Jenny Howell Prevails Against Regal Nails for a $2M Judgment in the Howell vs Regal Nails Law Suit The superficial nerve fibers on Howell’s feet were so damaged in a pedicure at a Regal Nails salon. A spinal stimulator had to be surgically implanted to enable her to walk. The damage is permanent and affects every aspect of her life. 13 September, 2013, Pensacola, Florida -- A verdict against Regal Nails, Baton Rouge, LA, and nail technician Lilly Le, Regal Nails, Pace, FL, resulted in a 2 million dollar judgment in favor of the plaintiff. Jenny Howell, Pensacola, FL, represented by Dan Stewart, Stewart Law Firm, LLC, Pensacola, FL, was determined to have been permanently injured by the inappropriate use of a callous remover. Regal Nails is the largest chain of nail salons in the United States with over 1000 nail salons principally located in Wal-Marts. Podiatrist Robert Spalding, Chattanooga, TN, and industry consultant and educator Janet McCormick, Frostproof, FL, co-owners of Medinail Learning Centers (medinail ), testified as industry experts on behalf of Howell. Dr. Spalding, author of the book Death by Pedicure stated in an earlier deposition that a caustic active ingredient in the liquid callous remover was not listed on the bottle label; he also said that instructions for that product called for only a 45 second application time. McCormick described the use of callus removers and the importance for nail technicians to follow instructions. Nail Technician Lilly Le, aka “Helen,” applied and left the product on Howell’s feet for almost 40 minutes resulting in extremely painful and widespread blister formation and damage. The product also caused burns on Howell’s arms from back-splash. Initially, Regal Nails denied that the product or application time was the cause of the injury but later conceded that it was. Dr. Spalding, who appeared with Jenney Howell on the Anderson Cooper Live TV show in February, 2013, says “the superficial nerves in her feet were so damaged that a spinal stimulator had to be surgically implanted to enable her to partially ambulate and accomplish minimal weight bearing tasks.” Neurologists testifying for both plaintiff and defendants acknowledged that Howell has damage on her feet caused by the service by Lilly Le and that it causes ongoing pain and permanently and dramatically diminishes her capabilities to ambulate. Van Lan, General Council of Regal Nails, testified in a deposition that the franchise does not regulate the individual salons. However, their website and an unedited statement in Dr. Spalding’s book by Charlie Ton, the previous CEO of Regal Nails, claims they do. In reviewing nail salons since 1998, Dr. Spalding says that he has found the language barrier to be a major problem in many nail salons. “Many technicians are unable to communicate with the client or to understand client questions and requests” says Dr. Spalding. In this case, Jenney Howell’s skin was stinging and she asked Lily Le several times to remove the product. The nail tech did not understand her and did not remove the product for an estimated 40 minutes. The result was permanent damage to Howell’s feet.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 21:16:30 +0000
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