NEC LAWSUIT ATTORNEY
NEC Lawsuit Attorneys Representing Victims Nationwide
When parents have a premature baby, they’re in for more than a few life changes. The first few weeks or months are often very stressful. This is especially true when caring for a preterm infant. Ensuring that premature infants receive all the nutrition their growing bodies need is essential, so parents obviously care a lot about what goes into their food. Sometimes, parents find it necessary to use baby formula products because there is no option to breastfeed or they simply need to supplement breastfeeding. Unfortunately, certain brands of formula have recently been hit with an NEC lawsuit due to the danger of their products.
When a premature baby consumes cow-based baby formula (like Similac and Enfamil), there’s a chance they could get very sick. Parents, guardians, and medical professionals deserve proper warning of this risk on the packaging of baby formula. Manufacturers of these products have the responsibility to warn consumers of the potential risks. When they fail to do so, they could face legal consequences and infant formula lawsuits for product liability and medical negligence. In these cases, you need Reich & Binstock on your side. We have the compassion and determination to fight for your right to compensation. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with us, call 713-622-7271 or fill out our online intake form today.
What Are the NEC Infant Formula Claims?
Parents and guardians have filed several claims after their premature infants suffered from necrotizing enterocolitis after consuming Similac or Enfamil infant formula. The lawsuits argue that the producers of these goods neglected to warn parents and doctors about the health hazards connected with the formula, leading parents to give it to their premature baby without full knowledge of the risks involved.
If you’re a parent who wants to avoid the risk of NEC from formula, read our blog that outlines Enfamil infant formula alternatives.
What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Necrotizing enterocolitis is an intestinal illness in which the intestines become inflamed, resulting in tissue death. Additional concerns include the afflicted intestinal wall of a newborn developing a perforation as a result of the injury, posing a major risk of germs spilling into the abdominal area. Infections and sepsis may develop as a result, making NEC even more hazardous and even deadly.
Premature newborns, notably those fed through a tube and weighing fewer than five and a half pounds at delivery, are more susceptible to NEC. Those whose birth weight is less than two pounds, however, are at the highest risk.
Symptoms of NEC include the following:
- Green vomit
- Lethargy
- Swelling and pain in the abdomen
- Blood in the stool
- Changes to blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature
- Abnormal breathing
- Abdominal pressure
- Diarrhea
NEC, a disorder that most often occurs within two to six weeks of premature delivery, might be the cause of your baby’s inability to gain weight. Necrotizing enterocolitis comes in a variety of forms, and the seriousness of the ailment can range from moderate to severe. The bacterial infection can swiftly deteriorate and even be deadly. While many infants recover completely, others have long-term health problems.
Why Are Premature Babies at Higher Risk of NEC?
Because their organs are underdeveloped when they are delivered, preterm newborns have more risk factors for immediate and long-term problems. They suffer from respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and immunological illnesses and deficits. When a baby is delivered before 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is called preterm. Preterm babies are more likely to get NEC, which is a dangerous disease that can be fatal.
Because they aren’t strong or large enough, many preterm newborns are unable to properly breastfeed. As a result, they frequently require more nourishment in order to maintain healthy growth and development, as well as survival. To meet this need, hospitals frequently use infant formula, much of which is a cow’s milk-based formula.
However, investigations conducted over the previous several decades have clearly demonstrated that preterm babies are more likely to develop NEC, and that cow-based formulations pose much greater dangers. This is why clear warnings are required so that parents and physicians may make educated decisions.
Do I Qualify for an NEC Lawsuit?
The lawsuits against Similac and Enfamil for their infant formula have brought to light and emphasized the importance of food corporations in the lives of new parents and their children. If the NEC dangers of formula for preterm children are unclear, or if a clinician fails to inform parents about the hazards, there may be grounds to hold them liable and seek justice.
Contact a Houston product liability lawyer at Reich & Binstock if your premature infant experienced necrotizing enterocolitis after being fed Similac, Enfamil, or another cow-based formula. Making a claim against the people who neglected to warn you of the dangers can help to ensure that your family is compensated properly for medical expenses, missed earnings, and pain and suffering. These situations aren’t predicated on deadly consequences or long-term disease. Even if your infant has fully healed from NEC, you may have legal options. Contact the Houston-based lawyers at Reich & Binstock today.
Enfamil Lawsuit
Necrotizing enterocolitis claims throughout the country involving Enfamil infant formula are being investigated by our Enfamil lawyers. According to Enfamil lawsuits, the popular Mead Johnson & Company infant formula caused many preterm babies to suffer necrotizing enterocolitis, a deadly gastrointestinal illness.
Our legal firm is now investigating potential lawsuits against Enfamil Nutrition, the company that makes Enfamil, for failing to warn about the dangers of NEC. NEC is a life-threatening illness that frequently leads to irreversible disability or death. Families that file a successful NEC lawsuit for infant formula might obtain a sizable financial compensation settlement for the terrible injury their children have suffered.
