had kept a lot of their secrets under attorney-client privilege. Now, we have the public information and with the information in the public hands, we can see action. This is a victory not only for Blue Cross Blue Shield, but for all minnesotans for the first time we have the means we have the information to counter tobacco's pervasive presence. We are committing to an ongoing public information and education campaign to change the culture of tobacco. We are gone. We are going to unmark the glamour of smoking. Another important part of the settlement is that finally we will stop undermining the parents no more. Will Minnesota kids be lured by Two Smoking with Billboards promotional giveaways in marketing gimmicks. Our organization is committing to making smoking cessation available to all of our members and a program to reduce smoking throughout the state. We estimate that if we could reduce smoking and we plan to do this by 30% over the next 10 years. We can save our members 350 million dollars and over 15 years at doubles to seven hundred million dollars. We have a program called Minnesota decides that we can ducted in the number of communities around the state and through that we were able to get information from the public about what they thought we should do with the proceeds of this of this historic lawsuit. We plan to fund Research into smoking cessation to assist our own memories in ending their tobacco habits and to promote Community solutions to reduce tobacco use throughout the state. So with that I am going to stop because skip Humphrey has a lot more information that I do that he wants to share with you at this time. Skip Thank you very much. Any, thank you. I-212 right at the outset acknowledge the outstanding leadership and litigation abilities of the robins Kaplan Miller & ciresi firm headed by Mike ceresi. I'll have a little bit more to say about that in just a moment. But to have Mike here with us is something very special and it's something very unique. I think he is set a standard and is showing the way that Minnesota can take care of its business. 94 years ago. We launched Minnesota's historical battle against the tobacco cartel by the critics said that we never Prevail against this powerful industry. But as I said just a little bit earlier they have surrendered and they have surrendered on our terms and I want outline that to you. These are these are truly. These are truly groundbreaking terms that will expose the full truth to the public recover record amounts for taxpayers imposed tough reforms on the industry and most important protect the future generations of our children. I'm reminded of that story that I told just a couple of times of a reporter who asked an official at the tobacco Institute. Well, what is it about those minnesotans and their attitude towards the tobacco industry now course at official. I must have grown just a little bit at that question and he probably shook his head as he answered and I quote Minnesota is a state where we always expect the worst. Well that shows you just how little how little this a big tobacco understands us because you and I know that Minnesota is a state where we always expect the best not the worst the best. and ladies and gentlemen Ladies and gentlemen, that's what we have fought to achieve and today Minnesota sets a new standard for the nation. For the tobacco industry. I'm talking about protecting children for the tobacco industry. The bottom line has always been their profits for us. The bottom line is always been protecting our kids. So number one for the first time in history. This industry will face an ironclad ban on marketing to Children a permanent court-ordered injunction in place. As far as I'm concerned, our trial has convicted this industry of marketing to kids the billions that they pay our part of the penalty and this injunction puts them on parole. If we find new evidence that they are marketing their deadly products to kids. We're going right back into court to hold them in contempt and impose fines and other penalties. It's an ironclad instant Justice Swift and certain Punishment Swift and certain punishment that will save our kids lives. We have forced the industry to accept the nation's first band on consumer products that they use to entice cats the Caps the book bags t-shirts the CD players and the other products they use to turn our kids literally into walking Billboards and research shows that nearly one-third of our youth own at least one of these products and that these kids are four times as likely to start smoking that's making a Billboards cigarettes are the number one item advertised on billboards in Minnesota under this agreement. All tobacco Billboards and Transit science will be torn down for good or good. And you know where we're going to start. We're going to start we're going to start taking those Billboards down right near schools parks and childcare centers. They come down first. Now finally this whole thing called movies. One of the infamous Minnesota. Tobacco documents showed that Philip Morris had its cigarette products placed in movies with huge youth audiences shows like who framed Rodger rabbit the Muppet movie Die Hard Crocodile Dundee. Why