Attorney General William Sorrell has gone to court demanding that tobacco manufacturers pay Vermont more than three million dollars.
Sorrell says RJ Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco Companies and Phillip Morris are inappropriately trying to withhold money owed under the 1998 national settlement of lawsuits against the industry.
RJ Reynolds and Lorillard deducted money from their annual payment earlier this month, arguing they’ve lost market share to smaller companies that aren’t part of the settlement.
Philip Morris paid what the state says it was owed but the company wants a refund.