There has been a rash of beauty horror-stories in the national media lately, informing the public of unseen dangers lurking in nail salons.
Nonetheless, those news stories and broadcasts didn't impede Sharon Campbell from paying a visit to the Beaumont beauty shop For Tips To Toes in Parkdale Mall. Campbell is claiming her toes became infected after her pedicure, forcing her to seek medical attention in which physicians removed two of her toenails.
Campbell has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the beauty shop and its employees/owners Joan Coark and Christy Tran with the Jefferson County District Court on June 4. Judge Bob Wortham, 58th Judicial District, will preside over the case.
According to Campbell's original petition, on July 1, 2006, she patronized the defendants' place of business and received a pedicure.
"Before doing so, plaintiff was in good health," the suit said. "After the pedicure, plaintiff's toes became infected forcing plaintiff to seek medical treatment and eventually lose her toenails on her big toes."
The suit claims the products and equipment the defendants used to perform Campbell's pedicure were unsanitary and "unfit for human use, which defendants knew or should have known in the exercise of reasonable diligence."
"In performing plaintiffs pedicure with unsanitary products and equipment, defendants breached their duty to plaintiff and to members of the public," the suit said.
The suit faults the defendants with the following acts of negligence: using products and/or equipment which were unsanitary and unfit for human use; and failing to properly inspect the products and equipment used to service plaintiff.
"Defendants could reasonably foresee that if they used unsanitary and dirty products and equipment, that consumers such as plaintiff would suffer injuries and damages," the suit said, adding that a simple inspection would have prevented the incident.
Campbell is suing for past and future medical expenses, physical impairment and disfigurement and mental anguish, plus emotional distress and the loss of enjoyment of life.
She is demanding a trial by jury, and is represented by attorney Trenton Bond of the Reaud, Morgan & Quinn law firm.
Case No. A179-432