Portland woman sues nail salon for more than $2M over alleged herpes infection – two years after someone sued the salon over similar allegations

A Portland nail salon is facing a new lawsuit over an alleged herpes infection, two years after a different customer sued the same business over a similar claim. The earlier case ended in a confidential settlement in 2025.

A 31-year-old Multnomah County woman filed suit against PDX Nails LLC, according to KCBY. She is seeking $2.5 million in damages. The Oregon Health Authority and the Health Licensing Office are also named as defendants.

Attorney Amity Girt filed the new case after previously representing the woman who sued the salon in 2024. That customer reported infection and inflammation after a 2023 manicure and was diagnosed with herpes.

The earlier lawsuit and settlement

IT Boltwise reports that the plaintiff was 23 when she filed the case in March 2024, seeking $1.75 million. The case was reportedly settled confidentially by May 2025. The woman behind the new lawsuit did not know about the earlier allegations.

The latest complaint concerns a visit to PDX Nails at 11946 Northeast Glisan Street in Portland, Oregon, on August 1, 2025. The woman says she walked in for an appointment to get acrylic nails.

According to the lawsuit, the technician used a drill bit and other sharp tools during the appointment, then gave the woman a hand massage with lotion or oil. The complaint alleges that the technician did not wear gloves. Nail salon visits have led to other serious disputes, too. In a separate case, a Pennsylvania woman said she went in for a manicure and walked away with one less finger.

The woman says she began experiencing an “unusual burning and stinging” sensation in her right hand and pinky the day after her appointment. An itchy, fluid-filled blister appeared the following day.

Eleven days later, she visited a doctor. Medical staff initially suspected Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), but the provider could not obtain a sample from the blister. A follow-up test in September 2025 confirmed the infection. The woman also claims she did not have the virus before visiting the salon.

The complaint also points to PDX Nails’ inspection history. It alleges that a state investigation in 2021 found the salon had failed to disinfect “used drill bits at the workstation.” Investigators reportedly identified problems with cleaning foot spa equipment as well. Salon customer horror stories are apparently not rare as in another case, a New York woman said a salon owner grabbed her by the hair after she asked for her nails to be shortened.

The lawsuit also lists the prior infection case that was reported in 2023. The agencies allegedly failed to suspend or revoke the salon’s license or refuse its renewal. The complaint argues that their inaction left other customers at risk. The Oregon Health Authority said it could not comment on pending litigation.