Fw: Famous cover up Dow Memo from 1991

[Guest guest]

Ilena posted this recently, and I thought you all might like to see this

famous memo from Dow Corporation...need I say more about its implications?

The lawyers in the original breast implant litigations found much in the

" discovery " process that I am sure Dow didn't want anyone else to see.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: " ilena rose " <ilena@...>

<Recipient List Suppressed:>

Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 2:47 PM

Subject: Famous " cover up " Dow Memo from 1991

> EXCERPT: " The issue of cover-up is going well from a long-term

perspective. "

>

>

> From: LCHALL--MIDVMO1 Date and time 06/24/91

15:07:48

> GEANDERS--MIDVMOI JKCAMPBE--MIDVMO1

>

> NOTE FROM: L.C. Hall - 867-4659

> DC/W EXEC ADMIN 001

>

> SUBJECT: DCC Committee

>

> It has been two weeks since we had the great session with the BOD at which

> time they pointed out some of the problems we were facing and suggested

ways

> we might get beyond them. This communication is intended to simply

> summarize where I feel we are.

>

> The issue of cover-up is going well from a long-term perspective. We are

> moving rapidly ahead on our press conference, and all things appear to be

in

> place for that with the exception of the University of Michigan study

being

> finalized. I did talk to four other presidents of the main breast implant

> manufacturers on Friday, and they have given us the go-ahead on discussing

> the NYU study. I asked Tony Getty from Mentor if he was going to

> participate in the University of Michigan study, and he said he was not

sure

> but would respond early this week for a final resolution. Jan Varner said

> MdGhan will go with us regardless.

>

> The issue of the Breast Implant Communications Center is almost completely

> put to bed at this point. It will be very tight for our July 8 deadline

in

> terms of having letters out and having all the printed material ready.

The

> final sign-off is today, June 24. The selection of people is completed

and

> the training will begin this week.

>

> The number one issue in my mind is the establishment of networks. I

believe

> we have made no progress in the two weeks. Obviously, this is the single

> largest issue on our platter because it affects not only the next 2-3

years

> profitability of DCC, but also ultimately has a big impact of the

long-term

> ethics and believability issues. If we do not win this one, or at least

> minimize the financial impact that people are able to achieve, you can

> forget about whether we have done all these other things correctly.

>

> I know I am the long ranger after all of our sessions on this, but I still

> believe appointing Burnett full time to do nothing but orchestrate

the

> networks is absolutely critical. I still favor having somebody who has

> moxie and judgement skills which are excellent to be turned loose to make

> the contacts to get the ball rolling. This is critical to the patient

> community. While I have no problem with your approach, Barie, of turning

it

> over to Burston Marstellar, it is a very sterile approach in the final

> analysis. I believe we can make a faster progress on our own, even

without

> all the communication documents established since the early part of the

job

> is primarily getting contacts and establishing some believability as a

> person. It takes a lot of time to do this, and it is going to take

someone

> like Burnett, as good as he is, a fair amount of time just to get in

motion.

>

> It has become obvious to me that what is at risk here is somewhere between

> $50 million and $500 million. Right now, I think we are losing the time

> race badly in this critical area, and I believe that the amount of money

we

> are going to lose is increasing rapidly since we are not going to be in a

> position to divert the opposing forces into the directions we want soon.

>

> The latest information that July will be the day when a legal firm in

> Chicago makes an announcement they have 25 women assembled who will be

suing

> breast implant manufacturers is just another example of how good Wolfe is

in

> knowing when our red-letter days are, and anticipating and muting them

with

> excellent counter strategies. I fear that if he can pull it off, he may

> have a multi-city announcement which we are not aware of at this point.

In

> talking to the other companies, they were not aware of the Chicago

> announcement, and did not know of any others besides the southern

California

> group. I hope this is true, because we would be ill-prepared in terms of

> counter measures through the grass roots system to try to present a

counter

> perspective.

>

> I have started to initiate the surgeon contact sessions by getting the

> people at DCW together tomorrow for an extensive development of a plan of

> how we want to organize the plastic surgery community and involve our ITSA

> organization, which should be extremely affective in this. Also, I am

> beginning to line up the price discussion that is desperately needed so we

> present a uniform picture to the outside community.

>

> Finally, I have been in contact with Dick Hazelton, Colin Rowland and

Alain

> Jacquin from Europe concerning strategies there. I believe they are in

good

> shape at this point, but it would be critical to get them rolling. I

> understand, Barie, you have contacted Dean and he will be attending

> the press conference. I think this is good, because at this point in time

> after talking with the sales representatives in Europe, I am convinced

they

> do not have the same problem yet. We obviously have a chance to get in

> front there, and stay there.

>

> As far as Australia is concerned, I am out of date at this point, but will

> get caught up.

>

> The place we have the biggest hole still missing and two weeks behind from

> the time we got the word from McKennan, is in this whole arena of

> getting a patient grass roots movement going. I will keep working

> diligently and as needed to help us get to the other side, but I am very

> worried.

>

> Best regards,

> Dan

> cc: BSCARMIC--MIDVMO1 RRLEVIER--MIDVMO1

> MJBIGGS--MIDVMO1 JRJENKIL--MIDVMO1

>

>