In a significant move, five states in the us agreed last month to end state suits against the LiggettGroup, a tobacco firm. The states had filed a lawsuit against the company to recover some of the millions of dollars in Medicaid expenses that each pays out for treating tobacco-related illnesses. Maryland, Texas and 14 other states are in the process of preparing their own suits. A percentage (2.5) of the company's annual pretax profits will be distributed among the five states: Florida, Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana and Massa,husettsand another five per cent will be distributed among all other states.