Bristol Meyers Squibb Co., Baxter Healthcare and 3M

Canadian women with silicone gel breast implants filed a class action lawsuit over a decade ago against the three companies. Over the term of the suit, the focus shifted from systemic health problems to hardness, scarring, ruptures from the implants. The three defendants have agreed to award Canadian women up to $5,000 depending on the number of implant surgeries, the number of times they've had to have them taken out, ruptures, and local complications like hardening, scarring and deformities. Depending on the number of women who file a claim, the class action settlement could total $4.3 million. (Oct-07-05) [CANADA.COM]