The talks have involved industry negotiators, representatives of state attorneys general, antismoking advocates and lawyers representing smokers suing the industry.

And plaintiffs' lawyers representing smokers are already fighting with state attorneys general and their trial lawyers over who will be credited with the anti-smoking programs called for under the plan.

State regulators and lawyers representing smokers in private lawsuits differ over who should be speaking for the legal rights of individuals in the negotiations.

Anti-smoking groups and plaintiffs' lawyers representing smokers suing the tobacco industry are also participating in the negotiations.

Liggett negotiated the first global settlements with lawyers representing smokers.

But at one point in the tobacco cases, the firm represented both states and smokers in separate lawsuits, a problematic position because the groups might have vied for settlement funds.

Louisiana sued the tobacco industry yesterday, seeking to recoup health care costs of smokers, a lawyer representing smokers in the litigation said.

The lawyer, Stanley M. Chesley, who has represented smokers, helped negotiate the proposed settlement reached last June between 40 states and the tobacco companies.

Mr. Rodham was part of the Castano Group, a loose collection of 65 law firms that joined in representing smokers in claims against the tobacco industry.

Liggett & Myers, the nation's sixth-largest tobacco company, and lawyers representing smokers are expected to announce a proposed settlement today in the largest class-action lawsuit against the tobacco industry.