why would they do that? Because it's a pervasive and effective way to Target and influence kids to our agreement bands the secret payments for cigarette placements in movies TVs videos and other until entertainment media. This is our first and our band and Plies across the entire nation Nation. Some of the critics have said what can one stay to it. What can one state do I'll tell you one state can make a difference on a whole nation if you get it, right? With regard to protecting taxpayers the tobacco industry is driven. Of course as I said by one thing money, so we're making them pay and I'm out to truly sends a message 6.1 billion dollars to Minnesota taxpayers for the harm that they have caused that's over four and a half times the amount we sought in our damages and it adds up to more than $3,500 for every tax paying household in the state of Minnesota. Adjusted for population and in today's dollars Minnesota's payments are nearly two times the amount paid to settle in Texas two times the amount paid in Florida and over 20% greater than the amount paid to Mississippi taxpayers. The bottom line is we have forced the industry to pay more money to Minnesota taxpayers, then they will pay to any other taxpayer in any other state in the nation. Thank you. Mr. Sharif. A lot of people took shots at Minnesota for not endorsing the industry's proposed national settlement. Maybe we minnesotans were a little stubborn but our stubbornness allowed us to get to the truth the magnitude of these payments breaks the mold of big tobacco's proposed National deal and it sends the message to Congress that these companies should and must pay much more for the harm that they have caused all of us. As Andy said really the Hallmark of our case has been there are unwavering search for the truth and our trial team uncovered the largest collection of secret. Tobacco documents in the world. We have shown Congress and the American public how this industry marketed to kids how it manipulated the nicotine how it concealed health research and Minnesota documents were critical in defeating the industry's sweetheart legislative deal last summer as former Surgeon General C. Everett. Koop said it was and I quote one of the most significant Public Health achievements of the second half of the twentieth century and quote. so now we have uncovered that truth. But now we intend to expose the remaining secrets of the industry's 40-year fraud and deception this the settlement requires disclosure of the for a index which is the blueprint the roadmap to truth which we fought all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States to uncover and it requires Minnesota's document depository and non-depository in England to remain open for 10 years at industry expense so that Health researchers and scientists from around the world can build on the existing research in their effort to prevent disease and to save lives. Fighting with fighting with regard to the documents any new documents produced in any other litigation will be produced to the Minnesota depository. So that the Minnesota depository is and Will Remain the world's library for truth when it comes to tobacco. One of the other goals that we set out was to reform this industry. The tobacco industry's 40-year campaign of deception and fraud is one of the saddest chapters in the history of corporate America. They have been in the moral equivalent of the Colombian drug cartel, and I neither I nor the American people can trust them to reform themselves. So we are using the power of the law to change their corporate conduct 1st and injunction against further conspiracies to manipulate or suppress health research and safer products II shutting down and disbanding the instrument of their conspiracy the council for tobacco research. CTR is gone. 1/3 a permanent injunction against making misrepresentations about the health consequences of using any tobacco product and forth. We will monitor closely the industry's ongoing efforts to defeat any legislative initiatives to reduce youth smoking by requiring broader disclosure of their lobbyists activities and funding of front groups, which do their dirty work. Obviously one of the other goals that we seek to achieve and have an ongoing effort that must be addressed is in the area public help. Our trial has made clear that the tobacco industry has known for more than forty years for decades of that their product causes cancer yet. They deceived and lied to the American public to protect their corporate profits. The result has been Decades of crippling disease millions of casualties more than in all the wars in American history and Indescribable heartbreak for countless families that we can't bring back those who have died back to life. We won't even be able to quell the Heartbreak of those who have lost loved ones. But if we work together here in Minnesota, we can be a national leader in helping addicted smokers kick the habit and if we work together we can and we will save future Generations from tobacco addiction and disease. Are settlement creates an unprecedented 102 million dollar fund to provide direct assistance to any addicted Minnesota smoker who wants to quit it creates a 100 million dollar National smoking research fund to help achieve the goal of a smoke-free society and in coming days, I will join with public health leaders to urge our legislature to invest a substantial portion of this 6 billion dollar recovery into comprehensive Public Health agendas for Minnesota. Let me just say that we were not timid. In addressing the first mountain and climbing and scaling the first Mountain that is bringing this Rogue industry to Justice. We should even be more bold in scaling the next making Minnesota not only a national but a world leader in smoking prevention and cessation. This suit is about saving lives and if we don't invest wisely and breaking the cycle of addiction, we will continue to pay an enormous price in money and in life. So I will urge our legislature to invest a substantial portion of our recovery in creating the strongest smoking prevention and cessation initiative in the world and if we do this week and then be sure to keep our children from getting hooked on this drug, and we can help those who are hooked to break their addiction from this deadly drop. now there have been some questions raised in the media and elsewhere about some things that I want to address some very directly. Let me address the issue of attorneys fees head-on since it's a favorite topic of course of the industry its allies and some of my critics there are two things to remember about attorneys fees folks. Number one. They will be paid in full by the tobacco industry, okay. And let me just say and I am sure mr. Serisi can attest to this that they will pay over and above the State's record setting recovery. This is not a distraction from that recovery. This is over and above number 2. number two We have set a new National Standard here and this Law Firm that we have hired as our partner to take on. This effort has set a new standard the lowest attorneys fees in the nation 7.1% less than one-third of the original 25% contract for critics. I have to remind you that this Hometown firm took an immense stress Advanced tens of millions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers to take on an industry that no one absolutely no one had defeated the tobacco industry Flores with over 30 law firms over 1,000 people hundreds of millions of dollars and yet our team dugout more secret tobacco documents that anyone in the world and got us to where we stand today. I am proud of them. I am proud of them. homegrown, Minnesota Let me just say. Let me just say. To Michael ciresi Roberto walburn Susan Nelson and all of the rest of the crew. I can tell you today folks. They made their money the old-fashioned way. They earned it. Let me see if I can just wrap this up each day a thousand kids get hooked on nicotine. It's happening today as we celebrate here this Victory today in Minnesota. We began the hard job of saving our children. Wareforce big tobacco to end their marketing to kids we've imposed to record six billion dollars in penalties. We will work day and night to see that this Rogue industry will never be allowed to Target our children again, I'm old-fashioned enough to believe that if you stand up for your principles, if you act from your heart things will work out for the best while we stood firm and the results is a Triumph of truth justice for taxpayers and a Monumental advancement for public health and a brighter and more healthy future for our children, Minnesota attorney general. Skip Humphrey meeting with reporters and supporters at the Radisson Hotel in Downtown st. Paul also on hand for that celebration at the Radisson was the playlist lead attorney Michael cerussi. Mr. Ceresi was widely praised for his work during the trial Humphrey says he is the best in the business and ceresi will be richly compensated for his work under terms. The settlements are Reese's Law Firm minneapolis-based Robins, Kaplan Miller & ciresi will be paid nearly a half billion dollars, but the firm took the case on a contingency basis meaning if they lost they wouldn't get paid at all and ceresi praise the willingness of his colleagues to take that risk. Represents individuals it represents corporations that represents governmental entities and it does so on contingent basis or it does so on an hourly basis. It believes that this is a pluralistic society and as such lawyer should represent everyone and that firm and that for him alone took on the tobacco industry. There is not another firm in this country who on their own without teaming up with a lot of other people was willing to put whatever Fortune they had and whatever energy they had to take on this cause and I'm very very proud of every partner every associate every single support member of that from they have supported us during the last four years and I'm very proud to be a part of the organization Michael cerussi the lead attorney representing the state of Minnesota and it's lawsuit against the major. Tobacco companies following the brief court session. That ended the Minnesota. Tobacco trial attorneys for the nation's largest Tobacco Company Philip Morris met with reporters outside the federal courthouse to discuss the case Peter Blakely the company's lead trial attorney said he was personally disappointed