Today was an important day for Sphere, as the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to address the largest national opioid pandemic since Big Tobacco. Sphere is proud to represent the largest group of lawyers holding pharmaceutical distributors accountable by suing them for their role in this epidemic.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the executives of the five major distribution companies faced the House Energy Committee as they investigate their role in this crisis. In its efforts, Sphere has successfully organized a briefing for Mike Papantonio and one of his colleagues, two of the lawyers suing the distribution companies, on the Hill that drew aides for more than a dozen committee members. The lawyers distributed a six-page list of suggested questions for lawmakers to ask; most of the content was used by lawmakers’ questioning during Tuesday’s hearing.

Sphere’s clients’ efforts were outlined in Politico, The Washington Post and Law360. Levin Papantonio represents over 400 cities, counties and tribes who are taking legal action against the wholesale distributors and manufacturers of opioids in order to recover the immense damages they have sustained as a result of these companies creating the current opioid epidemic. Sphere was mentioned in Politico as being the firm managing these lawyers’ efforts in Washington and across the country. See Politico article here: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/08/opioid-epidemic-drugs-congress-hearings-573224