UPDATE 1-Tobacco companies to settle smoking lawsuits for $100 million
February 25, 2015 at 12:35 PM EST
NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Three major U.S. tobacco companies - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co, Lorillard Inc and Altria Group's Philip Morris USA - will pay $100 million to settle hundreds of federal lawsuits over smoking, according to an announcement from plaintiffs' lawyers on Wednesday.