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2002 WI 42

Supreme Court of Wisconsin

Case No.:

99-3199

Complete Title:

James Servais, Douglas Pierce, William R. Dobson, Roger Noll, Rita Noll, Byron Krueger, Melvin Schmitz, and Roger Swanson,

        Plaintiffs-Appellants-Petitioners,

        v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., National Cheese Exchange, Inc., and Alpine Lace Brands, Inc.,

        Defendants-Respondents.

__________________________________

William R. Dobson,

        Plaintiff-Appellant-Petitioner,

        v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., and National Cheese Exchange, Inc.,

        Defendants-Respondents.

__________________________________

Roger Noll, Rita Noll, Byron Krueger, Melvin Schmitz, and Roger W. Swanson,

        Plaintiffs-Appellants-Petitioners,

        v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., National Cheese Exchange, Inc., Borden, Inc., and Alpine Lace Brands, Inc.,

        Defendants-Respondents.

REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS

2001 WI App 165

Reported at: 246 Wis. 2d 920, 631 N.W.2d 629

(Published)

Opinion Filed:

April 30, 2002

Submitted on Briefs:

Oral Argument:

March 5, 2002

Source of Appeal:

Court:

Circuit

County:

Dane

Judge:

P. Charles Jones

Justices:

Concurred:

Dissented:

Not Participating:

Attorneys:

For the plaintiffs-appellants-petitioners there were briefs by Michael L. Stoker and Johns & Flaherty, S.C., La Crosse, and oral argument by Thomas Dubbs.

For the defendants-respondents there were briefs by Ralph V. Topinka and Quarles & Brady, LLP, Madison; Tefft W. Smith, J. Robert Robertson, Nathaniel M. Cousins, Catherine Fazio and Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, Illinois; Theodore L. Banks, Seth A. Eisner and Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, Illinois; Michael Fischer, G. Michael Halfenger and Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee; Howard A. Pollack and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., Milwaukee; Thomas F. Ryan, Bruce M. Zessar, Gabriel Aizenberg and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Chicago, Illinois; Colleen K. Nissl and Borden, Inc., Columbus, Ohio; Scott W. Hansen, Christopher Banaszak and Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, S.C., Milwaukee; and oral argument by Tefft W. Smith.

An amicus curiae brief was filed by Kevin J. O'Connor, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was James E. Doyle, attorney general.

An amicus curiae brief was filed by James A. Buchen on behalf of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, and William F. White and Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP, Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Utilities Association, Inc.

2002 WI 42

No. 99-3199

(L.C. No.

97 CV 1212, 97 CV 1777, 97 CV 1885)

STATE OF WISCONSIN :

IN

SUPREME COURT

James Servais, Douglas Pierce, William

R. Dobson, Roger Noll, Rita Noll, Byron

Krueger, Melvin Schmitz, and Roger

Swanson,

Plaintiffs-Appellants-

Petitioners,

v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., National Cheese

Exchange, Inc., and Alpine Lace Brands,

Inc.,

Defendants-Respondents.

__________________________________

William R. Dobson,

Plaintiff-Appellant-Petitioner,

v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., and National Cheese

Exchange, Inc.,

Defendants-Respondents.

__________________________________

Roger Noll, Rita Noll, Byron Krueger,

Melvin Schmitz, and Roger W. Swanson,

Plaintiffs-Appellants-

Petitioners,

v.

Kraft Foods, Inc., National Cheese

Exchange, Inc., Borden, Inc., and Alpine

Lace Brands, Inc.,

Defendants-Respondents.

FILED

APR 30, 2002

Cornelia G. Clark

Clerk of Supreme Court

REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Affirmed.

¶1. PER CURIAM.This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals, Servais v. Kraft Foods, 2001 WI App 165, 246 Wis.2d920, 631 N.W.2d629, that affirmed a judgment of the Circuit Court for Dane County, P. Charles Jones, Judge. The court is equally divided on the question of whether the decision of the court of appeals should be affirmed or reversed. Justices N. PATRICK CROOKS, DAVID T. PROSSER, and DIANE S. SYKES would affirm; Chief Justice SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON and Justices WILLIAM A. BABLITCH and ANN WALSH BRADLEY would reverse. Justice JON P. WILCOX did not participate. Accordingly, the decision of the court of appeals is affirmed.