Title: 97-CV-1212 James Servais v. Kraft Foods, Inc.
Citation: 2002 WI 42
Docket Number: 1999AP003199
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: April 30, 2002

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   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2
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 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
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, 
FILED 
 
APR 30, 2002 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
2
 
     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.  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. 2d 920, 631 N.W.2d 629, 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. 
 
 
No. 
99-3199   
 
 
 
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