Northeast Diary Antitrust Settlement Announced

Some dairy farmers in the region could be in for a payout following a $50 million settlement in a lawsuit accusing Dairy Farmers of America cooperative marking company of trying to drive down milk prices.

The proposed payout could mean an average settlement of $4,000 for about 9,000 farmers.  The deal needs the approval of a judge.

A class-action lawsuit filed in 2009 alleged Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy Marketing Services and Dean foods of Dallas worked together to gain a monopoly on the market for raw milk in the Northeast.

Dean Foods settled a $30 million agreement in 2011.

The far-sweeping action involves dairy farmers in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia.