State Attorney General Paul G. Summers filed suit today against several of the tobacco companies that agreed in 1998 to the massive settlement under which state governments were to receive a total of $206 billion over 25 years.

The action comes after some of the companies held back portions of the annual installments that were due by Monday, April 17. Certain firms are arguing that they are entitled to reductions in their payments under a provision in the agreement that is said to allow them to reduce their payments if they have lost market share.

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