A 34-year-old Ypsilanti woman is suing a nail salon in Ann Arbor's Briarwood Mall, alleging a manicure led to an infection.

Melissa Farrell filed a lawsuit March 5 in the Washtenaw County Trial Court against Foxy Nails, located in the mall 222 Briarwood Circle in Ann Arbor, claiming she suffered "severe and permanent injuries" due to "the employee's active negligence in performing a ... careless manicure," the suit says.

Farrell's Farmington Hills-based attorney, Brian Fantich, said she developed cellulitis on a finger that required hospitalization and ultimately a surgery due to the salon's unsterilized equipment.

Foxy Nails' owner, Mimi Tran, said she was surprised to hear about the lawsuit, considering Farrell used to be a "regular" and didn't complain for weeks after the manicure. In fact, she tipped the salon worker $15 the day of the alleged incident, Feb. 21, 2014, Tran said.

About six days later, however, Farrell's finger became infected, landing her in the hospital for four days, Fantich said. He said they've been negotiating with the salon for nearly a year about the issue.

"We've tried multiple times to resolve it," he added.

The condition caused severe nerve damage, loss of function of gross motor skills and severe shock, the suit continues.

Farrell is seeking damages exceeding $25,000, the minimum amount for the case to be filed in circuit court.

Tran said all her workers are licensed and her equipment is clean. She plans to fight the lawsuit.

"It's really strange. I don't know what she wants from us. We didn't do anything wrong," Tran said. "I wish I could have communication with her."

The salon has yet to be officially served with the lawsuit, so no court dates have yet been set.

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.