Dow breast implant lawsuit verdict due

18 August 1997 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Dow Chemical finished giving evidence on 11 August in the first breast implant 'class-action' lawsuit against the firm to reach the US courts. Closing arguments were expected by 14 August.

The trial, which began in late March, involves a group of women jointly seeking damages for what they claim are illnesses related to the silicone implants they received.

The silicone implant's were produced by Dow's 50%-owned subsidiary, Dow Corning.

Dow Corning is effectively bankrupt as a result of liability claims, but continues to function under the US bankruptcy system (ECN 14 April 1997, page 5).

The women's lawsuit claims Dow Chemical is liable to pay damages because of its alleged involvement in testing silicone compounds in its laboratories for Dow Corning. It is also alleged to have withheld evidence that they could be harmful.

Michael Jackson, Dow Corning's director of corporate relations, told ECN Dow Chemical was 'extremely satisfied' with how the trial had gone. He said Dow Chemical had presented a strong argument that it should not be held liable for harming the women.

However, Reuter reports the plaintiff's lawyer as saying his side had 'proven without a doubt that Dow Chemical had injured these women'.

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