Nicotine Fit: The LeBow deal could mean open season on Big Tobacco

Bennett S. LeBow, chairman of Brooke Group Ltd., Liggett Group Inc,'s parent will release documents that the state attorneys general think might give them the ammo to slay the industry in court. The documents will make it open season on Big Tobacco, encouraging states to step up anti-smoking campaigns and lay on ever-bigger taxes. Cigarette taxes could be the biggest threat to the Tobacco companies. Pending the outcome of an industry challenge, new FDA restrictions on a variety of industry marketing practices go into effect this summer.