Parker Waichman LLP

French Breast Implant Company Founder a Wanted Man

The founder of a French medical device firm that made defective breast implants now at the center of a worldwide cancer scare is being sought by Interpol on an unrelated drunk driving charge. Jean-Claude Mas, the 72-year-old founder of Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), the company that made the controversial silicone breast implants, could face prison […]

The founder of a French medical device firm that made defective breast implants now at the center of a worldwide cancer scare is being sought by Interpol on an unrelated drunk driving charge. Jean-Claude Mas, the 72-year-old founder of Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), the company that made the controversial silicone breast implants, could face prison time in Costa Rica on the charge, but fled the country before he could be brought to trial.

PIP silicone breast implants, which were already among the cheapest and most fragile on the market, were recalled last year after it was learned that they contained industrial, rather than medical grade, silicone. PIP has since gone out of business, but faces a French criminal probe for misreporting the type of silicone used in the implants.

The PIP silicone breast implants sparked cancer fears in France after one woman with ruptured implants died from aplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare cancer. At least eight cases of ALCL have been reported among French women with the PIP implants. Last week, French health authorities advised some 30,000 women there who had received the PIP silicone breast implants to have them removed. While French regulators said they had not found a link a between the implants and cancer, they urged women with the implants to have them removed because of the risk of rupture, which can lead to inflammation and irritation. At least 1,000 women in France have reportedly suffered from PIP silicone implant ruptures.

PIP produced about 100,000 silicone breast implants a year before they were recalled last year. Fears about ruptures and cancer have spread to many of the other countries where they were sold, including Brazil, Argentina, Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Israel. More than 2,000 women in France have filed legal claims over the PIP breast implants, while 250 implant recipients in Britain have done the same

According to a new BBC report, Interpol posted a notice on its website in June alerting member countries that PIP-founder Mas was wanted on Costa Rican drunk driving charges related to an incident occurred in June 2010. The recent controversy surrounding his company’s implants brought Mas’ status as an Interpol fugitive to the attention of the media.

The New York Times is reporting that Mas has as not been seen or heard from in public since the PIP breast implant scandal broke. French authorities also said they would like to speak with him involving that matter.

“It’s obvious we have to find him and those who had an interest in this company,” Health Minister Xavier Bertrand told Europe 1 radio on Saturday. “It’s a shady business with lots of money involved.”

Mas’ lawyer told the BBC that he is the south-eastern Var region of France and intended to stay there. The attorney also maintained that Mas has maintained his silence since the scandal broke out of “decency and discretion.”

Meanwhile, it’s recently been learned that health regulators in the U.S. voiced concerns about some PIP breast implants as far back as 2000. According to a Reuters report, an inspector with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) visited a PIP manufacturing plant in May of that year. Shortly afterwards, the FDA sent warning letter to Mas saying the implants were “adulterated” and citing at least 11 deviations from good manufacturing practices. While the problems cited by the FDA had to do with PIP’s saline implants, the same manufacturing facility also made the silicone breast implants at the center of the recent scandal, Reuters said. It isn’t known why the FDA’s warning didn’t trigger greater scrutiny of PIP’s activities by regulators in France and elsewhere

The FDA warning letter was cited in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on behalf of U.S. patients who received the saline implants in the late 1990s, and one who received them as recently as 2001, Reuters said. The plaintiffs said that the implants deflated several years later. The FDA letter, dated June 22, 2000, cited PIP’s failure to investigate the deflation of its saline implants and a failure to report more than 120 complaints in France and elsewhere to the FDA.

According to Reuters, the PIP saline breast implants sold in the U.S. were cleared by the agency in 1996 via its 510(k) approval process, which does not require human testing. In 2000, due to concerns about possible complications such as infections and rupturing, the agency finally required all implant companies to submit formal applications for saline breast implants. PIP’s application was ultimately rejected by the FDA. However, by that time, the company had already sold 35,000 of its pre-filled saline implants in the U.S.

PIP has never sold the silicone breast implants at the center of the current controversy in the U.S.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Thank you Michelle Josama at Parker and waichman for being so great from day one with my family and myself! It was a pleasure meeting and working with you! Thank you for your care and professionalism.
bfst6611 st
4 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Settled my case faster than expected! I didn’t have to deal with the paper work it all! PW is fantastic!
Erik Little
7 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Responsiveness
Natasha Wolf
2 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038