The Wall Street Journal (1/16, B3, Rockoff, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that Wednesday marks the start of a series of talks that Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has scheduled in an effort to settle personal-injury claims related to its hepatitis C drug candidate, 094. Although BMS has not provided details, the Journal says that persons with knowledge of the matter, as well as court documents, indicate that the New York City-based pharmaceutical firm is facing claims, amounting to more than $500 million, for the injuries and one death that occurred last year during company-sponsored clinical trials to test the treatment in patients with hepatitis C.