Enfamil lawsuits* (Enfamil Lawsuits only pertain to Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products only available in liquid form and NOT Mead Johnson’s full-term, standard birth weight Enfamil formula and fortifiers) are causes of action against Mead Johnson Nutrition. These baby formula lawsuits allege that consumers were not properly warned that the Enfamil Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products baby formula can result in preterm infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This severe gastrointestinal sickness could cause permanent complications and could result in death. The Specialized Enfamil PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products baby formula has become linked to cronobacter, salmonella, and meningitis injuries. The following products were also contaminated:
- Similac,
- Alimentum and
- EleCare baby formula (2022 recall)
- Enfamil Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products baby formula
Similac lawsuit
Contact us to pursue a possibly lucrative settlement with a high powered law firm on your side. Similac lawsuits have been pursued against the manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, across the United States asserting that Similac cow-milk- formula for babies has resulted in numerous preemies developing gastrointestinal infection known as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Parents are sold baby formula from practically the first moment they seek out prenatal care. The baby formula companies make a fortune on these products, and they want parents hooked on using them. They sell the idea of an easy way to feed the baby, so the parents can be less stressed. In the process, they make hundreds of millions of dollars each year. However, these products are not always safe. Premature infants have been injured by a bacterial infection called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This happens far more often when they are fed cow’s milk-based formulas. As a result, the makers of Similac and Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products Enfamil are facing product liability lawsuits from parents of injured babies. If you need a top lawyer to file a similic lawsuit or a high powered attorney for a baby formula NEC Enfamil lawsuit, contact us.
- Meade Johnson’s corporate counsel sent me a letter requesting that I make the following information clear and Slepkow Law issues a correction. Per Meade Johnson’s corporate counsel “Although Mead Johnson denies all allegations related to the NEC Litigation, plaintiffs in said litigation allege that Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products only available in liquid form cause necrotizing enterocolitis. Thus, the NEC Litigation is strictly limited to Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products, not Mead Johnson’s full-term, standard birth weight Enfamil formula and fortifiers (“Full-Term and SBW Enfamil Nutrition Products”). There have been no allegations, claims or evidence of any kind in the NEC Litigation that have included or relate to Full-Term and SBW Enfamil Nutrition Products.”
Baby Formula lawsuit, March 14, 2024 – A jury from Illinois, St. Clair County, awarded the mother of an infant $60 million as a result of the premature baby death. The baby passed away from intestinal disease after imbibing Enfamil baby formula manufactured by Mead Johnson. The jury determined that Mead Johnson was liable for failing to warn of NEC.
12/27/23 – Two babies became infected with a very rare bacteria caused by baby formula consumption. A harmful bacteria that lead to baby formula recalls in 2022 has lead to infections in two infants in 2023. One baby in Kentucky died from the bacteria. A Missouri baby suffered brain damage. United States officials determined that these two invasive infections resulted from cronobacter sakazakii. These two babies consumed the powdered baby formula from Abbott Nutrition.
November 2023 updates-10-28-23- “In the baby formula MDL, Judge Pallmeyer set up a bellwether process for selecting bellwether trials. Initially, there were 12 lawsuit complaints filed versus two distinct baby formula companies. The 12 lawsuits were subjected to discovery related to those specific cases. At a later time, the cohort was reduced to 8 trials. On October 25th, 2023 the judge in charge of the MDL promulgated an order setting forth the remaining 4 bellwether trials. These 4 trials were selected by both the victims and the manufacturers as the first bellwether trials. Two trials were selected by each side. These 4 trials will all be jury trials. Three lawsuits out of the 4 will be litigating wrongful death claims as a result of infants who died.
