MIDLAND, Mich. (March 22)—A group of 48 Nevada women have dropped their appeal of a $3.2 billion, 16-year agreement to settle more than 100,000 silicone breast implant-related claims against Dow Corning Corp.
This development removes a major hurdle to final approval of the settlement, a Dow Corning spokeswoman said, "but other issues—mostly financial ones—remain to be resolved in court." She declined to provide details about the financial issues, saying the judge involved doesn't allow the company to discuss them publicly. She also said there is no timetable for final approval of the agreement.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration severely curtailed use of silicone implants in April 1992, and refused to lift the ban this past January, overruling its own General and Plastic Surgery Advisory Panel.