Portland Woman Sues Nail Salon Over Infection

A 31-year-old Portland mother filed a $2.5 million lawsuit Monday against PDX Nails, alleging she contracted genital herpes during an acrylic manicure appointment there last year. Court documents identify the plaintiff only as J.S. The suit names the salon, the Oregon Health Authority, and the state Health Licensing Office as defendants.

The filing claims J.S. is the second customer in two years to contract the infection at the salon. A prior customer, identified as S.R., filed a $1.75 million lawsuit in 2024 over a 2023 infection. That case settled in July of this year for an undisclosed amount, according to court records. J.S. alleges she had no prior exposure to the virus before her appointment.

According to the complaint, the nail technician worked on J.S.'s nails and performed a hand massage using lotion or oil without wearing gloves. J.S. reported an unusual burning and stinging sensation on her hand and pinky the next day. A blister formed the following day and lasted for days. She has since experienced recurrent outbreaks despite taking antiviral medication.

The lawsuit accuses state officials of failing to revoke the salon's cosmetology license or take other preventive measures after the first customer's infection. One month before J.S.'s visit, PDX Nails had settled the earlier case. The complaint labels the state agencies' conduct as "incompetence."

PDX Nails operates two Portland locations. In 2021, the state Health Licensing Office and Board of Cosmetology fined the business $500 for failing to disinfect tools used on clients. Inspectors found used drilling bits on a workstation, and the salon paid another $500 for improper foot spa cleaning. State officials confirmed no violations or fines have been issued to the salon since 2021.

J.S. told The Oregonian she now wears gloves while changing her baby's diaper out of concern about transmission. "I'm worried that I might mess up somebody else's life because of this," she said. PDX Nails declined to comment when contacted, and the Oregon Health Authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment.