The unexpected defense verdict was Inman v. Mead Johnson, decided for Mead Johnson on August 31, 2026. A bellwether trial is a lead test case, and the deadlines that matter are MDL census windows and state-law filing deadlines.
According to Steptoe, the Chicago federal jury rejected defective-design and failure-to-warn claims over Enfamil Premature formula Steptoe trial report. The trial lasted two weeks and deliberations lasted about five hours. MDL means multidistrict litigation, federal coordination of similar cases for pretrial steps.
Table of Contents
- What the Inman verdict decided
- Why the result looked unexpected
- Which census and registry windows matter
- Which filing deadline controls your claim
What the Inman verdict decided
Steptoe reports Inman was the first bellwether trial to reach a jury verdict in MDL No. 3026. More than 800 complaints against Mead Johnson or Abbott were pending in the Northern District of Illinois. Legal Examiner notes the defense verdict decided only that case.
Hundreds of federal NEC suits remained pending and litigation continued toward additional bellwethers. Steptoe quotes Mead Johnson saying the verdict affirms its view on the science. The company said science does not show its products cause NEC. It said it will continue to vigorously defend such claims.
Why the result looked unexpected
According to Keller Postman, a March 14, 2024 jury returned a $60 million verdict over NEC in a premature infant Keller Postman case page. That trial was the first holding cow's-milk formula makers accountable. The contrast explains why observers viewed the federal bellwether defense win as unexpected. A plaintiffs' win had set one expectation for NEC formula trials.
A defense win in the federal bellwether pointed the other way. One verdict does not set the value of every related case. Bellwether results help parties test themes, witnesses, and proof. Later cases can turn on different facts and different proof.
Which census and registry windows matter
According to AboutLawsuits, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer ordered a full Similac-claims census on July 15, 2025 AboutLawsuits census order report. The census covered filed and unfiled claims. It aimed to drive settlement talks and bellwether selection. TruLaw's September 2025 update describes electronic census forms through MDL Centrality.
Filers must add supporting medical records. MDL-filed cases had 30 days, while unfiled or newly retained claims had 60 to 90 days. Plaintiffs who had submitted profile forms had 30 days to file census forms. Counsel had 90 days to report claims. Missing a reporting window can affect inclusion in settlement and bellwether pools.
- Confirm whether the claim is MDL-filed, unfiled, or newly retained
- Collect records showing preterm birth, formula use, and NEC care
- Ask counsel to confirm the MDL Centrality filing date in writing
Which filing deadline controls your claim
According to TorHoerman Law, federal coordination does not create one national NEC filing deadline TorHoerman Law deadline guide. It also does not revive an expired state statute of limitations. Each claim turns on state law. Those state rules include discovery, wrongful-death, and minority-tolling rules.
Discovery addresses when the injury and its possible link could be known. Wrongful-death and child-injury rules can set different clocks. A census form is case tracking, not a substitute for filing suit on time. Families should check the state where the injury occurred. Ask a lawyer licensed there to calendar the exact deadline now.
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