State of Ohio Tobacco Master Settlement Litigation - John Murdock of MGSG, acting as appointed outside counsel to the State of Ohio, serves as counsel in litigation against numerous settling tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, who joined the landmark Master Settlement Agreement with the State of Ohio in 1998. Mr. Murdock also served as special counsel in that underlying litigation. The dispute is a post-settlement payment dispute between Ohio and these tobacco companies involving in excess of 100 millions of dollars. These funds have been withheld by the settling companies from the annual payments otherwise owed to Ohio under the settlement agreement, and Ohio vigorously contends it is owed these monies.