A few attorneys are likely to be the biggest winners of these settlements. The recent $ 300 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought by flight attendants against the tobacco companies graphically demonstrates their good fortune. In this case, the industry will pay $ 300 million to establish a foundation for scientific research on diseases associated with cigarette smoking. No money will go directly to the flight attendants, but the tobacco companies have agreed to pay $ 49 million in fees to the flight attendants' attorneys. Yes, that's right - $ 49 million to the attorneys and not a dime to the flight attendants.