DOJ Blocks Criminal Charges Against Walmart in Opioid Crisis
A recent ProPublica investigative report calls into question the Trump Administration’s commitment to ending the opioid crisis, criminally charging those responsible, and ensuring that protections are in place to prevent another crisis. Even as President Trump held television news conferences vowing to take a hard stance in combatting the opioid crisis and prosecute pharmaceutical companies […]
Will Fines Change Corporate Culture That Caused Opioid Crisis?
An Oklahoma judge order Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pay a $572 million fine to the state for fueling the opioid crisis. This was the first case of its kind to go to trial and could influence similar claims by more than 40 states against the pharmaceutical industry. “As a matter of […]
Opioid Drugmakers May Be Liable Under Consumer Protection Laws
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has been given approval by a state judge to move forward with with action against drugmakers and distributors for illegal marketing and sales of opioid painkillers resulting in a nationwide epidemic. The suit, a first of its kind, brings claims under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. The UTPCPL bans […]
Oklahoma Sues J&J Over Opioid Crisis
Purdue Pharma is named the main defendant in multiple city, state and local lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies that played a part in the current opioid crisis. The suits claim the drug maker’s aggressive marketing of its opioid painkiller OxyContin began the crisis more than two decades ago. News media has covered the crisis extensively, including John Oliver […]
Temple Law Honors Sheller with Doctor of Humane Letters
Attorney Stephen Sheller, founder of Sheller PC, was honored with a doctor of humane letters degree at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law 2019 Commencement Ceremony on May 16. The Beasley School of Law celebrates Stephen A. Sheller, founding and managing partner of Sheller, P.C. and a passionate advocate for underdog clients. His philanthropic support […]
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, […]
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 & […]
“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 […]
