Risperdal Litigation Pioneer Stephen Sheller Featured in "DocuSerial" about Johnson & Johnson, "America's Most Admired Lawbreaker" by Steve Brill

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attorney Stephen Sheller first connected the use of the powerful antipsychotic drug Risperdal in children with the devastating condition of gynecomastia, the growth of female-like breasts in boys and young men. The plaintiffs attorney also found that the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company and its Janssen division were illegally promoting the drug for use in children. Both set in motion a decade-long pursuit of justice.

Sheller's pursuit is highlighted in what New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is calling a "devastating, epic" report on J&J, "America's Most Admired Lawbreaker" by veteran journalist Steven Brill. The 15-chapter expose on the Highline imprint of The Huffington Post is being released chapter by chapter online through September 29.

Brill writes a narrative weaving multimedia interviews, court and internal J&J documents, images and video in a format unique in today's journalism to tell the story of how a corporation put "profits over people." He digs into the genesis of how a drug intended for the severe disorders schizophrenia and bi-polar mania, approved by the FDA for only that narrow population, was marketed by J&J for use in children as young as three years old.

There were two avenues for Sheller to traverse, separate but related: filing hundreds of injury claims against J&J on behalf of individuals and the investigation of illegal conduct defrauding the government's healthcare programs leading to a $2.2 billion recovery the largest single pharmaceutical drug fraud settlement in U.S. history.  Brill's reporting provides an inside look of how Sheller has navigated the unusual and difficult legal terrain.

Sheller, P.C.'s investigation and its legal representation of hundreds of young men and their families across the country lead to trials that began two years ago, with a recent $2.5 million verdict on behalf of a young boy who developed 46DD breasts. Trials for other affected young men continue next month and into 2016.

Concurrent to Sheller's pursuit of justice for gynecomastia victims, Sheller was contacted in 2003 by a J&J pharmaceutical marketing representative who was alarmed by the company's promotion of the drug for use in children. Sheller and the whistleblower provided the basis for an investigation by the  U.S. Department of Justice into the business practices of J&J that in 2013 ended in the multi-billion dollar settlement on behalf of U.S. taxpayers.

"We laud Steve Brill for his comprehensive and compelling look into J&J's conduct regarding Risperdal," says Stephen Sheller. "We're scheduled for more trials in court next month, but Brill brings despicable corporate greed to the court of public opinion."

Links:
http://nyti.ms/1iyg2z4 & http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/miracleindustry/americas-most-admired-lawbreaker

About Sheller, P.C.

Sheller, P.C. is nationally renowned for representing individuals harmed by consumer products including, but not limited to, pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. In addition to its success representing individual plaintiffs in personal injury cases, the firm's investigation and prosecution of fraud, False Claims Act violations, and other illegal practices with the U.S. Department of Justice has resulted in the recovery of more than $6.4 billion for the U.S. Government and taxpayers to date, including some of the largest settlements in history.

Founded by Stephen A. Sheller and in practice since 1977, Sheller, P.C. has challenged pharmaceutical and medical device companies, automobile manufacturers, tobacco companies, and various other national and multi-national corporations on behalf of individuals, in mass torts and class action. 

SOURCE Sheller, P.C.