that the jury didn't get a chance to decide this case. I am torn. I'm very torn by it on the one hand having spent the time and effort that I and my colleagues did on defending this case over the past few weeks and carrying it all the way through to the last actual work that we had to do which was making our closing arguments yesterday. I would very much have liked to see the outcome especially since I believe that during the past few weeks the strength of the defense case began to appear and become a parent. I think that we had a very very good chance of winning this case or at least a denying the plaintiffs in the case what they would regard as a victory on the other hand. I can't help but feel as mr. Bible testified at the beginning of this trial that a national res. Lucian of these kinds of cases is in everyone's interest and that this case being settled is a step in the right direction. So the answer to the question is I'm very much torn at one point that tobacco companies that tried to get the jury replaced because of alleged Andy tobacco by us but likely says that the jurors did an excellent job listening and weighing the testimony in the case, right little another attorney for Philip Morris does big tobacco did not get a fair Hearing in Minnesota and he says he's confident the companies will do much better elsewhere around the country in federal courts and state courts all across the country where courts have applied the law to the facts and have not tried to make up special tobacco law and when the courts have applied the law to the facts fairly and equitably many of those claims have been dismissed. We would anticipate that judge is all across the country are going to continue to follow the law and will continue To reject special tobacco law special attempts to treat the tobacco industry differently after all that goes to the very heart of our legal system where everyone is treated fairly and equally and when that happens we still continue to believe that we will be successful in the court. It's very frustrating that is hard as this jury worked for the last form of the disc jury was not permitted to hear all of the facts. This jury was not permitted to hear about all of the money that the state of Minnesota has received from the sale of tobacco. We were not allowed to stand in front of the jury and explain to the jury that every time a pack of cigarettes are sold in the state of Minnesota the state of Minnesota makes more money from that sale than any tobacco manufacturer. There are many facts that we believe were not permitted to be presented to the jury and that was very unfortunate. We do not anticipate. Did that will happen in other jurisdictions, and we look forward to having an opportunity to present all of the facts to a jury in the future on these very same issues. Thank you very much. Well, I have a lot of confidence that this jury would have tried very hard to reach a fair verdict dismiss jury work very very hard. That is certainly one area where I agree completely with. Mr. Ceresi this jury performed. Just just it's hard to come up with words frankly to describe just how hard they work. And I do believe that everyone in Minnesota should be very very proud of how hard that jury worked. And again, I'm just disappointed that they weren't allowed to hear all of the facts Philip Morris attorney Greg Little Company spokesman. Scott Williams says when all is said and done the Minnesota case underscores the need for a nationwide tobacco settlement settled, but there was no resolution for dozens of others and no certainty about the future outcome of cases in other states. We will continue to act in the best interest of our shareholders and we'll defend or settle suits as appropriate. One thing is certain resolving these lawsuits by trial or otherwise will take considerable time and resources for all parties and the results will be an equitable treatment for the American people. Last June's proposed National tobacco resolution would have ensure that each state and each individual plaintiff would have had the opportunity to share equally in the available funds regardless of whether the lawsuits were filed where they were filed, excuse me for scheduled for trial that was a loss when the proposed National resolution failed in Washington. Today settlement does nothing to help to establish a nationwide uniform program to combat underage use of tobacco products. It does not include comprehensive National enforceable advertising and marketing restrictions counter marketing programs restrictions on youth access to tobacco products are many of the other advancements contained in last year's negotiated settlement. We could take a couple of questions for you. How come you didn't just let the case go to the jury. I think I said it pretty clearly you had to make a fair judgement based on the circumstances of the case and based on the circumstances that were presented to the company's and we'll let our decision stand as it is. All the companies I think of always shown some interest to having to go see a shins. So I would direct that question elsewhere. Well, I think this is this will be in what time for my last question here. But this is a I think of