We have compiled some of the most common questions our clients often ask to help answer any questions you may have about our legal services
Merci people’s law firm will only charge you fees in case we get payments in your favor. If we can’t get a payment for you, you won’t have to pay our fees.
In the event of success, Merci people’s law firm’s fees will correspond to a percentage of the compensation that is established in the mandate you sign to be represented. This percentage will be collected at the time you receive your compensation.
Please note that there are some costs that are not included in Merci people’s law firm’s fees, including translations of documents, court filing fees and court-appointed expert witness fees, among others. These types of costs are previously communicated by us so that you can make the payment.
In exceptional cases, when you cannot afford such costs, Merci people’s law firm can find financing alternatives, so that their value is reimbursed once you receive a payment.
Allergan
For some years now, the concern of the scientific community and health authorities regarding the safety of Allergan macrotextured implants has been increasing. In particular, there is a consensus on the relationship between these implants and the increased likelihood of developing BIA-ALCL, a cancer of the immune system, and there is evidence that the manufacturer of the Allergan implants knew about this risk for many years and failed to take preventive action.
Consequently, hundreds of thousands of women are exposed to the uncertainty of developing this disease and deserve redress.
The history of the alerts and the late reaction of the implant manufacturer goes back several years:
In January 2011, the U.S. FDA published a study recognizing the risk. The FDA stated that “there is a possible association between breast implants and BIA-ALCL. Based on published case studies and epidemiological research, the FDA believes there is a possible association between breast implants and BIA-ALCL”.
According to a statement from Allergan, “On Friday, December 14, 2018, GMED [the body in charge of certifying implant quality] informed Allergan that a routine review and renewal of CE certification for textured breast implants and tissue expanders had not been successfully completed. Allergan’s current certificates for its family of textured breast implant products expired on December 16, 2018.
Following that decision, Allergan lost its legal ability to market the implants in the European market.
Seven months later, on July 24, 2019, following an FDA request, Allergan decided to voluntarily recall its devices globally. Biocell.
Who are we filing the Allergan lawsuit against?
We will file a lawsuit against the companies involved in the production of Allergan implants, who knew and concealed the risks to which their users would be exposed and did not take preventive actions.
PIP
In 2011, the scandal of the brand that produces breast implants PIP arose. This occurred because the breast implants produced by this brand were manufactured without the necessary quality standards since the gel used was not adequate for medical use.
Who are we filing the PIP lawsuit against?
In the PIP case, TÜV RHEINLAND is on trial. This is a German company that certifies the quality of products such as children’s toys, household appliances and even nuclear power plants, operating in more than 65 countries. TÜV RHEINLAND certified the quality system of the manufacturer of these implants and allowed their sale for 13 consecutive years.
In both processes it is necessary that you comply with the following steps and requirements in order to be represented:
You must have had or have Allergan or PIP brand breast implants whose reference is included in the list of recalled implants.
In case you have initiated other legal actions for any of these causes, it is important that you let us know so that we can evaluate whether it is necessary to comply with any additional requirements.
You must comply with all steps of the registration. (explained below).
Documents you must provide
Identity document: This is an official document from your country that establishes your ID.
Breast implant identification cards: these are the documents that contain all the information related to your breast implants. You must take into account that each implant has its own card with the lot information, the series and the reference of the implants.
Steps to register on the platform
You must register in our platform and fill in all the required fields: Your email and contact phone number, tell us the brand of your implants and the date of implantation.
Once you register, you must fill in the following fields: Name, Last name and address.
After filling out this information you must sign a mandate, which is the necessary contract for us to represent you in the different instances of any of the processes. This document contains all the conditions of our representation.
It is necessary to upload your identity document on the platform.
It is necessary to upload the cards of your breast implants on the platform.
When you upload your documents they will be reviewed and approved by our team to ensure that they meet the requirements of the courts in order to represent you. In case the documents do not meet the requirements, you must correct the defects
to be able to be part of the lawsuit.
It is essential that you read the mandate carefully before signing it. There you will find all the conditions applicable to our representation.
If you have any questions, please note that our entire customer service team is ready to answer your questions and advise you to make a decision.
Some of the main questions about the mandate include:
What are you signing?
A mandate contract, that is, a legal document with which you authorize Merci people’s law firm to initiate all the necessary steps to obtain on your behalf a compensation for the damages you suffered as a result of being or having been a carrier of breast implants.
What does Merci people’s law firm commit to with that document?
