EDWARDSVILLE — A mother claims her premature infant son developed a serious condition requiring part of his intestines to be removed after he was given Similac and Enfamil cow's milk-based formula.
Takia Smith, on her own behalf and on the behalf of her minor child Amir Lattimore, filed a complaint May 10 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mead Johnson & Company LLC, Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Abbott Laboratories alleging strict liability for design defect, failure to warn, negligence and negligent misrepresentation.
According to Smith's complaint, her son Amir was born prematurely at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., on May 13, 2017, and was fed "Similac and/or Enfamil cow's milk-based products" during his hospital stay. Smith alleges that her son developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) a "potentially deadly life-altertng disease," after first ingesting the defendant's cow's milk-based products. She claims her son had to undergo surgery to remove part of his intestines and "has continued to suffer long-term health" issues.
Smith alleges the defendants' products pose a threat to infants and are misleadingly marketed as "medically endorsed" and "nutritionally equivalent" to breast milk.
Smith seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other proper relief. She is represented by Eric Holland and Robert Evola of The Holland Law Firm LLC in St. Louis, Ann Callis of The Holland Law Firm LLC in Granite City, Travis Lenkner and Ashley Keller of Keller Lenkner LLC in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000571