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IMAGE SOURCE: Sheller P.C.
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Sheller, P.C. law firm, also an InjuryBoard Member, was instrumental in aiding the government to recover record numbers of dollars for federal and state governments, taxpayers and whistleblowers.
In January, Eli Lilly agreed to pay the federal government $1.4 billion to settle an off-label marketing scheme for its prescription drug, Zyprexa. The allegations, stemming back to 2003, originated from six former Lilly drug marketing representatives who became whistleblowers.
The Eli Lilly settlement was the largest amount paid to a single defendant in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice, prior to a recent $2.3 billion settlement with drug giant, Pfizer involving its prescription drug Zyvox (linezolid), a powerful antibiotic approved by the FDA to treat certain types of infections. The withdrawn arthritis drug Bextra, was also included in the Sheller complaint.
Ronald Rainero, a former Pfizer employee-turned-whistleblower, was represented by Stephen A. Sheller, Brian McCormick and Jim Pepper, in the Pfizer case. Rainero, experienced firsthand, the pressure to promote Zyvox for off-label use.
Despite receiving an FDA Warning Letter in 2005, Pfizer continued promoting Zyvox as “superior to similar drugs.” Off-label promotion of Zyvox helped sales surge to more than $1 billion - while cheating the government and putting the public’s safety at risk. Working in concordance with the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston as well as Sheller lawyers, Rainero blew the whistle.
“Our firm is uniquely qualified to handle these qui tam cases,” states Stephen Sheller, name partner of the Philadelphia firm, who brings four decades of civil litigation experience successfully battling automakers, tobacco companies and drug giants.
Under The False Claims Act (FCA), so-called “qui tam” actions, a term derived from English Common Law meaning “he who sues on behalf of the king as well as himself,” allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud to help the Government recover ill-gotten gains and additional civil penalties.
Qui tam whistleblower cases recently settled by Sheller, P.C. have returned more than $1.5 billion to the U.S. and states’ treasuries.
For more information read Sheller’s Press Release and visit their Web site. #