Portland Nail Salon Faces Second Herpes Lawsuit

A Portland, Oregon, nail salon is facing a second lawsuit alleging it infected a customer with genital herpes during a manicure, with the latest plaintiff seeking $2.5 million in damages. The 31-year-old woman claims she contracted the incurable virus approximately two years after another customer filed a similar suit.

The woman, identified in court documents as J.S., stated she was unaware of the previous legal action when she visited PDX Nails in August 2025 for what she intended as a self-care treat. According to her lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, a technician worked without gloves and massaged her hands with lotion or oil. The following day, she experienced a burning sensation, followed within 24 hours by an itchy, fluid-filled blister on her hand.

J.S. alleges she had no prior exposure to the herpes virus and has since suffered recurrent outbreaks despite antiviral medication. Her lawsuit contends that the salon either failed to adequately disinfect manicure equipment or allowed an employee with the virus to continue working with clients. These allegations have not yet been proven in court.

The circumstances echo those of a previous case. In June 2023, a then-23-year-old woman, identified as S.R., also visited PDX Nails and subsequently developed swelling and inflammation in her fingers. Within four days, painful blisters erupted, and medical tests confirmed herpetic whitlow, a finger infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. S.R.'s lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged that her technician did not wear gloves and stored manicure drill bits improperly.

S.R.'s case, which alleged recurring outbreaks causing significant pain and embarrassment, was settled in July 2025 for an undisclosed amount, with no admission of liability. Her attorney, Amity Girt, who also represents J.S., described the emergence of two such cases within a two-year period as "shocking."

PDX Nails has faced scrutiny for its hygiene practices prior to these lawsuits. In 2021, one of the salon's two Portland locations was fined $500 for improperly disinfected tools and another $500 for failing to adequately clean foot spa equipment. State officials have not recorded further violations or fines against the business since those penalties.

Herpes transmission through manicures is considered rare, though the virus can affect fingers. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 13 percent of the global population aged 15 to 49 carries HSV-2. While there is no cure, antiviral drugs can help manage outbreaks.