sharp example of why a national resolution was in the best interest of the country and this stands as a striking example of what we're going to have to do. Now you have to have individual cases by state or Washington has continuing on a path of Taxation at a larger the size of government under the guise of comprehensive legislation. They been playing that politics for a long time, but June 20th agreement was a remarkable accomplishment that was destroyed by the politics of Washington. And now we are in a situation where we have to continue to do while litigation of the courses that need to be taken a based on the appropriate situation. Welcome industry standpoint. There is no national settlement pending before the Congress. There is a half a trillion dollar tax bill that will enlarge the federal government and give us $5 per pack cigarettes, which is going to guarantee a black mark in the United States and undermine all the efforts. The people have talked about for the rest of you smoking issue. The politicians are using the rhetoric of tobacco to advance a tax agenda to Washington this agreement today. I think proves that there are other avenues that need to be Pursuit Pursuit and that an extraordinary opportunity has been lost in Washington. Thank you very much. Spokesman Scott Williams meeting with reporters outside the federal courthouse in st. Paul Minnesota settlement will apparently have implications across this country the three states that said earlier with the tobacco industry will now receive more money as a result of the terms of the Minnesota agreement and Arizona Republican Senator, John McCain, the lead author of a senate tobacco bill at the industry is Tack as excessively harsh says the Minnesota settlement will improve the odds that his bill actually become law McCain says his bill would cost the industry about five hundred billion dollars and raise cigarette cost to a dollar 10 a pack Senate Republicans say the bill would actually cost the industry 700 billion dollars and could bankrupt some of the nation's Tobacco Company. Well 6.1 billion dollars is a lot of money for the state of Minnesota. The question facing State officials now is what to do with all that money Minnesota public radio's Karen Louise Booth reports from the state capitol Governor Carlson learned of the news is he left for his fishing opener in Red Wing, he and attorney-general Skip Humphrey had heated disagreements last winter over whether the state should have gone to trial Carlson said he was happy with the settlement going into a jury. So I think it makes an imminent amount of sense. There is no plan in place for dispersing the settlement money, but squabbling over control of the windfall is well underway Carlson favors spending it on youth smoking prevention programs medical technology and chronic disease prevention, but he insists the settlement money be directed to the state's general fund that way. He says State lawmakers will determine how it's spent. 17000 hours of work into this litigation we prepared of the database upon which this case rest. So this goes well beyond the Office of the Attorney General. This is the administration is a whole suing on behalf of the people of Minnesota the settlement and outstanding deal for the state and hopes lawmakers will remain flexible over how it should be used. But let's remember what the impetus for this lawsuit was all about health care costs and show you smoking. So obviously those have to be high priority on a personal basis. I sure hope that we treat this one-time windfall as a way to create some kind of a permanent roster permanent endowment that can bend perpetually be used to address Healthcare issues and children's issues in the State House speaker. Feel Carruthers says the money should help repay the state For future healthcare costs and state representative Doug Peterson wants the money used to fund a Statewide catastrophic health insurance program for all minnesotans in his public remarks today attorney general. Skip Humphrey urged lawmakers to dedicate a substantial portion of the money to create smoking prevention and cessation programs. Another 100 million. He says is to be dedicated to a national smoking research fund and unprecedented 102 million-dollar fund to provide direct assistance to any addicted Minnesota smoker who wants to quit it creates a 100 million dollar National smoking research fund to help achieve the goal of a smoke-free Society but State Republican representative Henry Todd vandellen of Plymouth says Humphreys role in the case does not include duties belonging to an Appropriations Committee. He says the money should be used for a permanent ink Tax cut the contention and the basis for the lawsuit and for the monetary damages and that the money that we're going to receive from the tobacco companies was that are states taxpayers over paid for healthcare programs at the state finances. Therefore it's only logical at the taxpayers the injured party here. If you will receive that money back then Dylan doesn't expect to take up the spending issues until the next legislative session, but he won't rule out calling for a special session if the settlement earmarks funding for programs. He cannot