RECKITT STATEMENT ON COURT ORDER DISREGARDING THE JURY'S DETERMINATION IN WHITFIELD CASE
14 March 2025, SLOUGH: On 13 March 2025, a circuit court ruled that a new trial may be sought by plaintiffs in the Whitfield case in Missouri State Court, disregarding the jury verdict in defendants' favour. In October 2024, the jury unanimously found, consistent with the scientific consensus, that Mead Johnson was not liable, and nothing the court has now cited justifies disregarding the jury's determination. This decision is at complete odds with the law and the facts, and we will appeal.
This is not a finding of liability. Should this ruling stand, the plaintiff is entitled only to a new trial not a verdict against Mead Johnson. Any new trial would not take place until after the appellate process is exhausted. At the end of the appellate process, the jury's original decision will either be reinstated, or the case will head back to the lower court for a new trial.
The unanimous jury verdict in October supports our view that we have the science, the law, and the facts on our side. Moving forward, plaintiffs continue to face significant challenges due to the heavy burden they must meet in proving each element of the claims in every single case. Mead Johnson will continue to vigorously defend itself against all other cases in the interest of safeguarding the health of premature babies.
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