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Parent across the USA are suing Abbott Laboratories. These lawsuit involve babies who developed NEC after receiving Similac formula in hospitals. NEC stand for necrotizing enterocolitis. It is a dangerous and often deadly intestinal disease. The condition can cause tissue death, infection and internal rupture. Babies who survive NEC often face lifelong medical problem. Some lose large portion of their intestines. Other suffer from brain damage slow growth or chronic pain. Many families never recover from the trauma.

Similac is a cow milk based formula. Hospitals use it in neonatal intensive care units. Doctor often give it to premature infant who cannot breastfeed. Parent trust hospitals to provide safe nutrition. They also rely on product labels and instructions. Lawsuit now claim that Abbott failed to warn about the risk. The company knew about the NEC link. It did not include any warning. It did not share known danger with doctors or families.

As more parent learn the truth lawsuit continue to grow. Families are demanding answer. They want compensation for their pain their losses and their children future care. Courts in multiple state are now hearing these case. Some juries have already sided with families. More trials are expected in the coming month.

What Is NEC?

NEC stand for necrotizing enterocolitis. It is one of the most serious diseases a premature baby can face. The condition attacks the intestines. It causes swelling, tissue death, and often permanent damage. In many cases, NEC spreads fast. It creates holes in the intestinal wall. This allows bacteria to leak into the belly. Once that happens, the infection can become deadly.

Doctors often see NEC in hospital NICUs. The condition requires immediate medical action. Babies with NEC usually stop eating. Their bellies swell. They may vomit green or bloody fluid. They often seem tired or in pain. The body starts shutting down. Antibiotics are the first step. If those do not work, surgeons must remove the dead tissue. Some babies lose most of their intestines. Others do not survive.

Almost 90% of NEC case occur in babies born before 37 week. These babies have underdeveloped digestive system. Their bodies are too fragile to handle cow milk proteins. Human breast milk provides natural protection. Studies show it helps lower the risk. Formula, especially cow milk-based types, does the opposite. It raises the risk of NEC and increases the chances of complications.

Parents trust hospitals to feed their babies safely. They never expect a basic formula to cause such harm. NEC turns that trust into tragedy. That is why these lawsuits now matter more than ever.

Why Are Parents Suing Similac?

Abbott Laboratories sold Similac to hospitals across the country. The company marketed it as a safe option for premature babies. Doctors trusted the brand. Nurses followed the guidelines. Parents had no reason to question it. They assumed Similac was made for fragile newborns. They believed it was safe.

Then the babies got sick. Some developed NEC just days after starting Similac. Many needed emergency surgery. Some died. Others survived with permanent injuries. Parents were shocked. They asked questions. They looked for answers. What they found made them angry.

Lawsuits now claim Abbott knew about the NEC risk. Research has warned about this link for decades. The company had access to that science. It had the data. It knew cow’s milk-based formula could cause NEC in premature infants. But the labels said nothing. The warnings never came.

Instead, Abbott kept selling Similac to hospitals. It kept promoting it as safe. The company said nothing about NEC. It offered no guidance to lower the risk. Parents say this was not just careless. They say it was reckless.

Some families buried their babies. Others now live with medical bills, therapy sessions, feeding tubes, and wheelchairs. Their lives changed forever. The lawsuits demand accountability. Families want justice. They want to stop this from happening to other.

Which Similac Products Are Named?

These Similac products appear in many lawsuits:

• Similac Special Care 20

• Similac Special Care 24

• Similac Special Care 24 High Protein

• Similac Special Care 30

• Similac Human Milk Fortifier (powder and liquid)

• Similac Liquid Protein Fortifier

• Similac NeoSure

• Similac Alimentum

These products are used in NICUs. They are given to premature infants. Parents rarely know about the ingredients.

What Do the Studies Show?

Research has warned about NEC for decades. Scientists linked cow milk formula to NEC in multiple studies:

• A 1990 study in The Lancet show formula fed babies were 10 time more likely to get NEC.

• A 1999 study in The Journal of Pediatric found breast milk reduced NEC risk by 90%.

