Enfamil Lawsuit
An Enfamil lawsuit is a legal claim against Mead Johnson filed by parents and caregivers who say preterm infants developed a serious gastrointestinal illness called necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, after consuming Enfamil baby formula. NEC can cause serious health problems and death.
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Latest Enfamil Lawsuit Updates
As of April 2024, 453 Enfamil and Similac lawsuits are pending multidistrict litigation. MDL 3026 is before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer in the Northern District of Illinois. Cases name manufacturers Mead Johnson and Abbott as defendants in necrotizing enterocolitis baby formula lawsuits.
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March 2024:
An Illinois jury ruled that Mead Johnson must compensate the mother of a premature infant who died from an intestinal disease after being given the company's baby formula, Enfamil, with a verdict of $60 million.
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April 2023:
Lawyers continue to negotiate how discovery is to be conducted. The parties need to submit a brief on any outstanding issues to the court by April 25, 2023.
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March 2023:
The judge scheduled science day proceedings for May 3, 2023. Science day allows the parties to present an overview of general medical and scientific issues to the court.
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December 2022:
Defendants and plaintiffs have selected potential bellwether test trial cases: Clarke, Cresap, Inman, Mar, Brown, Diggs, Lopez and Koeth. Randomly selected bellwether cases are: McCarthy, Jacobs, Kelton and Donaldson.
The majority of cases in the MDL are related to Similac and are against Abbott, but Mead Johnson also faces a few Enfamil lawsuits. Lawyers speculate that the first trials may take place in 2024 in the NEC MDL.
Abbott faces a separate class action related to its baby formula recall in Illinois under MDL 3037. These cases are unrelated to the NEC claims.
Why Are People Filing Enfamil Lawsuits?
People are filing Enfamil lawsuits because they claim its manufacturer, Mead Johnson, failed to warn them that Enfamil baby formula could increase the risk of preterm infants developing necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC.
Studies as far back as 1990 show that NEC is six to 10 times more common in exclusively formula-fed babies than babies who were breastfed, according to Enfamil lawsuits. It is up to 20 times more common in preemies who consumed formula but rare in breastfed preemies.
Enfamil baby formula lawsuits claim Mead Johnson knew that preterm infants who consumed cow’s milk formulas such as Enfamil baby formula had a greater risk of developing NEC. Parents and caregivers are suing for compensation for medical bills, their child’s loss of quality of life, funeral expenses for infants who died from NEC complications and other damages.
Enfamil Formulas Named in Lawsuit
All cow’s milk Enfamil baby formula products may potentially be named in Enfamil lawsuits. These include complete baby formulas as well as human milk fortifiers and supplements.
- Enfamil 24 Calorie Formula
- Enfamil DHA-In-Sol
- Enfamil Enfagrow Toddler and Enfagrow Premium Toddler
- Enfamil Enspire
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Acidified Liquid
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier Powder (HCPM)
- Enfamil Liquid Human Milk Fortifier Standard Protein
- Enfamil NeuroPro EnfaCare Premature Baby Formula
- Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
- Enfamil Nutramigen
- Enfamil Premature 24 Cal
- Enfamil Premature 30 Cal
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 30 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Premature Infant Iron Formula 20 Cal
- Enfamil Liquid Human Milk Fortifier High Protein
Families Affected In Enfamil Lawsuits
Families most affected in Enfamil lawsuits are those whose premature infants developed NEC after they were fed Enfamil baby formula in the hospital or at home after hospital discharge.
Mead Johnson formulates special products to help premature babies recover and gain weight, and the company has a 40% share of the U.S. baby formula market. Enfamil formulas are likely to be fed to premature babies recovering in the NICU.
In one 2022 Enfamil lawsuit filed by Sasha Stewart, Baby A.F. began feeding on maternal breast milk or donor human milk in the NICU. He then progressed to Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Calories. Doctors transitioned him to a diet consisting entirely of formula.
A few days later, Baby A.F. developed NEC and was taken off formula. He suffered from serious complications, including sepsis and abdominal distension. He was admitted to the hospital four times and had two open-bowel surgeries to treat NEC. Baby A.F. couldn’t come home for almost six months, and the ordeal caused extreme emotional and financial hardship for his mother.
Steps to Filing an Enfamil Lawsuit
The first step in filing an Enfamil lawsuit is to determine if your premature infant consumed an Enfamil brand baby formula before developing NEC. If you intend to file an NEC lawsuit, make sure you hire an experienced baby formula lawyer instead of filing a lawsuit on your own.
- Step 1: Find an experienced product liability lawyer.
- Step 2: Your lawyer will file your Enfamil lawsuit on your family’s behalf.
- Step 3: Your lawyer will collect evidence to help strengthen your claim.
- Step 4: Your lawyer will communicate with the judge and defendants and continue to file any necessary court documents.
- Step 5: Your lawyer will prepare your case for trial or negotiate a settlement.
These claims can be difficult, complicated, stressful and emotional. An Enfamil lawsuit lawyer can help you navigate the process and make it easier on your family.
Differences Between Similac and Enfamil Lawsuits
The main difference between Similac and Enfamil lawsuits is that Similac lawsuits are being filed against Abbott Laboratories, the maker of Similac. Enfamil lawsuits are being filed against Mead Johnson, the maker of Enfamil.
Parents and caregivers are filing Similac lawsuits for the same reason they are filing Enfamil lawsuits, which is their preterm infants developed NEC after consuming these brands of cows milk baby formula.
Abbott Laboratories has slightly more market share in the U.S. baby formula market, which means more babies are likely to consume Similac than they are to consume Enfamil. In fact, when judges consolidated baby formula lawsuits from across the country into multidistrict litigation in Illinois, almost all the initial baby formula lawsuits were Similac lawsuits against Abbott.
Current Status of Enfamil Baby Formula Lawsuits
Enfamil baby formula lawsuits are in their initial stages, and there have been no public settlements or jury verdicts awarded yet. Lawyers are still accepting cases on behalf of parents or caregivers with infants who suffered NEC after consuming Enfamil baby formula in the hospital or at home.
In April 2022, judges consolidated Enfamil lawsuits with Similac lawsuits in federal court in Illinois. As of Jan. 17, 2023, there were 97 lawsuits pending in the MDL out of 144 originally filed.
Has Enfamil Been Recalled?
There has been no Enfamil recall for NEC risks. Its not connected to the 2022 Abbott baby formula recall of products manufactured at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant.
The Abbott baby formula recall began in February 2022 and was connected to potential bacterial contamination. Babies became sick after consuming Similac and other Abbott formulas, and some died.
Because of the baby formula shortage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed the Sturgis plant to reopen in June 2022 and manufacture some formulas.
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