Alton nail salon and owner deny liability in suit alleging customer developed staph infection

An Alton nail salon and its owner accuse the plaintiff of failing to exercise ordinary care for her own safety in a lawsuit alleging a Jersey County woman contracted staph infection following a pedicure.

Cynthia Long filed her lawsuit on Feb. 12 against TD Nail Spa LLC and Oanh Nguyen. She claims she was a customer of the salon, located at 1837 E. Homer M. Adams Parkway, on April 20, 2013.

While there, Long alleges she was getting a pedicure when an employee placed a raw salt compound on her lower right leg, causing irritation to her skin. She claims that she developed a staph infection later as a result of the treatment.

Long alleges she sustained permanent disfigurement, lost wages, past and future pain and suffering, incurred medical bills and cannot earn as much income as she could if she had not been injured.

Long accuses TD nail Spa of failing to exercise reasonable care by sanitizing its instruments. She also alleges the employee applied the treatment improperly and did not perform services in compliance with industry standards and policies.

The defendants denied the allegations in their March 17 answer, arguing the plaintiff failed to mitigate her damages and exercise ordinary care for her own safety.

Long denied the allegations in the affirmative defenses in her March 19 response through attorney Michael P. Glisson of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson in Alton.

Long seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney’s fees and costs.

Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder presides over the case.

John C. Webster of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson in Alton represents the plaintiff.

Nicole L. Winters of the Law Offices of Stephen H. Larson in St. Louis represents the defendants.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-171