A Florida law that makes it easier for the state to prevail over tobacco in court seemed safe Friday night as the Legislature moved toward adjournment without acting to eliminate that law.

Preservation of the law would be a major victory for Gov. Lawton Chiles,  its prime architect. And it would be another blow to the tobacco industry,  which faces legal action from Florida and other states in connection with the  costs of smoking-related illnesses.

Chiles' war with tobacco lobbyists loomed over the 60-day session, but  tobacco companies were never able to muster enough votes to wipe the law they  hate most off the books.