Wisconsin cheese suit over

Dairy Foods, Jan, 2003 by J. Mark Huffman

Wisconsin dairy farmers who brought action against several cheese manufacturers have reached the end of their litigation options. The U.S. Supreme Court let stand April's decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court which ruled the farmers could not sue for damages. The case stems more than ten years, when the dairy producers charged the companies with manipulating prices at the National Cheese Exchange.

The producers' case failed to gain traction as the courts held that federal case law prevents suits for damages when the rates in question were lawfully established by a federal agency through formal rulemaking. Milk prices for making cheese were tied to USDA milk marketing rules.