PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 11, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Stephen A. Sheller has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Originally intent on becoming a veterinarian, Mr. Sheller changed course after studying criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts. During his studies, he worked as a researcher on two projects comparing prisoners and parolees with his criminology professor and the Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, who both strongly recommended he pursue a career in law. At their behest, Mr. Sheller returned to his undergraduate alma mater and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Upon graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, he worked for a large Philadelphia Law Firm and in 1978 established Sheller, P.C., where he specializes in personal injury matters, consumer class action suits, defective drug and medical device cases, product liability, complex commercial litigation and more.
A champion for those less fortunate, Mr. Sheller began his career in the late 1960's early 1970s, during which he defended the Black Panthers and protected the rights of African American female workers, the latter of which was one of the first successful cases regarding equal pay for equal work. Additionally, he was one of the first lawyers involved in what turned out to be the Bush v. Gore litigation controversy of the 2000 presidential election. Mr. Sheller investigated the Ringwood Mines/Landfill, an auto manufacturer's industrial dumpsite that became the first Superfund site to be added back to the National Priorities list. Though Mr. Sheller has achieved much throughout his career, he notes an $8 billion verdict received against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, as one of the highlights. The verdict is believed to be the largest Plaintiff's Verdict in the United States in the year 2019.
In light of his vast breadth of knowledge, Mr. Sheller has authored a number of publications over the years, including "Butterflies, Chads & American History - A Personal Account" that he co-authored with Mark A. Aronchick, in 2000, "Lawyering in the Times of Saints and Evildoers in 2015 which laid the foundation for "Pharmageddon: A Nation Betrayed - A National Trial Lawyer Recalls an Industry Spinning Out of Control/, which was published in 2016 and "Big Pharma, Big Greed: The Inside Story of One Lawyer's Battle to Stem the Flood of Dangerous Medicines and Protect Public Health, which he co-wrote with Sidney D. Kirkpatrick and Chris Mondics and was published in 2019. Driven to remain aware of changes in the field, he aligns himself with the Pennsylvania and American Associations for Justice, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association.
Alongside his legal endeavors, Mr. Sheller addresses economic and social disparities with his wife, Sandra, through the Sheller Family Foundation and frequently contributes to those less fortunate through The Salvation Army. Alongside his wife, he established The Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services Center of Drexel University which in 2016 was recognized as a model for the country for health care delivery to underserved populations by the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health & Health Care Initiatives. He also went on to establish the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Scholarship for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation and the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Commons of the South Philadelphia Free Library. For his dedication to the community, Mr. Sheller received the Other's Award from The Salvation Army in 2007 and Temple University's highest award to a non-alumni, the 2014 Russell H. Conwell Award, as well as the National Liberty Museum's Heroes of Liberty Award in 2017. In July 2020, the Shellers were awarded the Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the Council on Foundations recognizing how their involvement with the Color Me Back program has transformed relationships between public and private sectors and led to measurable benefits in increased economic development, health, safety, and workforce development for low- income individuals.
Professionally, Mr. Sheller has been recognized on a plethora of occasions, earning the Mass Torts Made Perfect Award that was bestowed upon him by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Legallntelligencer, the 2011 Tobacco Litigation Pioneers Award, a Trial Lawyer of the Year Award and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Drexel University, which he earned in 2017, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Temple University, which he earned in 2019. Since 2003, he has also been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. Most recently in 2020, Mr. Sheller was recognized as a Pennsylvania Trailblazer by The Legallntelligencer. Looking toward the future, Mr. Sheller intends to continue working representing the City of Philadelphia and the District Attorney of Philadelphia in the national Opioid Litigation and numerous other product liability and qui tam cases. He also intends to continue working with the Sheller Family Foundation and spending time with his family.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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