Second Lawsuit Alleges Portland Nail Salon Spread Herpes Despite Prior Sanitation Failures
A lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Court alleges that PDX Nails in Portland transmitted herpes to a customer during an August 2025 acrylic nail appointment. The suit seeks $2.5 million in damages and names the salon and state health regulators, citing a 2021 investigation that found the business failed to disinfect tools. This is the second similar case against the salon in two years, following a 2023 incident that resulted in a confidential settlement.
Key points
- A 31-year-old woman claims she contracted herpes simplex virus 2 after a manicure at PDX Nails on Northeast Glisan Street in August 2025.
- The lawsuit alleges the salon employee did not wear gloves and used unsterilized drill bits, leading to an infection confirmed by medical tests in September 2025.
- Attorney Amity Girt filed the suit for $2.5 million, naming PDX Nails LLC, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Health Licensing Office.
- The suit claims state regulators failed to suspend the salon’s license after a similar infection was reported in 2023.
- A 2021 state investigation had already found PDX Nails failed to properly disinfect tools and clean foot spas.
- The previous lawsuit, filed in 2024 for nearly $2 million, was dismissed in 2025 after a confidential settlement.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of regulatory and legal issues involving PDX Nails. In 2021, state inspectors identified sanitation violations, including the failure to disinfect drill bits. A similar lawsuit was filed in 2024 regarding a 2023 infection, which was resolved through a confidential settlement in 2025. The current case highlights ongoing concerns about the enforcement of health licensing standards for personal care businesses in Oregon.
Why it matters
The case underscores potential gaps in state oversight of personal care facilities. By suing the Oregon Health Authority alongside the salon, the plaintiff argues that regulators failed to protect the public by allowing a business with a documented history of sanitation violations to continue operating. The outcome may influence how strictly health licensing offices enforce compliance and respond to reported infections in the beauty industry.
What to watch
The case will proceed through Multnomah County Court. The Oregon Health Authority has declined to comment on the pending litigation, and PDX Nails has not issued a public statement. The court will determine liability for the alleged transmission of the virus and the adequacy of state regulatory responses.
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