NEW YORK - A legal fight over New York City's requirement that graphic anti-smoking posters be displayed where cigarettes are sold in the city has other regions delaying a similar mandate, USA Today reports.

Last December, New York became the first U.S. city to require retailers to display four-square-foot warning posters depicting the physical effects of smoking near tobacco displays or at checkout registers. Non-compliant retailers face fines up to $2,000.

Massachusetts was considered to be the first state that would pass a similar requirement, though state officials are now waiting to see how the New York lawsuit plays out (a hearing is set for October 14).

"We are not going to take any action until after the initial hearing in New York City," said Jennifer Manley of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Last month, Lorillar, R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris sued New York over the poster requirement. The city agreed to postpone enforcing the law until January 1 or 14 days after a judge's order, whichever comes first.

According to Eric Lindblomat from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which supports the graphic warnings as effective deterrents, the tobacco companies' lawsuit was filed to "scare other jurisdictions form taking similar action."