May 2023- “Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) persuaded a federal judge to dismiss some claims in nationwide litigation over recalled baby formula. In a decision on Monday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in Chicago dismissed claims by parents pursuing only “economic loss” claims related to Similac and other formula that they said had a “substantial risk” of bacteria contamination.” Reuters
1-23-23- “Late last week, Abbott officials confirmed that the company is cooperating with a criminal investigation by the Justice Department’s consumer protection division, which is looking into the Sturgis manufacturing plant.” About lawsuits
8-15-2022- “Parties involved in baby formula NEC lawsuits being pursued against the makers of Similac and Enfamil have presented a plan to the U.S. District Judge presiding over the litigation, outlining the process for selecting a group of 12 cases that will be prepared for a series of early bellwether trials.” About lawsuits
2-24-22- “Three popular baby formulas made by Abbot Nutrition have been recalled after four babies became sick with bacterial infections. The recall covers select lots of powdered Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas from Abbot’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. The FDA is investigating complaints of four infant illnesses from three states – Minnesota, Ohio and Texas, though the product was shipped nationwide. All four cases required hospitalization and the bacteria – Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella– may have contributed to the death of one of the infants. Premature infants have critical nutrition needs. They need to grow from their very low birth weight. However, they often do not have the strength to make the sucking motion necessary to breastfeed from their mother. Many doctors simply give them formula as an easier way for them to get nutrition. Research shows exactly how dangerous that approach is. However, this practice has persisted for many years.” AL.com
2-24-2022- “HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Parents are still throwing out certain cans of powder Similac infant formula after the FDA warned that it was connected to four cases of infant illnesses, including one death. Days after the recall, one Houston-area mother had to rush her 6-month-old to the ER, and says it has been one of her worst experiences.” ABC 13
2/18/22-“Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula recall has been expanded to include one lot of Similac PM 60/40. The Food and Drug Administration said in an update Monday that health officials were investigating an additional illness of Cronobacter sakazakii with exposure to powdered infant formula produced at the company’s Sturgis, Michigan facility. That baby also died of Cronobacter. “The most recent patient was reported to have consumed Abbott Nutrition’s Similac PM 60/40 product with the lot code 27032K800 prior to Cronobacter sakazakii infection,” the FDA said. Similac PM is considered “a specialty formula for certain infants who would benefit from lowered mineral intake.” It was not included in the previous recall for select lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas announced Feb. 17.”USA Today
2/9/22- “Abbott Nutrition is recalling one lot of Similac PM 60/40 powdered infant formula due to another report of a dangerous bacterial infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration are investigating reports and complaints of infant illness related to formula from Abbott’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan.” Top Class action
2-9-22- “A pair of consumers are separately targeting CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health Corporation over health concerns related to products. Plaintiff Stephanie Surratt claims CVS Pharmacy sells a formula called Toddler Beginnings that is intended for children between 9 and 18 months old that is misleadingly similar to infant formula. Surratt claims CVS Pharmacy makes the formula similar-looking to infant formula to give caregivers the “incorrect impression that the Toddler Beginnings is what children should be fed in the ‘next stage’ beyond infancy.” Top class action
HOW NEC PUTS A BABY’S LIFE IN DANGER
NEC is a very serious and potentially deadly condition. A premature baby’s digestive system is vulnerable and immature. When the baby develops an infection, they could suffer permanent damage. With NEC, the infection can permanently kill parts of the intestine. This makes a hole, and fluid can seep into the abdominal cavity. Losing a large part of the intestine can impact the baby for the rest of their life, if they even survive NEC at all. Up to 30% of babies who develop NEC will die from the condition.
