STATE SUITS: NEWCOMERS BRING TOTAL LIST TO 37

      With this week's entries of California, Idaho and Oregon,
 "states representing more than 90% of the U.S. population are now
 involved" in litigation against the tobacco industry, Los Angeles
 Times reports.  In addition, cigarette manufacturers also face
 about 20 class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of smokers and
 more than 200 individual claims (Levin, 6/13).  As of today, the
 following states have filed lawsuits to recoup the Medicaid costs
 spent treating smoking-related illnesses:  Alaska, Arizona,
 Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii,
 Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland,
 Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
 Montana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Nevada,
 Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas,
 Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin (AHL
 sources, 6/13).