support for Minnesota Public Radio. This is Karen Louise booth at the Capitol the 12 jurors who have been listening to testimony in the Minnesota. Tobacco trial listening to testimony since January 20th didn't find out. There was a settlement until Friday afternoon just hours before they were scheduled to begin deliberations in the case and some of the jurors were upset. They never had it. Dance to render a verdict after court adjourned the jurors first met with judge Kenneth Fitzpatrick than five of them agreed to meet with reporters. Minnesota Public Radio is March sat act like has that story the five jurors willing to talk with reporters after three and a half months of testimony in the tobacco trial deep disappointment that despite their hours upon hours of attentive listening and note-taking week after week. They were denied the opportunity to determine the outcome of the legal battle 44 year-old Dorothy Halen seem the most upset there would be no deliberations. I was very disappointed a little we put in a long time. A lot of our emotions went into this and we didn't get closer and that's very disappointing thirty-seven-year-old Jill Burton said it's hard for her to justify the mental energy. She put into listening carefully two months of testimony with the expectation sheet. Ultimately be responsible for making decisions in deliberation. With the other jurors, I think of a settlement where to come it should have been you know, 4 months ago in my life. We've all made the commitment and it's disheartening to not have had the final chance to as a group of minnesotans speaking for the Minnesotan people and we were cross section. We should have had that chance the five jurors describe varying degrees of personal sacrifice for their part of the tobacco. Trial Burton said, she'll no longer take many things for granted one hardship in the way. It affects your life is just having to be here without fail from 9 to 5 regardless of if you're ill if may not be up to it and that means you can't conduct anything during those visits are not allowed to make phone calls, as you know, during those hours. You can't call a doctor. You can't consult with the Cantina schedule your hair appointment to all the small things in life. You can't take for granted your precluded during business hours and that includes going to things for your kids at school canceling vacations other jurors spoke of their loss of income during the trial saying the $30 per day payment. They received from the court fell far short of what they needed for some it work in the evenings and on weekends Dorothy. Helen is a self-employed. Cosmetologist, I'm exhausted, you know, it was it physically and mentally does take a lot out of you to do this process. And so that's probably you know for all of us part of why it's so hard today jurors weren't allowed to discuss the case with one another as a trial preceded each said, they really didn't know what the outcome of the various accounts would have been two of the five said, however, they thought the more than six billion dollar settlement was likely more than they would have awarded and they found for the state of Minnesota and Blue Cross has blamed both sides were not settling earlier on 25 year old Jim Livingston a welder from St. Paul said, he thinks the tobacco companies took a beating by not somehow striking a deal months ago. I honestly think they were foolish to bring it to the end of February plan on settling. I think that there's a lot I'd even more damaging documents. Towards and now I think if they want to settle from the beginning they should have settled right away. It would have spared themself a lot of embarrassment. I believe all those who talked with reporters were extremely disappointed about not being allowed to reach verdicts. The five said they learned a great deal during the trial and made new friends Dorothy. Halen said she agreed to talk because she's never been to a news conference before let alone the center of attention at such an event. She also hope to talkin about her feelings with reporters would help her bring closure to the trial. She expected to find in deliberations that never came it was really an amazing process. We're going to get over the pain and even the judge said we're going to appreciate that we did this and it's probably the biggest thing in our lives. Tobacco trial juror Dorothy Halen one of five of the 12. Tobacco jurors who met with reporters hours after the settlement was announced. This is Mark's attacked Lake, Minnesota Public Radio. Well, as we noted at the beginning of the hour, there aren't supposed to be any winners and losers when these lawsuits are settled out of court. But if there is a winner in this case, it's probably Minnesota attorney general. Skip Humphrey interview with Minnesota public radio's Karen Louise Booth Humphrey reflected on the trial and how it all came out. There was probably a little rest but there was a whole lot of skepticism as to whether or not there was any possibility of having any kind of positive resolution here. And so I mean I can recall distinctly some people that I count is pretty good political pundits saying, you know, you're crazy Humphrey you take it on the