In general, one in every 1,000 premature babies will develop NEC, but the rate is far higher among babies who received cow-milk formula. The Cleveland Clinic has defined necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as a “serious gastrointestinal problem that mostly affects premature babies. The condition inflames intestinal tissue, causing it to die.” The problem involves holes forming in a preemie child’s intestine. This could allow bacteria to possibly leak into the intestinal wall or perhaps the intestinal tract and the bacteria could enter the abdomen or bloodstream. NEC may cause to serious medical problems and lead preterm infants to require neonatal intensive care that can be life threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that NEC is the 10th highest cause of fatality for preemie infants below 12 months.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF NEC
NEC can cause the following symptoms in babies:
- Constipation
- Trouble gaining weight
- Distended abdomen
- Intense pain
- Discolored vomit
Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products ENFAMIL LAWSUITS*
If the infection progresses, the baby will develop symptoms consistent with an advanced infection. These could include:
- High fever
- Lethargy
- Shock
Doctors will often need to perform emergency surgery to remove the dead parts of the intestine. They often need to do multiple procedures. In the meantime, the baby suffers pain and discomfort. If they have lost a large part of their intestine, the pain will persist for the duration of their life.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BABIES FED COW-MILK FORMULA HAVE A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF NEC
For years, research has shown that cow-milk based formula can harm premature infants. Some of this data goes as far back as the early 1990s. About a decade ago, there were several more studies that confirmed what the early data showed. Research has documented that premature babies who have been fed cow-milk baby formula are three to seven times more likely to develop NEC.
As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a 2012 recommendation to doctors to only give human milk to premature infants. This could include:
- The mother’s milk
- The mother’s milk with fortifiers
- Human donor milk
Even with this warning and guidance, the makers of products like Similac and Enfamil failed to do anything in the face of mounting evidence that their products were dangerous. Initially, parents sued the doctors who gave these products to the babies. Parents won several major medical malpractice verdicts against physicians and hospitals when babies were seriously injured or died from NEC.
GROUNDS IN ENFAMIL AND SIMILAC PRODUCT LIABILITY CASES
Now, parents have begun to file product liability lawsuits against the makers of these infant formula products. There are two major allegations in these complaints. They are:
- These companies have long known about the dangers of cow-milk based formulas to infant children, and they did not warn doctors or parents about the potential risks. This is a marketing defect.
- There was a reasonable and safer alternative to use human milk in formulas marketed towards premature infants instead of cow-based ingredients. This is a design defect.
THE NUMBER OF BABY FORMULA NEC LAWSUITS WILL GROW
Parents have recently begun to file these lawsuits. Given the number of premature babies who have been given Similac and Enfamil, we expect the amount of these cases to grow. Right now, these cases are in their very early stages. At some point, we expect a motion to consolidate these cases into multidistrict litigation.
There are two major companies that are defendants in these lawsuits. They are:
- Mead Johnson – the maker of Enfamil
- Abbott Laboratories – the maker of Similac
These two companies each control approximately 40% of the baby formula market. Any baby formula maker who sold a defective product can be made to pay. Despite the dangers of these cow-milk based products, they are still on the market and have not been recalled.
WHAT FAMILIES CAN RECOVER IN A BABY FORMULA LAWSUIT
These are the potential damages that parents could get as part of an Enfamil (Specialized PREMATURE and LBW Nutrition Products) or Similac lawsuit:
- Medical bills for past and future treatment
- Pain and suffering (these damages can be considerable – in one of the medical malpractice lawsuits, the plaintiff was awarded $5 million for pain and suffering)
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages if the child is not able to work in the future, or if the parents have to miss work to care for their child
- Wrongful death damages if their child died from NEC
It is too soon to know how much these cases are worth. However, if the medical malpractice cases against doctors who gave babies this formula are any guide, we think that these cases could be valued at up to $1 million in a settlement, and even more if the case goes to a jury. Large multinational companies are not very sympathetic to a jury, especially when their product has seriously injured a baby.
CONTACT AN ENFAMIL AND SIMILAC LAWSUIT ATTORNEY
Given the potential damage awards, there are high stakes with these cases. You should consult with an attorney immediately if your baby has been given cow-milk formula and developed NEC. Your attorney will advise you whether it is best to file a medical malpractice case or a product liability lawsuit against the company that made the formula. What we do know is that the person or company responsible for harming your baby can be held legally accountable and made to pay for your damages. If you are seeking a lawyer for a hair relaxer lawsuit or an ozempic lawsuit, contact us.