A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Richard Montañez, a former executive and self-proclaimed inventor of the Flamin' Hot Cheetos flavor, against PepsiCo and its subsidiary Frito-Lay. Montañez alleged that the company defrauded and defamed him by denying his role in creating the popular snack flavor. The dismissal upholds Frito-Lay and PepsiCo's denial of Montañez's claims, leaving the origin story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos disputed. The judge's ruling prevents Montañez from pursuing the case further unless additional evidence is presented. Separately, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is facing another lawsuit related to its 'dangerously hot' sauce, and other unrelated federal cases include the dismissal of an Iowa landowner's challenge concerning wetland protections and a Norwin School Board director's lawsuit against a former superintendent and the school district.