California Court of Appeal

In the settlement of claims against four manufacturers of tobacco products, an order denying a motion to compel arbitration is affirmed where the Master Settlement Agreement's arbitration clause does not require arbitration of the claims asserted by the State of California.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/10/2004
• Published 12/10/2004

Judges

• McDONALD, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• McKenna Long & Aldridge, Robert S. Brewer, Jr., Robert A. Cocchia, San Diego;  Levin & Ginsburg, Joseph A. Ginsburg, Jonathan M. Weis and Michael Sarafin, Chicago, IL, for Defendant and Appellant., Kirkland & Ellis, Stephen R. Patton, Elli Leibenstein, Douglas G. Smith, Chicago, IL;  Kirkland & Ellis, Michelle Schultz;  Arnold & Porter, Ronald C. Redcay and John D. Lombardo, Los Angeles, for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company and Philip Morris USA Inc., as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Appellant., Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Tom Greene, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Dennis Eckhart, Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne Finberg and Peter M. Williams, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent., Jim Petro, Attorney General (Ohio) and Susan C. Walker, Assistant Attorney General, for 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and four United States territories as Amici Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and Respondent.