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New Hampshire Attorneys for NEC Baby Formula Lawsuits

Advocating for Premature Infants Harmed by Toxic Baby Formula

Was your child given Similac, Enfamil or a similar cow’s milk-based baby formula and later developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)? You may be eligible for compensation through a toxic baby formula lawsuit against the manufacturer.

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., our trial lawyers are currently investigating NEC baby formula cases. In a free consultation, we will answer any questions you have about your rights, helping you make a well-informed decision about whether legal action is right for you.

Why Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.?

For 40 years, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. has successfully fought for Northern New England residents injured by negligent companies and corporations. Our attorney team continues to work tirelessly to achieve the best possible results for our clients. To date, we have won millions in client recoveries.

We know the deeply personal, heartbreaking nature of cases involving injury to an infant. While we cannot undo the past, we can work to bring the negligent manufacturer to justice. Our legal team is proud to provide honest, compassionate legal counsel to our clients at every step of the legal process. We will work with you to develop a case strategy that centers your needs. Most of all, we won’t back down in our fight for you!

Similac, Enfamil & Other Cow’s Milk-Based Baby Formulas Linked to NEC

Numerous peer-reviewed studies have highlighted the link between cow’s milk-based formula and an increased risk of NEC, a deadly gastrointestinal disease. In 2011, former U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin issued a call to action in which she promoted the use of breast milk over formula, writing, “For vulnerable premature infants, formula feeding is associated with higher rates of necrotizing enterocolitis.”

The call to action was hardly the first time an expert linked NEC to cow’s milk. Just a year before, a study in The Journal of Pediatrics found there was a 77% reduction in NEC when preterm infants were fed only breast milk as opposed to those fed breast milk supplemented with cows’ milk-based baby formula products. Other studies date back decades.

Recently, in 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics looked into 4 randomized clinical trials, with the oldest dating back to 1983. It found that each of these trials supports the idea that breast milk is greatly beneficial to preterm infants, reducing the risk of NEC by a whopping 58%.

What Is NEC?

NEC is a condition in which the intestinal wall becomes inflamed and dies, leaving a hole through which bacteria can leak into the abdomen or bloodstream. This can cause the infant to suffer a severe infection or, tragically, result in death.

Most cases of NEC affect premature infants. Those born with an extremely low birth weight (less than 2 lbs) are at a very high risk of developing NEC.

Symptoms of NEC tend to appear two to six weeks after birth:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloated or swollen belly
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Difficulty breathing
• Yellow or green vomit
• Lethargy or fatigue
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure

Which Baby Formula Companies Are Being Sued?

Plaintiffs have already sued Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Similac, and Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, the manufacturer behind Enfamil. In these suits, plaintiffs allege these manufacturers failed to warn physicians, medical staff and parents that cow’s milk-based formula may heighten the risk of NEC for premature infants.

According to federal law, product manufacturers are required to thoroughly test their products for any health and safety hazards. Thus, Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson should have known their baby formulas were toxic; if not from their own testing than from the myriad studies that showed cow’s milk increased the risk of NEC.

Had the manufacturers listened to the experts, countless infant deaths and injuries could have been avoided.

Potential Compensation in an NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit

In cases concerning defective products and toxic exposure, clients tend to be compensated for the following damages:

• Hospital bills
• Rehabilitative treatment
• Medication costs
• Short- and long-term disability
• Lost wages, past and future
• Pain and suffering

In the event that NEC resulted in the wrongful death of a child, parents may be compensated for damages related to their bereavement. These tend to include funeral/burial expenses and emotional losses suffered by both the parent and the child, among others.

Why Wait? Get Your Free Consultation Today!

Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. is ready to fight for you. We will do everything in our power to hold toxic baby formula manufacturers accountable for harming your family and breaking the law. From start to finish, we will stand by your side.