Abbott Loses $500 Million Infant Formula Verdict, Lawyers Say

Abbott Laboratories was ordered by a jury to pay almost $500 million over allegations that it hid the risk that its premature-infant formula can cause a potentially fatal bowel disease, according to lawyers for the mother who won the first case against the company to go to trial.

Jurors in state court in St. Louis on Friday awarded $95 million to compensate the family for its losses and $400 million in punitive damages, according to Tor Hoerman, the lead lawyer for the plaintiff.

An Abbott spokesman said the company “strongly disagreed” with the verdict and noted that it was ...