most powerful industry you've never lost before and where do you think you're going to go with this thing? It isn't going to work and I said, well, you know, we have information that shows that they are marketing to our kids now and we can I can't as attorney general. I just can't look the other way. This is so kind of information that leads us to have to take some kind of action. So we took the action and today. I'm very pleased with the result. It. It obviously is more than we ever I believe we could achieve I think it does set not only state standards and gives State opportunity Minnesota opportunity to help kids. Stay often to help smokers get off this drug of nicotine, but it said some national standards as well. And I've already heard from two of my colleagues saying very clearly to me that they really think this is going to help and going to help in the National level and in their cases, I do believe it is a historic moment that we have broken the mould of the earlier proposed national settlement. We have certainly established a national standards. I believe for payment both in the amount and Means of payment of attorneys fee. This is the lowest amount of attorneys fees paid out of any state. It is also an appropriate way of having the tobacco industry pay people of Minnesota. The taxpayers of Minnesota will not be paying and and I believe that's the standard size. For example the ban on Tobacco companies promoting their product by placing their product and movies and videos and all of the things that are in the entertainment world. That's a national band that two shows that we can come to grips with the wrongdoing of these of this industry and turn it around into a more positive industry, even at the national level and I look forward to Senator McCain's Bill coming forward into the Senate and I know that Congressman Waxman and others in the house are going to be giving serious consideration that was Minnesota attorney general's skip Humphrey in an interview with Minnesota public radio's Karen Louise booth Well that does it for our special report on Minnesota's tobacco. Trial report was produced by Sarah Meyer with assistance from Sasha. Aslanian and Melanie. Sommer bill. Muizenberg is Minnesota Public Radio news director. I'm Gary acting thanks for joining us. Good evening in just a few minutes before 10 and coming up in the next little while will be going off to the CBC for as it happens chicken news headlines at this hour National reaction to Minnesota is tobacco settlement is pouring in Senator. John McCain is praising the 6.6 billion dollar settlement reached by the state of Minnesota and the tobacco industry. McCain says, it improves the chances a comprehensive tobacco bill will pass but the industry opposes the Senate bill. U.s. On by Dennis Ross will give it another try tomorrow. He has a Saturday night meeting plan with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the two met today, but couldn't agree on pulling Israeli troops out of the West Bank in Washington Webster. Hubble's lawyer says a 10 count indictment against his client is out of Whitewater prosecutor can a starscope Hubbell his wife and two Associates pleaded innocent today to tax evasion charges. More storms have swept through parts of Georgia today after yesterday storm killed one person. Their cleanup efforts are underway in South Carolina as well or a tornado crushed a woman to death in her mobile home yesterday. A Maryland company is recalling some 1 million devices that allergy sufferers used to treat life-threatening attacks. The devices are called EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. The pen size injectors may not contain enough of a drug to work during an acute allergy attack and entertainment news Dick Clark's publicist says he's too upset to comment on Eddie Rabbitt's death the singer died of lung cancer yesterday at the age of 56 Robert scored 26 number one country hits including I Love a Rainy Night. In Regional news about 20 people are getting rabies shots after being exposed to a rabid dog in the LaVergne area authorities say no one had been bitten but many people had touched the dog and could pick up rabies virus through the animal saliva the family of a beauty pageant winner who died of breast cancer in February has settled a malpractice lawsuit against the clinic the suit contended Mary Kay Sanders was denied a mammogram by the Moore clinic in Anoka after she told a nurse practitioner about a lump in her breast. The clinic does not admit any wrongdoing the forecast for Minnesota tonight. Mostly clear in the Northeast a few evening showers are possible for southern in East Central Minnesota Louis tonight will range from 35 to 45 degrees for Saturday will have sunshine in eastern Minnesota with decreasing cloudy skies in the west highs on Saturday will range from 65 to 75 degrees. It submitted before 10. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. Cloudy skies and 63 degrees at k n o w FM 91.1 Minneapolis and st. Paul or the Twin Cities this evening some scattered eating showers are in the forecast. It will clear later on tonight alone near 40° Saturday mostly sunny on your 70 and for Sunday clear skies a high near 70 its 10