EDWARDSVILLE — A lawsuit against Abbott and Mead Johnson alleges their cow's milk-based formulas caused premature infants to develop serious disease and death.
Shavonda Brantley, on her own behalf and on behalf of her minor child Ja'Kadden Brantley, Denita Morrison-Coles, on her own behalf and as representative of the estate of Marques Coles and Maraden Coles and others filed a complaint Sept. 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, negligence and other claims.
The plaintiffs allege that Similac and Enfamil cow's milk-based infant feeding formulas given to premature infants shortly after their birth has caused them to develop necrotizing entercolitis (NEC), long-term health effects and even deaths. The plaintiffs claim the defendants falsely and misleadingly marketed their cow's milk-based products as medically endorsed and a nutritionally equivalent alternative to breast milk. They also claim the defendants knew of the risks of NEC, severe injury and death for premature infants given their products and that their warnings and instructions for the products were inadequate.
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, Ann 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-001077