European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes wednesday february 16,1994breast implant firms offer $3.6 billion Birmingham Ala. Apr three leading companies have agreed to pay More than $3.5 billion As part of a proposed $4.75 billion settlement for women claiming injuries from silicone breast implants. Dow Corning corp. Said monday that if the proposed settlement were finalized it would contribute $2 billion Over More than 30 years plus fund research on remaining questions about the implants. Bristol Myers Squibb co. Would contribute up to $1,154 billion Over the 3 j years under the proposed settlement spokeswoman Francine Gingras said. The company maintained in a statement that its implants were Safe but that resolving the Case was More Cost effective. A a a a. A Baxter healthcare corp., a division of Baxter International inc., said it would contribute about $556 Mil lion to the settlement funds Over 30 years. Baxter never manufactured or marketed breast implants but in 1986 it acquired the liabilities of a company that once did. Lawsuits Over implants have been consolidated in Birmingham where . District judge Sam Pointer is overseeing the negotiations Between about 20 corporations and attorneys representing hundreds of thousands of implant recipients. More than 1 million american woman have received breast implants about 80 percent of them for cosmetic reasons. The implants can rupture and some women have blamed the silicone for triggering immune system disorders including arthritis and scleroderma a hardening of the skin resulting from abnormal fibrous tissue growth. In the stars and stripes 10 year Sago feb. 16,1984 the . Marine base at Beirut International Airport once buffered by the lebanese army was surrounded by anti government druse and shiite Muslim militiamen. 20 year Sago feb 16,1974 a a Federal judge said he hoped president Nixon and special watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski will Stop discussing publicly whether former White House counsel John w. Dean Iii has told the truth. 30 year Sago feb 16,1964 a soviet defector Yuri i. Nosenko talked to soviet and Swiss representatives in Washington but continued to seek political Asylum in the United states the state department announced. 40 year Sago feb 16,1954 a at least 12 american 8-26 bombers and 250 airmen Are based at two airfields in Indochina Gen. Of. Weyland . Far East air forces commander said in Tokyo. 50 year Sago feb. 16,1944 a . Navy task forces of the Pacific Fleet supported by several Hundred warplanes opened an attack on Japan scentral Pacific base at Truk in the Caroline islands adm. Chester w. Nimitz announced at Pearl Harbor. C world War ii 50 years ago today feb. 16 1 a 9 a 4 4 j units from five German divisions fiercely attack Allied Linos around the Anzio beachhead in Italy driving the americans and British Back but suffering heavy tosses. On the Southern soviet front the six German divisions trapped in the Korsun pocket make a final desperate attempt to break out Finland receives terms from the. Soviets for an armistice. Source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith publishers inc. The world almanac of world War ii Bison books corp. 1981 a Dino dining a squirming pupils from St. Brigid school pretend to get eaten by a giant Dinosaur at a show put on monday by the world Trade Center in Boston. The inflatable Dino is bound for Tainan Taiwan As part of a travelling a world of dinosaurs show produced by the Trade Center. The tentative agreements reached Friday concerned How much each company would pay into the $4.75 billion settlement fund which was proposed in septem Ber. The percentages were based mostly on the companies Market share said Margaret Moses Branch a lawyer on the plaintiffs negotiating committee. A negotiations Are continuing with 3m, which has not agreed on a contribution and general electric co. Whose offer was rejected As inadequate. A Baxter officials said they Hope to reach a written settlement agreement that will be submitted to the court for approval next month. Dow coming based in Midland mich., was the largest manufacturer of the implants until it stopped making them in 1992. Bristol Myers Squibb is based in new York. Marriages on Hartford Conn. Apr Superior court judge Joseph l. Steinberg spent Valentine s Day doing what he does most Days presiding Over a Parade of failed marriages. But Steinberg who officially dissolved 19 marriage contracts monday was not feeling Down. In divorce court a Day of uncontested divorces is a Good Day a Quot in my world Unicoi tested divorces Are a Triumph a Joy Quot said the Gray bearded judge who is also a trained family therapist. A it Means two people have been mature enough and civilized enough to sit Down and work out the terms of their own  Steinberg said contested divorces can be hateful. Quot it can leave Black and Blue Marks on your soul a he said. Steinberg said the words a Valentine s Day were mentioned just once in his courtroom monday. Quot an attorney asked one of the defendants if his marriage was irrevocably broken and the Man said it was a the judge recalled. A the attorney then said even on Valentine s Day and the reply was yes even on Valentines  a Jeffrey and Lisa Vandecar were among the couples who agreed to part in Steinbergs courtroom. The Van Decars were married in june 1992 and separated seven months later. During the Brief divorce proceeding it was disclosed that Vandecar had just finished serving a year in prison for larceny and that his wife had got pregnant while he was behind bars. Asked whether it was particularly sad to be sued for divorce on Valentine s Day Lisa Vandecar 22, said it Wasny to. Quot it might have been a big Deal once a she said a but now its just another Day a but Valentines Day is still a big Deal for Steinberg. An unabashed romantic the judge said he spent All Day sunday in a special Valentines shirt a gift from his wife. On monday he exchanged the shirt for a Black Robe. He said he has come to understand that divorce courts Are necessary in an imperfect world. To must be understood that perfectly Good people can have perfectly horrible marriages a he said. A they just made a  judge lifts curbs on abortion Law Philadelphia a a Federal judge on monday lifted an injunction that had prevented Pennsylvania a restrictive abortion Law from taking effect. And a state spokesman said parts of the 5-year-old Law could take effect immediately. The Law requires women to receive counselling about alternatives to abortion and then wait 24 hours before undergoing the procedure. Unmarried women younger than 18 must get permission from a Parent or a judge. . District judge Daniel h. Huyett Iii lifted the ban a week after . Supreme court Justice David h. Souter rejected an Appeal by abortion providers. Quot As the attorney general has said enough is enough a said Robert Gentzel spokesman for attorney general Ernie Preate or. Jacquelynn Brinkley a spokeswoman for planned parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania one of the plaintiffs declined to comment monday night saving she Hadnot seen the order. T he 3rd . Circuit court of appeals ordered Huyett to lift the injunction after Souter ruled. Huyett delayed implementation of the Law in May saying abortion rights advocates deserved a Chance to prove their argument that it posed an Quot undue Burden to women seeking abortions. He also imposed an injunction on to Law in 1988 when abortion providers fir appealed the abortion control act. The circuit court rejected a final a peal Jan. 14, ruling that the Law must a into effect before it can be Challenge under the undue Burden Standard. It 0 dered Huyett to lift the injunction with a a a reasonable time period sout it upheld the appeals court ruling thre Days later. Parts of the Law will take effect imm it Diatel and Quot it should take a matter it Days before All provisions Are enacted Gentzel said