Dow A Defendant In Implant Lawsuits

A federal judge reinstated Dow Chemical as a defendant in thousands of breast implant lawsuits Tuesday, raising the possibility of new negotiations in a landmark product liability settlement.

Attorneys for the women say the ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Pointer could force Dow Chemical to the bargaining table. Manufacturers already have agreed to pay more than $4 billion to women who say breast implants harmed them.

Pointer reversed a December 1993 decision that Dow Chemical should be dismissed from the cases because it had no direct knowledge of implants made by Dow Corning Inc., a joint venture of Dow Chemical and Corning Inc.