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North Bay law firm wins $22.2 million for 11 Merced County dairy farmers

MERCED COUNTY, SANTA ROSA, May 6, 2008 -- Eleven Central Valley dairyman represented by Santa Rosa law firm Lanahan & Reilley received $22.2 million in a case against their former milk co-op and its owners.

The suit filed in Merced County Superior Court against the former co-op, owners and jointly-opened milk brokerage, California Milk Market, alleged that CEO George Vieira and wife Mary Vieira diverted millions in member milk money between 1995 and 2003. The court found the company and owners liable for wrongly absorbing milk premiums that should have been passed onto members when the milk was sold to processors.

The case was pending for more than four years.

Attorneys Martin Reilley and Candace Shirley represented the dairymen.