Does Enfamil Cause NEC?
Infant formula manufactured by Mead Johnson & Company from cow milk is available from Enfamil, which is used to replace human breast milk in newborn newborns. When cow’s milk-based formulas like Enfamil are administered to preterm newborns, a growing body of scientific research shows that those formulas greatly increase the risk of a deadly bowel infection called necrotizing enterocolitis.
Similac Lawsuit
Similac claims allege that the cow’s milk-derived baby formula causes preterm newborns to suffer necrotizing enterocolitis, a gastrointestinal ailment. Some parents are suing Abbott, the maker of Similac, for neglecting to alert doctors and parents about the dangers of NEC in preemies. These infant formula cases are attempting to obtain the largest monetary settlements possible under the law.
Does Similac Cause NEC?
Premature newborns who are fed cow’s milk-based baby formula like Similac are more likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis, as per several scientific studies. This is most common in two to six week old premature babies.
Although there has been scientific evidence associating NEC with Similac for over 30 years, new studies have definitively proven that preterm newborns who are administered Similac or Enfamil have a considerably greater risk of NEC than those who are breastfed. Premature newborns who are fed a cow-milk formula like Similac are 10 times more likely than those who are breastfed to develop NEC.
Who Is Liable in a Similac Lawsuit or Enfamil Lawsuit?
Similac NEC
Abbott Laboratories Inc. manufactures and sells the Similac baby formula brand. The research linking Similac to greater risks of NEC in preterm newborns was known to Abbott. Given this scientific proof, Abbott has neglected to put any form of cautionary label on its Similac products alerting doctors and parents to the higher risk of NEC related with Similac and preterm children.
Abbott has a legal responsibility as a product maker to alert consumers about known hazards and dangers linked with its product. Abbott appears to have made the conscious decision not to put any NEC precautions on their Similac labeling, likely to minimize any negative influence on Similac’s brand value. The legal arguments in the Similac NEC cases against Abbott are based on the company’s failure to warn about NEC.
Enfamil NEC
Mead Johnson Nutrition is the company that makes and sells Enfamil. Mead Johnson has known for years that Enfamil increases preterm newborns at risk for NEC due to substantial scientific data and clinical research. Despite this knowledge, Mead Johnson has refused to place a health warning on Enfamil packages advising consumers and clinicians about the increased danger of NEC.
Mead Johnson made a calculated decision: it’s not as if their management were unaware of the consequences. A disclaimer that its cow’s milk-based formula is risky for preterm newborns due to an increased risk of NEC would cause Mead Johnson to lose income.
Mead Johnson has a legal obligation to warn customers about known dangers linked with its products. Mead Johnson had a clear responsibility to warn that Enfamil put preterm children at increased risk for NEC. Instead, they chose to disregard it in order to keep their product on the shelf. Enfamil NEC claims against Mead Johnson are based on Mead Johnson’s carelessness in failing to warn about the danger of NEC for preterm babies.
How Much Is an NEC Formula Lawsuit Worth?
At this time, the baby formula NEC litigation is only getting started. There has yet to be a trial or a settlement in any NEC action against Mead Johnson or Abbott. As a result, predicting how much a case will be worth in a judgement or settlement is difficult. By comparing settlements and judgments in recent medical malpractice lawsuits in which NEC in a preterm newborn was the principal harm, we create an informed approximation about their probable compensation worth. Speak with a baby formula lawyer with Reich & Binstock to learn more.
What Is the Status of the NEC Infant Formula Claims?
Status of Similac Lawsuit
Similac and the higher risk of NEC in preterm children are still in the early phases of litigation, according to attorneys we have spoken with. In locations around the country, more Similac NEC cases are being filed against Abbott. Our Similac infant formula lawyers are now accepting new cases from around the United States. These Similac cases are mostly based on negligent failure to warn and strict product responsibility allegations against Abbott. There is also an ongoing Similac recall in 2022 that parents of infants using formula should be aware of.
Status of Enfamil Lawsuit
The Enfamil NEC lawsuit is still in its early stages. Every month, new lawsuits regarding Enfamil and Mead Johnson’s failure to warn about the elevated risk of NEC for preterm children are filed across the country. These Enfamil cases accuse Mead Johnson of negligent failure to warn, strict product liability, and breach of warranty, among other things.
If the number of Enfamil NEC claims continues to climb, a new Enfamil class action MDL should emerge. Single plaintiffs and their claims remain distinct in a mass tort MDL, but they are combined together for pretrial discovery. Reich & Binstock is ready to take on cases all around the country.
Contact an NEC Lawsuit Attorney Today
If your newborn baby suffered from NEC as a result of cow’s-milk based Similac or Enfamil, you might have a case. Contact the mass tort attorneys and product liability lawyers at Reich & Binstock today. We have years of experience handling class action and MDL cases all over the nation, and we can put those skills to work for you. Call our office today at 713-622-7271 or fill out our online intake form to schedule your free and confidential consultation.
