In the lawsuit, filed in 1994, the state of Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota accuse the tobacco industry of violating state antitrust and consumer fraud laws by selling a product they knew was dangerous and addictive. They are seeking to recover money spent treating tobacco-related illnesses. Ten states across the nation are suing the tobacco industry in similar lawsuits, although Minnesota is the only state that has a health-care provider joining the lawsuit.