CLAIMANTS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE E-NEWSLETTER

Dow Corning Bankruptcy Settlement

 

Volume 13, No. 3, April 26, 2016

Contact the CAC at: info@tortcomm.org or

phone: (419) 394-0717

fax: (419) 394-1748

www.tortcomm.org

 

 

CAC                                                                                                                                                                        Sybil Niden Goldrich

P.O. Box 665                                                                                                               Ernest Hornsby, Esq.

St. Marys, OH 45885                                                                          Dianna Pendleton-Dominguez, Esq.

 

 

This is the 132nd e-newsletter (Vol. 13, No. 3) from the Claimants' Advisory Committee (CAC) in the Dow Corning bankruptcy Settlement Plan. You were sent a copy of the newsletter because our records show that you requested to be on the mailing list. If you wish to unsubscribe, click here or to reply to this newsletter, send an email to: info@tortcomm.org. Please do not hit "Reply" to this email address.  To contact the CAC, use the email address: info@tortcomm.org or dpend440@aol.com. You can also contact the CAC directly at 419-394-0717.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

STATUS OF CLASS 7 PAYMENTS

The Settlement Facility has issued 3,340 payments totaling approximately $12.8 million to the remaining Class 7 claimants.  Any additional payments to approved disease claimants or for Expedited Release / Disease Cash Out will be completed in April and May 2016.

The appeal by some Korean claimants is ongoing in the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The CAC has joined with Dow Corning to request that the appeal be dismissed.  We believe it is highly unlikely that the appeal will have any effect on paying remaining Class 7 claims.

If you have any question about your Class 7 claim status or payment, contact the Settlement Facility directly. 

 

STATUS OF PREMIUM PAYMENTS

We do not have an update on when the Finance Committee will make a recommendation to the partial Premium Payments to claimants whose payment was stopped because of the ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The CAC strongly believes - and has urged the Finance Committee - that these payments should be made immediately. We are hopeful that they will file a recommendation with the Court sometime this year. Once a recommendation is filed, the District Court must still approve it.

There is no update on when the final 50% Premium Payment will be made. This process also requires that the Finance Committee make a recommendation to the District Court.

 

 

INCREASED SEVERITY CLAIMS

The Settlement Plan provides that claimants can assert an "Increased Severity" claim in certain circumstances.  Please read the following criteria carefully to see if you quality:

Disease Option 1 -

CRITERIA: 

1.       If your disease claim was approved in Disease Option 1 (such as ACTD or ANDS disease claims), AND your disease now qualifies for Severity Level A (100% total disability), you can submit a claim to the $15 million capped fund.

2.       The fund is only for claims that now qualify for Level A. This means that if your disease severity level increased from Level C to Level B, you would NOT be eligible.  The criteria for eligible diseases is listed on the CAC website at:  www.tortcomm.org/diseaseclaims.shtml.  Please note that GCTS is eligible only as a Disease Option 2 claim.  The criteria for Disease Option 1 Severity Level A is further described within each disease criteria. 

3.       It is important to remember that these Increased Severity claims for Option 1 will not be paid until after ALL submissions to this fund are reviewed and evaluated after the June 3, 2019 deadline.  If you have all the medical documentation needed to qualify for Severity Level A, you can submit a claim now and have it reviewed.  Please do not wait until the 2019 deadline to submit a claim if you have one because this can delay processing of your claim.

4.       It is also highly likely that the Increased Severity payments could be reduced because all Disease Option 1 Increased Severity claims must be paid out of the $15 million fund. 

5.       Finally, if your disease claim was approved in Disease Option 1, you CANNOT now apply for a Disease Option 2 disease or Increased Severity claim for Disease Option 2. You can only claim Increased Severity for Disease Option 1.

Disease Option 2 -

CRITERIA:

1.       If your disease claim was approved in Disease Option 2, you can apply for an Increased Severity Level if you now have a disease or condition that qualifies for a higher level payment. 

2.       This fund is NOT capped.  Increased Severity claims in Disease Option 2 are paid as "Second Priority Payments" just like Premium Payments are paid.

There is no claim form for Increased Severity claims. Also, you do not need your ID labels that were mailed to you previously.  When you send in your medical documentation for an Increased Severity claim, you should note clearly on your cover letter that you are submitting an Increased Severity claim and which Disease Option you were previously approved for (Option 1 or Option 2) and provide your SID number. If you cannot remember which Disease Option you were approved for, please contact the Settlement Facility at 1-866-874-6099 or via email at info@sfdct.com before preparing and submitting your claim. This will help your claim processing move more quickly.

REMINDER: KEEP YOUR ADDRESS AND CLAIM INFORMATION CURRENT WITH THE SETTLEMENT FACILITY!!  EVERY YEAR, MANY CLAIM PAYMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE ARE RETURNED TO THE SF-DCT BECAUSE CLAIMANTS AND ATTORNEYS HAVE MOVED AND DID NOT PROVIDE A FORWARDING ADDRESS.

