Tobacco companies, 17 states settle over payments

(Reuters) – U.S. cigarette makers including Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co said on Tuesday they reached a settlement with 17 states in a long-running dispute over the amount of payments they are required to make under the 1998 landmark anti-smoking agreement. Under the settlement, the states will receive their share of $4 billion in disputed payments and the manufacturers will receive credits against future payments. The payments resulted from the 1998 national accord that obliges companies to help cover the health bills of ailing smokers. …