It will cost RJ Reynolds US$ 5 million to settle a California case where the company was accused of violating a state ban on distributing free cigarette samples.

The deal announced between the company and the state attorney general's office includes a US$ 1-million payment to a nonprofit group for tobacco-control education and advocacy, a US$ 3.1-million civil penalty, and US$ 900,000 in court costs and fees.
The settlement marks the end of a 2001 lawsuit filed by the state; the trial court originally ordered the tobacco company to pay a US$ 14.8-million civil penalty for illegally distributing more than 100,000 free packs of cigarettes at events on public property. (pi)