Detroit's beleaguered automakers suffered another blow on Tuesday -- this time, to their efforts to stave off higher emissions standards for cars and trucks, according to The New York Times.

Several automakers, including DaimlerChrysler and General Motors, had sued in the Federal District Court for Rhode Island to stop that state from following California's efforts to seek greenhouse gas emissions standards that are stricter than those of the federal government. Automakers had already lost similar federal cases in Vermont and California.

Ernest C. Torres, the federal district judge in Rhode Island, ruled that the automakers had already been heard in the Vermont and California cases.

"It is difficult to see what interest the public has in permitting the plaintiffs another bite of the apple in challenging regulations limiting the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere," wrote Judge Torres.