Missouri Jumped The Gun On Cigarette Seizures

ST. LOUIS (CN) - The Missouri director of revenue did not have the authority to seize cigarettes from Dirt Cheap Cigarettes and Beer based on the tobacco company's alleged failure to make escrow payments as part of a master settlement agreement with the U.S. attorney general, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled.

Judge Sullivan said the state must wait until a court verifies that Dirt Cheap violated the terms of the settlement before it can seize cigarettes from the company's stores.

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