Pittsburgh · Allegheny County
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh — NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit Information
If your premature baby was treated in the UPMC Children's NICU and later developed NEC, your family may qualify for compensation against the formula manufacturers.
Two fast next steps for UPMC Children's families:
About the UPMC Children's NICU
Level of care: Level IV NICU
UPMC Children's is the Level IV referral NICU for Western Pennsylvania, accepting transfers from UPMC Magee-Womens and community hospitals from Erie down to the West Virginia border. Surgical NEC cases from across the region are typically managed here.
Important: this page is for informational purposes. The lawsuit is brought against Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson Nutrition — the formula manufacturers — not against UPMC Children's or the doctors, nurses, and neonatologists who cared for your child. NICU staff followed standard feeding orders that relied on manufacturer-supplied products and labeling.
Why This Lawsuit Exists
Internal documents and peer-reviewed studies dating back to the 1990s show that cow's milk–based preterm formulas like Similac Special Care and Enfamil Premature significantly raise the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis compared to human milk. Plaintiffs allege Abbott and Mead Johnson knew this and failed to warn NICU staff or parents.
Recent verdicts include $495 million in Missouri (affirmed on appeal in May 2026), $70 million in Cook County (April 2026), and $32 million in Connecticut. The next federal bellwether trial in MDL 3026 begins July 6, 2026 — see the latest litigation update.
Do You Qualify?
- ✓Baby treated at UPMC Children's or transferred to UPMC Children's
- ✓Baby born before 37 weeks (premature)
- ✓Fed Similac Special Care or Enfamil Premature in the NICU
- ✓Diagnosed with NEC by a surgeon or radiologist
- ✓NEC resulted in surgery, permanent injury, or death
Use the four-question qualification checker to confirm, then jump to the free case review form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify for the NEC baby formula lawsuit?+
You may qualify if your baby was born premature (before 37 weeks), was fed Similac Special Care or Enfamil Premature formula in the NICU, was diagnosed with NEC by a surgeon or radiologist, and suffered surgery, permanent injury, or death as a result.
Which hospitals in Pennsylvania used Similac or Enfamil on premature babies?+
Major Pennsylvania NICUs that have historically used these formulas include CHOP, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Magee-Womens Hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Geisinger, Tower Health Reading Hospital, and St. Luke's University Hospital.
Is there a cost to file an NEC lawsuit?+
No. Case reviews are free and cases are handled on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless your case results in a settlement or verdict. All costs are advanced by the law firm.
Free Case Review — UPMC Children's Families
All information is confidential. There is no cost and no obligation.