NL Industries is one of three defendants in the case, which also claims that Sherwin-Williams Company and ConAgra Grocery Products created a public nuisance by marketing toxic paint. All three companies are fighting to overturn the ruling, which requires them to clean up the toxic pigment in 10 cities and counties throughout the state. The paint makers dispatched an army of lobbyists to sway lawmakers while pumping $6 million into a ballot initiative that would get taxpayers to pick up a $3.9 billion cleanup tab instead. NL Industries, however, agreed to withdraw its support for that ballot initiative as part of this week's settlement agreement. "Although NL does not agree with the ruling in the courts, and by settling does not admit to any of the claims in the case, NL would prefer that its limited financial resources be used to fund public health programs rather than be spent on continued litigation," NL's attorney Andre Pauka said in a prepared statement.