THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994                TAG: 9407210514
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.                   LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

15,000 REJECT BREAST IMPLANT SETTLEMENT

Almost 15,000 women with silicone breast implants have decided not to join in a $4.2 billion settlement of a lawsuit against former implant manufacturers, court officials said Wednesday.

Their decisions to seek damages individually could mean added costs for the manufacturers, including Dow Corning Corp., whose chairman has said the company may seek bankruptcy protection if the number of separate lawsuits grows too large.

More than 60,000 women have registered to join the settlement. About 1 million U.S. women received the silicone implants.

U.S. District Judge Sam Pointer has given the settlement tentative approval and has set an Aug. 18 hearing.

KEYWORDS: BREAST IMPLANTS LAWSUIT

by CNB