Sacre bleu! Cheese war erupts in Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS – Staying out of Eighth District Court Judge Joleen Blair’s courtroom could prove a tall order for two cheesemakers now enmeshed in a battle over trade secrets underpinning award-winning cheese recipes.

The case will also test Colorado laws that rarely see the light of day, as lawyers for Bingham Hill Cheese Co. and Morning Fresh Cheese Co. argue the role a non-compete agreement plays in the dispute.

The nitty-gritty of the case is contained in a lawsuit filed March 20 by Bingham Hill owners Tom and Kristi Johnson, who founded the storied Fort Collins startup in 1999. Although regarded as…