Tobacco.org

Tort-reform group weighs in on fight over tobacco fees 

The lawyers have delayed making a choice to collect fees from the tobacco companies -- not the state -- until Cornyn completes his investigation. They have asked the federal judge supervising the tobacco litigation to conduct a hearing.

Kelly, general counsel for Houston Industries and prominent in Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a tort-reform group, had figured in the tobacco legal fees challenge almost from the beginning. Austin lawyer Pete Schenkkan, who wrote the brief for Texans for Reasonable Legal Fees in the refinery case, said Kelly had asked him to scrutinize the tobacco fee award soon after the tobacco settlement was announced last January.

Schenkkan was later hired by seven state legislators who filed lawsuits challenging the legal fees. Schenkkan said he did not know if Kelly arranged his hiring by the legislators.

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