EDWARDSVILLE — Mead Johnson and Abbott are facing a suit alleging their cow's-based milk infant formula products have caused the death or long-term health issues of premature infants.
Elizabeth Miller, on her own behalf and as representative of the Estate of Hope Miller, Allyson Butler, on her own behalf and as representative of the Estate of Nihyalee Robison and Cayla Page, on her own behalf and on behalf of her minor child Keymanni Figures, filed a complaint June 3 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mead Johnson & Company LLC, Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Abbott Laboratories, alleging strict liability for design defect, strict liability for failure to warn, negligence and other claims.
The plaintiffs claim that their premature and other high-risk infants developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a "potentially deadly and life-altering" disease, because they were given the defendants cow's milk-based infant formula products packaged as Similac and Enfamil. The plaintiffs allege the infants suffered death or long-term health issues as a result of being fed the formula products. They also allege that Mead and Abbott have failed to change or relabel their products despite "scientific consensus" that cow's-based milk products "present a dire threat" to premature infants.
The plaintiffs further allege the defendants have "deceived" parents and medical professionals that their infant formula products are a safe substitute for breast milk.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other proper relief. They are represented by Eric Holland and Robert Evola of The Holland Law Firm in St. Louis, Ann Callis of The Holland Law Firm in Granite City and Travis Lenkner and Ashley Kelller of Keller Lenkner LLC in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000662