PITTSBURGH,None — A North Fayette woman diagnosed with malignant melanoma has sued a Shadyside tanning salon claiming the business failed to warn her of the risks of using tanning beds.
Kristin Powell, 29, filed the lawsuit Monday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against Hollywood Tans, located on Ellsworth Avenue, and its parent company, SK Tans Inc. of Wallingford in Delaware County.
Powell claims that she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2009. According to the lawsuit, her dermatologist attributed the melanoma to her exposure to UV rays from her years of tanning bed use.
Powell has melanoma on her breast, left leg and trunk area, according to the lawsuit.
A woman answering the phone at Hollywood Tans referred calls to a manager. The manager could not be reached for comment.
"They failed to warn her of the risk of melanoma," her attorney Harry Paras said. "In fact, they tried to promote it as a healthy lifestyle."
Powell started using tanning beds in 1998 when she was 16. She used the tanning beds at Hollywood Tans from 2005 until 2009, according to the lawsuit.
"There is no such thing as a safe tan from a tanning bed," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit goes on to say that, "Hollywood Tans exaggerated and distorted the benefits of indoor tanning and failed to provide the proper health warning about UV rays."
Powell is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
Read more on the story from Channel 11's partners at The Tribune-Review.
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