PORTLAND (AP) – An Illinois judge will probably issue a decision early next month on whether to accept a proposed $12 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit attacking the purity of Poland Spring Water.

The Maine company announced in August it had settled the lawsuit. But lawyers with pending class-action lawsuits in other states objected, saying the settlement was too favorable to the company.

Competing arguments were aired this week before Illinois Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Colwell, who gave lawyers a week to propose orders for him to issue.

The lawsuit charges that Poland Spring’s water is not naturally pure, not from protected sources, not from deep in the Maine woods and not even from a spring, as the company’s ads claim. The company, which is owned by Nestle, denies the allegations, but spokeswoman Jane Lazgin said Poland Spring agreed to settle to get the matter behind it.

Lazgin said Tuesday that the company was happy to have the hearings concluded and is awaiting the judge’s decision.

Colwell indicated he would probably rule in early November, said Robert Foote, the attorney who reached the proposed settlement with Nestle.

AP-ES-10-22-03 1630EDT