To carry out the actions that it deems necessary and pertinent to obtain compensation in your name. That could include filing lawsuits or other requests with judicial authorities, seeking direct settlements with potential defendants, and generally all actions that Merci people’s law firm deems relevant to reach this result.
To ensure that all considerations, decisions and actions taken are in pursuit of the best possible result that can be obtained for all those affected as a group. To inform you about the development of the assignment by any means, except for information that you believe should be kept confidential.
How can Merci people’s law firm carry out their commitment?
To carry out its commitment, the company will seek and study all possible legal avenues to seek the most reasonable compensation for each affected party. It will choose the one it considers best, and will make the necessary arrangements to carry it out.
What are the obligations that arise when you sign the power of attorney?
Deliver the documentation and information requested by Merci people’s law firm.
Respond in a timely manner to requests made by Merci people’s law firm in order to move forward with the execution of the mandate.
Pay Merci people’s law firm’s fees in case payments are obtained in your favor.
The other obligations that are established in the mandate or in the applicable Law.
How can the contract be terminated?
The contract may end because: Merci people’s law firm managed to obtain a final compensation in your favor and in the opinion of the firm there are no further legal actions that must be taken.
You breached any of your obligations and as a consequence Merci people’s law firm decides to end the mandate.
The case is no longer legally viable at the discretion of Merci people’s law You decide to grant a mandate to another lawyer. In this case, you must pay the fees due to Merci people’s law firm under the conditions indicated in the Mandate.
(i) It must be complete, i.e. if the document has two sides, both sides must be sent.
(ii) The image must be legible.
What identity document should I use?
Remember that this is an official document that establishes the identification of the holder. The document that can be used depends on your nationality.
What are breast implant cards?
These are documents that contain all the information related to breast implants. You must take into account that each implant has its own card with the lot, series and reference information.
How can I get the implant cards?
Breast implant cards are documents that must be given to people who carry them. When people have this surgery, the surgeon must give the patient these documents and record them in the patient’s medical history.
In case you do not have these documents or you have lost them, you can request your implant cards from the doctor who performed the surgery or from the clinic where you had the procedure.
In case neither party has the cards you must request the medical history of your procedure in which you will find a copy of these.
What can I do if they do not provide the information when requesting it?
Although unlikely, there are situations where the surgeon or the medical center where the procedure was performed do not have the information available or do not have the will to deliver it to the patient at the time of application.
If that happens, please contact us and together we can evaluate alternatives for your case.
What should I take into account when uploading the cards on the platform?
a) They must be marked with your name.
b) They must be legible.
c) The cards must show the lot name and reference.
d) One card must be uploaded for each implant.
e) The brand of the implants must be visible.
f) Each card is unique and non-transferable.
Here are the valid references for Allergan branded cards:
Marca | Referencia |
NATRELLE Saline Breast Implants. | Styles 168, 163, 363, 468 |
NATRELLE 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically. Shaped Silicone-Filled Breast Implants.. | Styles LL, LM, LF, LX, ML, MM, MF, MX, FL, FM, FF, FX |
McGhan BioDIMENSIONAL® Silicone-FilledBIOCELL® Textured Breast Implants. | Style 153 |
NATRELLE INSPIRA Silicone-Filled Breast Implants. | Styles TRL, TRLP, TRM, TRF, TRX, TSL, TSLP, TSM, TSF, TSX, TCL, TCLP, TCM, TCF, TCX |
NATRELLE Silicone-Filled Breast Implants. | Styles 110, 115, and 120 |
NATRELLE 133 Tissue expanders with and without suture tabs. Style 133 BIOSPAN Tissue Expander. McGhan Magna-Site Tissue Expander. | Styles 133FV, 133MV, 133LV, 133FX, 133MX, 133SX, 133SV, 133FV-T, 133MV-T, 133LV-T, 133FX-T, 133MX-T, 133SX-T, 133SV-T |
NATRELLE 133 Plus Tissue Expanders. | Styles 133P-FV, 133P-MV, 133P-LV, 133P-FX, 133P-MX, 133P-SX, 133P-SV, 133P-FV-T, 133P- MV-T, 133P-LV-T, 133P-FX-T, 133P-MX-T, 133P- SX-T, 133P-SV-T |
McGhan Style 134 Croissant Shaped Tissue Expander | Style 134 |
Here are the valid references for PIP branded cards.:
Marca | Referencia |
P.I.P. ( Poly Implant Prothese) | IMGHC |
We have compiled some of the most common questions our clients often ask to help answer any questions you may have about our legal services
Merci people’s law firm will only charge you fees in case we get payments in your favor. If we can’t get a payment for you, you won’t have to pay our fees.
