The parents of premature infants who suffered severe illness or death after being fed Similac and Enfamil formulas claim Abbott and Mead Johnson knew of the dangers and failed to provide warnings.
Jennifer Cherry, on her own behalf and on behalf of her minor child Kaiden Robinson, Jamila Cornelius, on her own behalf and as representative of the estate of Traylen Dobbins, and others filed a complaint Aug. 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mead Johnson & Company LLC, Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Abbott Laboratories, alleging strict liability, negligence, intentional misrepresentations, violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other claims.
The plaintiffs allege in their complaint that the defendants’ cow’s milk-based infant formula products, Similac and/or Enfamil, can cause life-altering and sometimes fatal illnesses when given to premature infants. Specifically, the plaintiffs are parents of premature infants and allege their babies developed necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) that resulted in long-term health effects or death after being fed Similac and/or Enfamil formulas.
The plaintiffs claim that despite strong “scientific consensus” showing the danger and health threat of giving cow’s milk-based products to premature infants, the defendants continued to sell and falsely market their products to parents and health care providers as safe and nutritionally equivalent to breast milk. They also allege the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings about the risk of serious injury and death from NEC when premature infants are given their products.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief.
This article was first published in Madison Record.