 

CLAIMS PAYMENTS (CLASSES 5, 6.1, AND 6.2)

Through March 31, 2016, the SF-DCT has received 82,102 Proof of Manufacturer claim forms in Classes 5, 6.1 and 6.2 (Dow Corning Breast Implant Claims).  Of this number, 67,529 or 83% have acceptable proof of at least one Dow Corning breast implant.  Of the 67,529 Dow Corning breast implant claimants with acceptable proof of manufacturer, almost 33% (one-third) or 21,989 women have been approved for a Rupture claim for their Dow Corning silicone gel breast implant.

CLASS 5, 6.1 AND 6.2

(EXCLUSIVE OF NOI PAYMENTS)

 

 

(DOW CORNING BREAST IMPLANT CLAIMS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIM CATEGORY

NUMBER OF CLAIMS PAID THROUGH MAR 31, 2016

PERCENTAGE OF CLAIMS APPROVED      CLASS 5  | CLASS 6

TOTAL $$ PAID IN CATEGORY THROUGH MAR 31, 2016

RUPTURE

21,989

72% | 40%

$     423,001,523.94

EXPLANT

30,139

99% | 87%

 $    145,897,786.91

EXPLANT ASSISTANCE

    821

98% | 92%

 $       4,058,591.10

INCREASED EXPLANT (6.2 ONLY)

   325

N/A | 69%

 $          975,000.00

EXPEDITED RELEASE

           26,441

92% | 89%

 $     48,727,499.62

DISEASE OPTION 1

           29,634

83% | 74%

 $   429,954,423.34

DISEASE OPTION 2

 1,525  

32% | 23%

 $   195,365,998.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

110,874

N/A

 $   1,247,980,823.66

 

 

TOTAL CLAIMS PAID FROM JUNE 1, 2004 - MARCH 31, 2016

3/31/2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCLUDES NOI PAYMENTS (DOES NOT INCLUDE STALE CHECKS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUPTURE

EXPLANT

INCREASED EXPLANT

EXPLANT ASSISTANCE (EAP)

EXPEDITED

DISEASE

MEDICAL CONDITIONS (IFBR, TMJ, IMPLANT FAILURE)

OTHER PRODUCTS PREMIUM PAYMENT

TOTAL

CLASS 5

$427,008,547.19

$146,493,634.71

N/A

$4,206,791.10

$44,784,015.77

$612,592,257.81

N/A

N/A

$1,235,085,246.58

CLASS 6.1

$14,097,750.51

$4,587,969.90

N/A

$12,000.00

$3,235,443.85

$8,676,218.48

N/A

N/A

$30,609,382.74

CLASS 6.2

$3,703,000.00

$249,750.00

$1,314,000.00

$15,000.00

$165,900.00

$4,476,850.00

N/A

N/A

$9,924,500.00

CLASS 6.2 2

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$119,800.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

$119,800.00

CLASS 6.2 3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$516,600.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

$516,600.00

CLASS 7

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$24,734,217.39

$10,990,389.54

N/A

N/A

$35,724,606.93

CLASS 9

$130,000.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

$1,762,145.10

N/A

$2,866,500.00

$14,215,000.00

$18,973,645.10

CLASS 10.2 / 10.2

$6,000.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

$155,850.00

N/A

$224,125.00

$1,050,875.00

$1,436,850.00

TOTAL

$444,945,297.70

$151,331,354.61

$1,314,000.00

$4,233,791.10

$75,473,972.11

$636,735,715.83

$3,090,625.00

$15,265,875.00

$1,332,390,631.35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUPTURE

EXPLANT

INCREASED EXPLANT

EXPLANT ASSISTANCE (EAP)

EXPEDITED

DISEASE

MEDICAL CONDITIONS (IFBR, TMJ, IMPLANT FAILURE)

TOTAL

CLASS 5

21,495

29,603

N/A

848

22,616

29,200

N/A

N/A

103,762

CLASS 6.1

1,178

1,547

N/A

4

2,706

823

N/A

N/A

6,258

CLASS 6.2

529

137

438

5

237

1,173

N/A

N/A

2,519

CLASS 6.2 2

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

101

N/A

N/A

N/A

101

CLASS 6.2 3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

861

N/A

N/A

N/A

861

CLASS 7

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

15,985

1,293

N/A

N/A

17,278

CLASS 9

26

N/A

N/A

N/A

1,763

N/A

476

498

2,763

CLASS 10.2 / 10.2

2

N/A

N/A

N/A

261

N/A

65

64

392

TOTAL

23,230

31,287

438

857

44,530

32,489

541

562

133,934

 

 

DEADLINE REMINDERS            

Please mark your calendar with the following claim submission deadline. Please note that this deadline means that your claim forms and materials must be received by the SF-DCT by the posted deadline. Please mail all forms early enough so that they are received by the deadline listed below.

 

Deadline Date

Type of Deadline

June 3, 2019

Disease or Expedited Release Claim submission deadline for all claims in Classes 5, 6.1 and 6.2 (this deadline does NOT apply to Late Claimants)

Increased Severity claims in Disease Option 1 and Disease Option 2 for all approved disease claims in Classes 5, 6.1, and 6.2.

 

If you would like to read prior CAC e-newsletters, they are available on the CAC website by clicking on "Electronic Newsletter." We urge you to visit the CAC website (www.tortcomm.org) on a regular basis to download or view relevant documents and read updates and new information.

NOTICE: This document is copyrighted. You are not authorized to post it on any website without express, prior written permission of the Claimants' Advisory Committee.