In the event of success, Merci people’s law firm’s fees will correspond to a percentage of the compensation that is established in the mandate you sign to be represented. This percentage will be collected at the time you receive your compensation.
Please note that there are some costs that are not included in Merci people’s law firm’s fees, including translations of documents, court filing fees and court-appointed expert witness fees, among others. These types of costs are previously communicated by us so that you can make the payment.
In exceptional cases, when you cannot afford such costs, Merci people’s law firm can find financing alternatives, so that their value is reimbursed once you receive a payment.
Allergan
For some years now, the concern of the scientific community and health authorities regarding the safety of Allergan macrotextured implants has been increasing. In particular, there is a consensus on the relationship between these implants and the increased likelihood of developing BIA-ALCL, a cancer of the immune system, and there is evidence that the manufacturer of the Allergan implants knew about this risk for many years and failed to take preventive action.
Consequently, hundreds of thousands of women are exposed to the uncertainty of developing this disease and deserve redress.
The history of the alerts and the late reaction of the implant manufacturer goes back several years:
In January 2011, the U.S. FDA published a study recognizing the risk. The FDA stated that “there is a possible association between breast implants and BIA-ALCL. Based on published case studies and epidemiological research, the FDA believes there is a possible association between breast implants and BIA-ALCL”.
According to a statement from Allergan, “On Friday, December 14, 2018, GMED [the body in charge of certifying implant quality] informed Allergan that a routine review and renewal of CE certification for textured breast implants and tissue expanders had not been successfully completed. Allergan’s current certificates for its family of textured breast implant products expired on December 16, 2018.
Following that decision, Allergan lost its legal ability to market the implants in the European market.
Seven months later, on July 24, 2019, following an FDA request, Allergan decided to voluntarily recall its devices globally. Biocell.
Who are we filing the Allergan lawsuit against?
We will file a lawsuit against the companies involved in the production of Allergan implants, who knew and concealed the risks to which their users would be exposed and did not take preventive actions.
PIP
In 2011, the scandal of the brand that produces breast implants PIP arose. This occurred because the breast implants produced by this brand were manufactured without the necessary quality standards since the gel used was not adequate for medical use.
Who are we filing the PIP lawsuit against?
In the PIP case, TÜV RHEINLAND is on trial. This is a German company that certifies the quality of products such as children’s toys, household appliances and even nuclear power plants, operating in more than 65 countries. TÜV RHEINLAND certified the quality system of the manufacturer of these implants and allowed their sale for 13 consecutive years.
In both processes it is necessary that you comply with the following steps and requirements in order to be represented:
You must have had or have Allergan or PIP brand breast implants whose reference is included in the list of recalled implants.
In case you have initiated other legal actions for any of these causes, it is important that you let us know so that we can evaluate whether it is necessary to comply with any additional requirements.
You must comply with all steps of the registration. (explained below).
Documents you must provide
Identity document: This is an official document from your country that establishes your ID.
Breast implant identification cards: these are the documents that contain all the information related to your breast implants. You must take into account that each implant has its own card with the lot information, the series and the reference of the implants.
Steps to register on the platform
You must register in our platform and fill in all the required fields: Your email and contact phone number, tell us the brand of your implants and the date of implantation.
Once you register, you must fill in the following fields: Name, Last name and address.
After filling out this information you must sign a mandate, which is the necessary contract for us to represent you in the different instances of any of the processes. This document contains all the conditions of our representation.
It is necessary to upload your identity document on the platform.
It is necessary to upload the cards of your breast implants on the platform.
When you upload your documents they will be reviewed and approved by our team to ensure that they meet the requirements of the courts in order to represent you. In case the documents do not meet the requirements, you must correct the defects
to be able to be part of the lawsuit.
It is essential that you read the mandate carefully before signing it. There you will find all the conditions applicable to our representation.
If you have any questions, please note that our entire customer service team is ready to answer your questions and advise you to make a decision.
Some of the main questions about the mandate include:
What are you signing?
A mandate contract, that is, a legal document with which you authorize Merci people’s law firm to initiate all the necessary steps to obtain on your behalf a compensation for the damages you suffered as a result of being or having been a carrier of breast implants.
What does Merci people’s law firm commit to with that document?
