J&J’s Mentor Worldwide Exits More Silicone Breast Implant Suits

Federal medical device law bars claims against Johnson & Johnson unit Mentor Worldwide LLC by women who allege flawed MemoryGel Silicone Breast Implants caused numerous health problems, a federal court in California ruled.

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in two Aug. 27 opinions, threw out 16 suits by the women who say they were harmed when their implants ruptured or leaked silicone.

The Food and Drug Administration granted premarket approval to Mentor in 2006, subject to certain conditions including a requirement that it conduct safety studies on the implants.

Federal law generally blocks suits involving ...