EDWARDSVILLE — Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories are facing a suit alleging premature infants who were fed their Similac and Enfamil cow's milk-based infant formulas suffered long-term health effects, which have resulted in death.
Valerie Flores and Kairi Flores, Akia Bethea and Bilal Halley and others filed a complaint July 9 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mead Johnson & Company LLC, Mead Johnson Nutrition & Company LLC and Abbott Laboratories alleging strict liability for design defect, failure to warn, negligence, intentional misrepresentation and other claims.
The plaintiffs allege in their complaint that the defendants' cow's milk-based infant feeding products, which were fed to premature infants, caused the babies to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The plaintiffs claim the premature infants, who had "underdeveloped digestive systems," suffered death or long-term health effects after being fed Similac and Enfamil formula.
The plaintiffs claim the defendants were well aware of the "scientific consensus" on the dangers of their products to premature infants. They further claim the defendants "aggressively marketed" their cow's milk-based infant formulas as being "equivalent alternatives" to breast milk and targeted parents of premature babies while knowing their products posed an increased risk of NEC, serious injury and death to premature infants. The plaintiffs also claim the defendants' warnings and instructions were "inadequate, vague and confusing."
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 LLC in St. Louis, Anne Callis of The Holland Law Firm LLC in Granite City and Travis Lenkner and Ashley Keller of Keller Lenkder LLC in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000804