EDWARDSVILLE — A mother claims her premature infant developed an intestinal disease after consuming Enfamil and Similac infant formulas.
Tikeshia Whatley and Ze'Marques Elder filed a complaint July 14 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mead Johnson & Company LLC, Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Abbott Laboratories alleging strict liability, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and other claims.
According to the plaintiffs' complaint, Elder was born prematurely on July 14, 2001, in Montgomery, Ala. Shortly after his birth, Elder was fed the defendants' Similac and/or Enfamil cow's milk-based products. The plaintiffs claim that after first ingesting the defendants' formula products, Elder developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), "a life-altering and potentially deadly disease." They further claim Elder required surgery and continues to suffer from long-term health effects.
The plaintiffs allege that Mead Johnson and Abbott led "powerful " and "misleading" marketing campaigns to deceive parents into believing their infant formulas were equal to or better than breast milk. They also allege Mead Johnson and Abbott had inadequate warnings on their formulas despite being aware of the dangers to premature infants who consumed their cow's milk-based formula.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief trial by jury and all other just 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 Lenkner LLC in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000823