GALVESTON - A local teenager claims she sustained injuries last year while using a bed at a Friendswood tanning salon and is pursuing legal action, recent court papers say.
Shelby Carter filed a lawsuit April 19 against Malibu Tan LLC in Galveston County District Court.
The suit shows Carter visited the defendant's business on May 14, 2012, and inquired about one of its tanning beds.
An employee then took her to a "Turbo Bed", which "is more powerful and emits much more energy and light" than a regular tanning bed.
Carter proceeded to lay in the bed in question only to suffer severe sunburns, a rash and "intense" pain over her torso, the original petition says.
It claims Malibu did not inform the complainant that she was using a stronger than normal tanning bed nor provide her with an authorization form given she was 17 years old at the time, asserting the establishment failed to follow the applicable regulations pertaining to tanning beds promulgated by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Consequently, Carter seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorney Christopher J. Leavitt of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston.
Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the litigation.
Case No. 13-CV-564
Galveston teen sustains burns from tanning bed, files lawsuit
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