Our national law firm of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a 23-year-old teacher in Reno, Nevada, who alleges the Gardasil human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine caused her to develop a myriad of severe, debilitating health issues.
Attorneys Bijan Esfandiari, Michael L. Baum, Monique Alarcon, and, as co-counsel, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. filed this latest Gardasil lawsuit (Case No. 3:21-cv-00166) in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada against New Jersey-based Merck & Co., Inc. and subsidiary Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Plaintiff Savannah Flores works as an Elko County School District schoolteacher. She alleges that her life “became a constant struggle” after receiving the Gardasil vaccine when she was only 14 years old. She hopes that taking legal action will force the vaccine’s manufacturer, Merck & Co., Inc., to disclose all the vaccine’s potential dangers.
“The life [Ms. Flores] once enjoyed is now overshadowed by pain and unceasing fear that her symptoms can incapacitate her at any moment,” Attorney Baum said. “Merck could have and should have conducted thorough safety testing for the Gardasil vaccine, but it didn’t, and now Savannah and countless others are forced to pay the cost for Merck’s disregard.”
In the lawsuit, our legal team accuse Merck of fraud and negligence, as well as of failing to warn consumers of several severe side effects now associated with the vaccine. The suit also alleges that Merck committed the following wrongful actions during the vaccine’s clinical trials:
- Utilized a toxic, or spiked, placebo to veil injuries between the vaccinated and control groups;
- Cut the dose of aluminum, which critics believe to be the most toxic component of the vaccine, in half for the vaccinated group to veil injuries;
- Purposely did not allow individuals to participate in trials if they appeared likely to suffer injuries from and adverse reactions to Gardasil’s ingredients;
- Failed to follow the protocol to report adverse events;
- Falsely told participants that the placebo was a saline solution;
- Falsely told participants that Gardasil was already proven safe; and
- Ignored reports of adverse events by dismissing them as unrelated to the vaccine.
Plaintiff Alleges Gardasil Caused Her to Develop POTS & Other Health Issues
As a teenager, Savannah Flores was an avid swimmer, loved playing basketball, and looked forward to attending church-organized camps. Overall, she was a happy, healthy girl. But after receiving her first dose of Gardasil in November 2012 on her doctor’s recommendation, Savannah started to experience fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. She was only 14 years old at the time.
Days after Savannah’s 15th birthday, she received her second dose of the vaccine and started to experience trembling, shaking, chest pressure, and headaches, among other symptoms of dysautonomia. From here, her health would only get worse, as her symptoms would grow to include severe migraines, vertigo, menstrual irregularities, and more. Tragically, the activities she used to enjoy — church camps, swimming, and basketball — became things of the past.
To date, Savannah’s list of professional health diagnoses includes, but is not limited to, the following:
After many years of perseverance, Savannah now works as a substitute teacher in Elko County School District. She is currently pursuing a secondary education degree at Great Basin College, focusing on English and language arts. Her current goal is to become a full-time teacher by winter. Unfortunately, she worries that her health problems may prevent her from reaching this goal, as they have gotten in the way many times before.
“I live in fear of the next migraine,” Savannah said regarding her migraines that are so intense she sometimes experiences blindness. “It’s scary not knowing at any given time whether I’ll get a migraine or have another symptom that lays me up for a day or more. I miss normal.”
Learn more in our Press Release.
About Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman
Based in Los Angeles, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is among the nation’s leading law firms taking action against Merck over the HPV vaccine. We have decades of experience in holding negligent pharmaceutical companies accountable for putting profit over safety. Collectively, our lawyers have won more than $4 billion in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients in a range of legal practice areas, earning us national recognition and glowing client testimonials.
In addition to our representation of Ms. Flores, we have filed several other complaints against Merck and its subsidiary on behalf of young adults across the country who have developed similar serious injuries and health conditions after receiving the Gardasil vaccine. For each of these plaintiffs, the injuries and conditions turned into lifelong problems that keep them from living life as they previously did.
Our firm’s other clients whom we are representing in Gardasil injury lawsuits include the following:
Please note that our attorneys at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman are not against vaccines. We are only against dangerous vaccines that companies misrepresent as safe to the public.
If you or a loved one has suffered a Gardasil injury, call Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman at (855) 948-5098 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
