When North Stonington attorney Stephen Reck filed a federal lawsuit in Connecticut in January 2020 against two makers of cow’s milk-based infant formula in alleged connection with the death of a premature baby, little did he know that lawsuit would be the impetus for dozens more around the country.

At the time, Reck filed what he said was the first lawsuit of its kind against Abbott Laboratories, which makes Similac Special Care and human milk fortifier, and Mead Johnson Nutrition, which makes Enfamil Enfacare and Enfamil human milk fortifier.