• A 2013 study confirm human milk helped protect babies.

• A 2017 article in Pediatrics warned about cow milk danger.

• A 2018 paper in the British Journal of Nutrition said formula fed babies had more gut issues.

• A 2019 Cochrane Review confirm the link between NEC and formula.

Abbott ignored these warnings. It kept selling Similac to hospitals. No NEC warning was added to the label.

What Happen in Court?

Two major lawsuits end in big verdict.

In July 2024, a Missouri jury awarded $495 million. The baby received Similac in a NICU. She lost 75% of her intestines. She now needs round-the-clock care. The jury gave $95 million in compensation and $400 million in punishment. TorHoerman Law handled the case.

In March 2024, an Illinois jury awarded $60 million. The case involved twin boys. One developed NEC after formula use. He died after 25 days. The verdict sent a clear message. Similac caused harm.

Is This a Class Action?

No. These lawsuits are individual cases. The federal court system created MDL No. 3026. The MDL combines similar cases for pretrial work. Each family still keeps their own case. That mean each lawsuit is based on its own fact.

As of August 2025 there are 759 lawsuit in the Similac MDL. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer oversee the MDL in Illinois.

What About the Bellwether Trial?

Bellwether trials help test legal arguments. The MDL includes four key cases:

• Mar v. Abbott Laboratories

• Diggs v. Abbott Laboratories

• Etienne & Brown v. Abbott Laboratories

• Inman v. Mead Johnson

Two cases never reached trial. Judge Pallmeyer granted summary judgment to Abbott. The judge said the expert testimony did not match the facts. These setbacks disappointed many families. However, strong results in state courts offer hope.

What Proof Do Families Need?

To win a case, lawyers must prove the baby received Similac and developed NEC. Common evidence includes:

• Feeding charts

• Medical records

• Hospital documentation

• Marketing materials

• Expert opinions

• Product labels

Some lawyers have found emails and internal company documents. These show Abbott knew the dangers and kept quiet.

What Compensation Can Families Get?

Parents can ask for several types of damages:

• Medical bills

• Surgery costs

• Lost income

• Future care expenses

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress

• Funeral costs (in fatal cases)

Verdicts in past cases have reached into the hundreds of millions.

Who Can File a Similac Lawsuit?

You may qualify if:

• Your child was born early or with low birth weight

• Your child was fed Similac formula

• Your child was diagnosed with NEC

• You have medical proof of NEC

• You followed hospital feeding instructions

Many of these babies were treated in NICUs. Parents often had no say in the feeding choices.

Which Law Firms Are Accepting Cases?

Several firms are taking new clients:

• TorHoerman Law

• Motley Rice

• Simmon Hanly Conroy

These lawyer focus on mass tort and product liability case. They work on a no win no fee basis.

Did Similac Face Other Problems?

Yes. In 2022 Abbott recalled several Similac product. Bacteria was found in formula from the Sturgis, Michigan plant. The FDA investigated. The DOJ launched a criminal probe.

That recall was not about NEC. Still it raised concern about safety and quality control.

What Should You Do Next?

You should take action if your child developed NEC after using Similac. The evidence is strong. Doctors, researchers, and courts now agree. Cow milk-based formula puts premature babies at risk. Abbott did not give families a fair warning. That decision has led to pain, loss, and years of medical care.

You have legal rights. You also have a limited time to use them. Every state has a deadline for filing a lawsuit. That deadline is called the statute of limitation. Once it passes, you cannot file—even if your case is strong.

You should not wait. The sooner you speak to a lawyer the more time you have to gather record and build a strong case. Waiting too long could hurt your claim.

Most baby formula lawyers offer free consultations. You can ask questions and get answer without paying anything. If your case qualifie you may not have to pay anything unless your lawyer win compensation for you.

You deserve the truth. You deserve justice. Your baby deserves better. A lawsuit cannot undo the harm but it can help your family move forward. It can also push companies to change.

You should speak to a trusted Similac lawsuit lawyer today. That one step could protect your rights and make a difference for other families too.