Thousands of women who were given defective breast implants should receive financial compensation, a French appeals court said as it upheld a ruling that a German company committed negligence by certifying them as safe.
The Paris Court of Appeal ruling, which could yet go to a higher court, was announced by PIPA, an association based in France that represents the women.
The scandal emerged in 2010 after doctors noticed abnormally high rupture rates in women with implants produced by a French company, Poly Implant Prothese, or PIP. The case was brought by women who said they had suffered long-term health problems after receiving the PIP implant.
The certification issued by the German group TÜV Rheinland allowed PIP to affix a European Economic Area safety mark to the adulterated products, which were then marketed worldwide.
The case was brought by 2,700 women who said they had suffered long-term health problems after getting the implants. PIPA said that it was seeking damages ranging between €20,000 ($24,400) and €70,000 for each woman. A ruling on compensation is expected in September.
TÜV Rheinland said in a statement that the Paris Court of Appeal had not found any liability of TÜV Rheinland LGA Products GmbH and TÜV Rheinland France “with respect to many plaintiffs” and dismissed claims from women who had their implants fitted before September 2006. However, judges said that TÜV Rheinland LGA could have taken some additional measures after this date.