Parents win $495M judgment over Similac baby formula injuries

Similac baby formula judgment overview: 

• Who: A Missouri jury ordered Abbott Laboratories to pay $495 million in damages to the parents of a premature baby. 
• Why: The parents claimed Abbott’s Similac baby formula caused their premature baby to suffer necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe gastrointestinal disease.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri. 

A jury in Missouri awarded a total of $495 million in damages to the parents of a premature baby who they argued developed a severe gastrointestinal disease from consuming a Similac baby formula made by Abbott Laboratories. 

The jury award includes $95 million in compensatory damages and an additional $400 million in punitive damages, reports Law360. 

The parents of Robynn Davis, who was born prematurely, reportedly claimed she developed the condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis after consuming Abbott’s Similac Special Care 24 baby formula, which is often used in neonatal intensive care units. 

Robynn’s mother claimed her daughter developed the condition within 72 hours of ingesting the Similac baby formula in October 2021, reports Law360. 

Abbott ‘strongly disagrees’ with jury verdict in Similac formula suit

Robynn’s parents claimed Abbott chose not to warn the public despite acknowledging internally the dangers of developing necrotizing enterocolitis from consuming the baby formula. 

The parents said Robynn is now confined to a wheelchair, had to have 75% of her intestines removed, is unable to eat normally, has brain damage and requires round-the-clock care for the rest of her life. 

A spokesperson for Abbott said in a statement that the company “strongly” disagrees with the verdict and believes “no one is to blame” for Robynn’s condition, which the company called a “tragedy,” reports Law360. 

“There is no scientific evidence showing Abbott’s preterm infant products cause or contribute to causing (necrotizing enterocolitis),” Abbott spokesperson Scott Stoffel said in the statement, as reported by Law360. 

Top Class Actions is running an investigation into premature babies being diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis after consuming certain cow’s milk-based Similac and Enfamil baby formulas. Nearly 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against product manufacturers. 

Did your baby develop necrotizing enterocolitis after consuming Similac baby formula? Let us know in the comments.

The parents were represented by Jake Plattenberger of TorHoerman Law LLC.

The Similac baby formula judgment is In re: Gill v. Abbott, Case No. 2322-CC01251, in the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri. 

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