Local officials were calling and visiting at least a half-dozen families, urging them to drop their cases against the dairies and accept a government-sanctioned compensation plan giving 2,000 yuan ($290) to most victims, said Zhao Lianhai, the father of a child sickened by the milk. At least one family has decided to back out of their lawsuit, said Zhao, who has rallied other families through a Web site he created. "One parent told me, 'I'm more than 30 years old but I've never before seen the county and village officials....
photo: AP / Wally Santana
