Whitfield v. St. Louis Children's Hospital, et al.

VERDICT

Trial
10/02/24 – 10/31/24

Summary

A Missouri state court jury delivered the first defense verdict in favor of baby formula manufacturers Abbott and Mead Johnson unit Reckitt, who faced accusations of producing cows milk-based formula supposedly harmful to premature infants.

The St. Louis jury returned their verdict following a five-week trial that marked just the third time a jury heard claims that cows milk-based formula can cause a dangerous bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis, or NEC. Earlier trials resulted in plaintiff verdicts against Abbott and Reckitt individually, but this case was the first joint trial involving both companies.

Outcome

Defense verdict

Case Information
Attorneys
Witnesses
Plaintiff
Defense
Judge
Michael Noble
Jurisdiction
22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri
Court
Civil Courts Building
Case Number
2222-CC06214
Industry
Health care, Food
Practice Area
Products Liability
Plaintiff
Whitfield, Elizabeth
Defense
Abbott Laboratories
Defense
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Defense
Mead Johnson
Expert Witnesses
Lay Witnesses

Sessions

OCT
2
OCT
3
OCT
4
OCT
7
OCT
8
OCT
9
OCT
10
OCT
11
OCT
15
OCT
16
OCT
17
OCT
18
OCT
21
OCT
22
OCT
23
AM Session
Defense Witness(es)
3 Chapters
OCT
24
OCT
25
OCT
28
OCT
29
OCT
30
OCT
31

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

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