Nixon calls for opening of suit involving tobacco case

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Attorney General Jay Nixon supports opening to the public a lawsuit involving the disbursement of $111.2 million for legal fees in the state's case against the tobacco industry.

Nixon has sent attorneys in the lawsuit a letter saying he was "shocked to learn" the file had been sealed. Nixon said he could find no compelling justification for closing the case.

"I request that each of you immediately take all steps necessary to open the file and allow public access to the information therein," he wrote in a letter dated Monday.

Independence attorney James Ziegler filed the lawsuit Jan. 29 in Greene County Circuit Court on behalf of his firm of Humphrey, Farrington, McClain and Edgar.

The suit names four law firms as defendants: attorney Thomas Strong and his Springfield firm; Bartimus Frickleton Robertson and Obetz of Kansas City; Caldwell and Singleton of St. Louis; and Gray Ritter and Graham of St. Louis.

Circuit Judge J. Miles Sweeney granted the motion to close the file. Ziegler said he sought to seal the file to protect the "attorney-client privilege."