Florida nail salon pays $1.75 million to a woman whose leg was amputated after a pedicure caused a severe infection

• A Tampa nail salon paid a woman $1.75 million after an employee cut her foot during a pedicure. 
• She filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging that she suffered an infection, which led to an amputation. 
• Her lawyer told Insider the settlement will help cover her medical bills and ongoing care. 

A Florida nail salon has paid $1.75 million to a woman who sued the business after her foot was injured during a pedicure.

WFLA first reported on the incident, which occurred at Tammy’s Nails 2 in Tampa.

In an interview with The Tampa Bay Times Clara Shellman said that during a visit to the salon in 2018, an employee cut her foot during the treatment. A resulting infection was worsened by Shellman’s severe peripheral arterial disease, which reduces blood flow to the limbs. 

Shellman sued the salon, which is now closed, in May 2020, alleging that an employee used dirty tools and equipment that put customers at risk.

Her lawyer, Paul Fulmer, told Insider she eventually underwent a full leg amputation.

“Our client suffered an amputation as a result of a trip to a nail salon,” Fulmer said. “While no amount could fully compensate her for this life-altering injury, this deserved settlement will help her cover the high cost of her medical bills and her ongoing care.”

Shellman’s amputation caused years of hardship, including the loss of her home and the ability to walk.

On December 16, she finally reached an agreement with the salon for the $1.75 million settlement. “She was stunned, shocked, crying, and giddy all at the same time,” Fulmer told The Tampa Bay Times.

The infection brought years of hardship, including the loss of her home and ability to walk. Shellman subsequently became dependent on others and now lives with relatives, Fulmer added.

Shellman could not be reached by Insider for comment.

In another recent settlement, Walmart was ordered to pay $10 million to a woman who said she stepped on a rusty nail while shopping and lost part of her leg. Walmart said that it did not believe the injuries resulted from the in-store incident.