Appeals court rules in favor of tobacco companies, against state

A new opinion from the N.C. Court of Appeals upholds an earlier Business Court ruling ordering arbitration in the dispute between state government and major tobacco companies. The state had argued against the Business Court’s decision.

The dispute is linked to the Master Settlement Agreement between most state attorneys general and Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, and Lorillard.

According to the appeals court opinion, 47 other jurisdictions have reached the same conclusion about arbitration.