To carry out the actions that it deems necessary and pertinent to obtain compensation in your name. That could include filing lawsuits or other requests with judicial authorities, seeking direct settlements with potential defendants, and generally all actions that Merci people’s law firm deems relevant to reach this result.
To ensure that all considerations, decisions and actions taken are in pursuit of the best possible result that can be obtained for all those affected as a group. To inform you about the development of the assignment by any means, except for information that you believe should be kept confidential.
How can Merci people’s law firm carry out their commitment?
To carry out its commitment, the company will seek and study all possible legal avenues to seek the most reasonable compensation for each affected party. It will choose the one it considers best, and will make the necessary arrangements to carry it out.
What are the obligations that arise when you sign the power of attorney?
Deliver the documentation and information requested by Merci people’s law firm.
Respond in a timely manner to requests made by Merci people’s law firm in order to move forward with the execution of the mandate.
Pay Merci people’s law firm’s fees in case payments are obtained in your favor.
The other obligations that are established in the mandate or in the applicable Law.
How can the contract be terminated?
The contract may end because: Merci people’s law firm managed to obtain a final compensation in your favor and in the opinion of the firm there are no further legal actions that must be taken.
You breached any of your obligations and as a consequence Merci people’s law firm decides to end the mandate.
The case is no longer legally viable at the discretion of Merci people’s law You decide to grant a mandate to another lawyer. In this case, you must pay the fees due to Merci people’s law firm under the conditions indicated in the Mandate.
(i) It must be complete, i.e. if the document has two sides, both sides must be sent.
(ii) The image must be legible.
What identity document should I use?
Remember that this is an official document that establishes the identification of the holder. The document that can be used depends on your nationality.
What are breast implant cards?
These are documents that contain all the information related to breast implants. You must take into account that each implant has its own card with the lot, series and reference information.
How can I get the implant cards?
Breast implant cards are documents that must be given to people who carry them. When people have this surgery, the surgeon must give the patient these documents and record them in the patient’s medical history.
In case you do not have these documents or you have lost them, you can request your implant cards from the doctor who performed the surgery or from the clinic where you had the procedure.
In case neither party has the cards you must request the medical history of your procedure in which you will find a copy of these.
What can I do if they do not provide the information when requesting it?
Although unlikely, there are situations where the surgeon or the medical center where the procedure was performed do not have the information available or do not have the will to deliver it to the patient at the time of application.
If that happens, please contact us and together we can evaluate alternatives for your case.
What should I take into account when uploading the cards on the platform?
a) They must be marked with your name.
b) They must be legible.
c) The cards must show the lot name and reference.
d) One card must be uploaded for each implant.
e) The brand of the implants must be visible.
f) Each card is unique and non-transferable.
Here are the valid references for Allergan branded cards:
Marca | Referencia |
NATRELLE Saline Breast Implants. | Styles 168, 163, 363, 468 |
NATRELLE 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically. Shaped Silicone-Filled Breast Implants.. | Styles LL, LM, LF, LX, ML, MM, MF, MX, FL, FM, FF, FX |
McGhan BioDIMENSIONAL® Silicone-FilledBIOCELL® Textured Breast Implants. | Style 153 |
NATRELLE INSPIRA Silicone-Filled Breast Implants. | Styles TRL, TRLP, TRM, TRF, TRX, TSL, TSLP, TSM, TSF, TSX, TCL, TCLP, TCM, TCF, TCX |
NATRELLE Silicone-Filled Breast Implants. | Styles 110, 115, and 120 |
NATRELLE 133 Tissue expanders with and without suture tabs. Style 133 BIOSPAN Tissue Expander. McGhan Magna-Site Tissue Expander. | Styles 133FV, 133MV, 133LV, 133FX, 133MX, 133SX, 133SV, 133FV-T, 133MV-T, 133LV-T, 133FX-T, 133MX-T, 133SX-T, 133SV-T |
NATRELLE 133 Plus Tissue Expanders. | Styles 133P-FV, 133P-MV, 133P-LV, 133P-FX, 133P-MX, 133P-SX, 133P-SV, 133P-FV-T, 133P- MV-T, 133P-LV-T, 133P-FX-T, 133P-MX-T, 133P- SX-T, 133P-SV-T |
McGhan Style 134 Croissant Shaped Tissue Expander | Style 134 |
Here are the valid references for PIP branded cards.:
Marca | Referencia |
P.I.P. ( Poly Implant Prothese) | IMGHC |
