Northeast dairy farmers paid in class action lawsuit

separate $30million settlement in 2011.

The deals covered farmers in Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, NewHampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“I’m still heaving a big sigh of relief that the checks did finally come out,” said Alice Allen, one of the original dairy farmers who sued.

The processhas beencontentious with some farmers opposed to the settlement, saying it isn’t enough and doesn’t changeDFA’s behavior. Some appealed the deal and others opted out.

“It’s a tragic failure of our justice system to protect the American dairy supply and to preserve the American dairy farmer,” said Claudia Haar, who with her husband, farms in West Edmeston, New York.

The settlement creates and funds an independent advisory council member for four years to review the financial records of DFA and DMS.

It also establishes and funds a farmer ombudsperson for five years to investigate any complaints and creates guidelines for dairy farmers to terminate their relationship with DFA or DMS without penalty.

ADFAofficialdidnot immediately return a phone call seeking comment. In 2016 when a judge approved the settlement DFA spokeswoman Monica Massey said the group believed the allegations were without merit, but was pleased with the settlement approval because litigation is both costly and distracting.