In a gripping legal battle, a mother is taking on a major corporation over the health and safety of infant nutrition products. Shaqueena Ligons filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 4, 2025, against Abbott Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories, Inc. The lawsuit centers around allegations that these companies' cow's milk-based infant formula and fortifiers led to severe health complications for her premature son, Victorious Dixon.
The case outlines how Baby Dixon, born prematurely at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City on April 23, 2010, developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed Abbott's cow's milk-based products. NEC is described as a life-threatening intestinal disease prevalent among preterm infants with low birth weights who consume cow’s milk-based formulas. According to the complaint, "Significantly higher rates of NEC have been found in premature or preterm babies with low birth weights who are fed cow’s milk-based formula or fortifier products." Despite scientific evidence linking these products to NEC, Abbott allegedly continued marketing them as safe alternatives to breast milk.
Ligons accuses Abbott of negligence and strict liability for design defects and failure to warn about the risks associated with their products. The lawsuit claims that Abbott intentionally misrepresented their formulas as equivalent or superior to human breast milk while failing to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers. "Defendants did not provide any warning in their labeling...that warns that their Cow’s Milk-Based Products exponentially increase the risk of NEC in preterm infants," the complaint states.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 for medical expenses and ongoing care needs resulting from Baby Dixon's condition. Additionally, punitive damages are sought under Oklahoma law and Illinois statutes due to what Ligons describes as Abbott's willful disregard for consumer safety. The lawsuit emphasizes that safer alternatives exist but were overshadowed by aggressive marketing campaigns promoting cow’s milk-based formulas.
Representing Ligons are attorneys James E. Douglas Jr. and C. Andrew Childers from Childers, Schlueter & Smith LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia. The case is identified as Case No.: 1:25-cv-03674 and awaits judicial proceedings in Illinois federal court.