A Florida woman with a long criminal history will be receiving a $1.75 million payout after she lost her leg from a blood infection sh...
A Florida woman with a long criminal history will be receiving a $1.75 million payout after she lost her leg from a blood infection she claims was caused by an unsanitary pedicure.
Clara Shellman, 55, went to Tammy's Nails 2 in Tampa to get a pedicure in September 2018.
During the pedicure, an employee cut Shellman's foot with dirty tools, which caused an infection, the lawsuit claims. The infection was exasperated by Shellman's severe peripheral arterial disease and eventually lead to the lower part of her leg being amputated.
Shellman and the salon reached a $1.75 million settlement on December 16, her attorney Paul Fulmer told the Tamps Bay Times.
Clara Shellman, 55, will be receiving a $1.75 million payout from a Florida nail salon that gave her a 'dirty' pedicure which led to her foot being amputated
The lawsuit claims an employee at Tammy's Nails 2 cut Shellman's foot during a pedicure in 2018. The cut quickly became infected and eventually led to the amputation
Shellman's lawyer said the medical bills from the infection and amputation caused her to lose her house. She has since moved in with relatives who help care for her
'She was stunned, shocked, crying and giddy, all at the same time,' Fulmer said.
The mother of three filed the lawsuit against Tammy's Nails 2 in May 2020. It did not name any individuals.
Shellman's infection and amputation led to her losing her home due to overwhelming medical expenses, caused her to move in with relatives because she was unable to care for herself and will impact her for the rest of her life, her attorney said.
Before her pedicure from hell, Shellman racked up a lengthy rap sheet. Records show she has 52 criminal filings including arrests for theft, drug possession and violating probation.
The lawsuit claimed a salon employee used dirty equipment which posed a danger to the customers. It also alleged the salon failed to follow its own policies, train its employees and properly maintain equipment.
'When she patronized this salon, Ms. Shellman had a reasonable expectation that the professionals working there would keep their tools clean to protect her health and safety,' Fulmer said, according to WFLA.
'While no amount of money can truly make up for such a life-altering injury, I'm happy that this settlement will compensate her for a world of pain and suffering that wasn't her fault.'
Tammy's Nails 2 initially responded by claiming that Shellman was at fault for not seeking medical care immediately or taking 'reasonable efforts to prevent the development of infection.'
They also denied that the tools that were used for Shellman's pedicure were dirty.
Fulmer said that while he strongly believes his client was entitled to the settlement he did not expect the salon to payout the $1.75 million because of Shellman's pre-existing condition.
Peripheral arterial disease is a circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs. People who suffer from the disease are more susceptible to suffer more intense injuries and are more likely to needing amputation.
'There could have been a very strong argument from the defense with this,' Fulmer said. 'We would have been happy with at least half what we received.'
The lawsuits list Tammy's Nails 2's address as 2507 W Hillsborough Ave, the same location that now operates as Tampa Nails, which claims to have no affiliation with Tammy's Nails 2
Tammy's Nails 2 was reportedly located at 2507 W Hillsborough Ave before the lawsuit. No salons in Tamps appear to currently be operating under the name.
Tampa Nails, which is currently located at 2507 W Hillsborough Ave, told DailyMail.com that they are unaffiliated with Tammy's Nails 2 and have been operating at the address 'forever.'
Florida Department of State records show that Tampa Nails filed their business records listing Hillsborough Ave as the principal address on December 8.
Court and state records list two neighboring residential addresses in Tampa for Tammy's Nails 2. Lam Vuu is named as the registered agent of Tammy's Nails 2 and is listed as living at one of the addresses.
Vuu previously owned another salon in the area named Hair and Nail Art. She could not be reached at a phone number listed for Vuu.
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