April 23rd, Book Signing: Big Pharma Big Greed
When: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Shakespeare & Co., 1632 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Description: Big Pharma, Big Greed: The Inside Story of One Lawyer’s Battle to Stem the Flood of Dangerous Medicines and Protect Public Health An update and expansion of Sheller’s previous book with Sidney Kirkpatrick “Pharmageddon: A […]
Record $240M Opioid Settlement Against Purdue Pharma
Purdue Pharma, makers of the opioid painkiller OxyContin, have settled with the state of Oklahoma for a record $240 million. This is Purdue’s third and largest state settlement yet. The drug manufacturer still faces thousands of other pending local, city and state suits, including a 1,600 case consolidated federal suit against Purdue and other drug manufacturers, […]
New Sheller Book “Big Pharma, Big Greed”
Released this week, Stephen Sheller’s new book “Big Pharma, Big Greed: The inside story of one lawyer’s battle to stem the flood of dangerous medicines and protect public health” (Strong Arm Press) is now available. An update and expansion of Sheller’s previous book with Sidney Kirkpatrick “Pharmageddon: A Nation Betrayed” writer Christopher Mondics (Philadelphia Inquirer) […]
Family Stranded in Cold Under ‘Live Stop’ Policy
The controversial Philadelphia Police Department ‘Live Stop’ policy makes headlines again as local resident and criminal justice activist, Reuben Jones, was left on the side of the road in the extreme cold with his two children after police impounded his car for an expired registration. It is against PPD policy to leave drivers and their passengers […]
J&J CEO May Testify in Risperdal Trial
Updated January 30, 2019 The eighth Risperdal case is set to go to trial, this time the stakes are even higher for both sides as the jury may award punitive damages to the plaintiff if wrongful conduct by Johnson & Johnson is proven. “We’re excited about the availability of punitive damages. All along, we thought […]
Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research
In Stephen Sheller’s book Lawyering In Times of Saints and Evil Doers (2015), Sheller tells the story of science for sale, the widespread conflict of interest created when doctors and researchers are influenced by payments they receive from pharmaceutical companies. In 2008, a Congressional inquiry led by Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) exposed the extensive conflict of interest […]
$2.5 M Risperdal Verdict Upheld in Superior Court
The Pennsylvania Superior Court has upheld the 2015 $2.5 million Risperdal verdict for plaintiff Austin Pledger. Pledger’s case was the first Risperdal case to go to trial. Viewed as a huge win for plaintiffs, the decision bodes well for the future litigation of 6,500 plaintiffs whose suits against Janssen Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Johnson & […]
J&J Settles Days Before Risperdal Trial
After years of litigation and several court losses for harm caused by Risperdal, Johnson & Johnson’s legal team agreed to settle the suit of a young boy from Mississippi who claims he developed female-like breasts after taking the drug Risperdal. The plaintiff began taking Risperdal in 2004 after he was tentatively diagnosed with bipolar disorder. J&J […]
“Major Step Forward” in Opioid Suits
“I did a little math. About 150 Americans are going to die today, just today, while we’re meeting.” -Judge Dan Polster October 5, 2018, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Ruiz of the Northern District of Ohio submitted for approval his report and recommendation in a key a case involving the opioid crisis to U.S. District Judge […]
Shellers Donate Another $1.5M In Support of Social Justice
In support The Sheller Center for Social Justice’s mission, Stephen and Sandra Sheller have donated an additional $1.5 million to the Temple University Beasley School of Law. The Center takes on social justice issues for underserved populations in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Temple Law faculty and students tackle issues such as wage theft, cash bail reform, costs of […]
