TOULON, France (AP) -- A French court has ruled that a German product testing company failed its duty to check and control silicone breast implants used by tens of thousands of women worldwide that turned out to be prone to leakage.
The court in southeastern Toulon on Thursday ordered TUeV Rheinland to pay yet-to-be-determined damages to plaintiffs — including some 1,600 women — seeking over 50 million euros ($67.2 million).
TUeV has denied responsibility and plans to appeal.
The trial was part of a string of cases centering on now-bankrupt French implant vendor Poly Implant Prothese.
PIP's founder and several former employees are facing a criminal trial in nearby Marseille over claims it used cheap silicone to fill tens of thousands of implants that were prone to ruptures and leaking.
