Second Oregon Woman Sues Nail Salon Over Genital Herpes Infection

Portland Nail Salon Hit With Second Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Over Herpes Infections

A second customer has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against a Portland nail salon, alleging she contracted genital herpes during an acrylic manicure appointment, according to court documents cited by The Oregonian.

The 31-year-old woman, identified in court records as J.S., stated that the technician failed to wear gloves while performing her nails and during a subsequent hand massage using lotion or oil. The appointment took place in August 2025 at PDX Nails, located near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Glisan Street, roughly a month after the salon settled a previous, similar lawsuit involving another customer. J.S. had not treated herself to a manicure in three or four years.

It’s quite embarrassing, J.S. told the local publication. I just went to get my nails done.

The day after her visit, J.S. experienced an unusual burning and stinging sensation on the side of her hand and pinky. Within 24 hours, an itchy, fluid-filled blister formed and lingered for days. When she showed acquaintances the affected area, they asked where she had received the service. After she named the salon, they informed her about the prior legal action. You’ve got to be kidding me, she recalled thinking.

J.S. asserts in the suit that she had no prior exposure to the virus before her appointment. She continues to experience outbreaks despite taking antiviral medications to manage the incurable condition. As a mother, she expressed constant anxiety about passing the virus through touch, noting she has worn gloves while changing her baby’s diaper.

State Oversight and Prior Violations at PDX Nails

The new complaint also targets the Oregon Health Authority and the state’s Health Licensing Office, accusing officials of incompetence for failing to revoke the salon’s cosmetology license or take preventative action following the first reported infection. State records show that PDX Nails operates two Portland locations. In 2021, the Board of Cosmetology fined one of the shops $500 for failing to disinfect used tools that make direct contact with clients. Inspectors also discovered used drilling bits on a workstation and issued an additional $500 fine for improper cleaning of foot spa equipment. State officials confirmed that PDX Nails has not received any fines or violations since 2021.

The current $2.5 million filing follows a $1.75 million lawsuit brought against the salon in 2024 by a then-23-year-old woman identified in court papers as S.R., who contracted herpetic whitlow after an acrylic manicure in June 2023. S.R. settled that claim for an undisclosed amount in July 2025, just one month before J.S. booked her appointment. Court filings for S.R. alleged that her technician did not wear gloves and stored manicure drill bits inside an Altoids mint tin. Representatives for PDX Nails declined to comment on the allegations when contacted, and the Oregon Health Authority did not immediately respond.