Fighting for Justice

Tue, Oct. 24, 2006

Woman files suit over hair loss

Seeks $12 million in damages from Procter & Gamble

BY ALAN RIQUELMY

Staff Writer

A Columbus woman filed a $12 million civil suit against Procter & Gamble on Monday alleging a hair dye made her permanently lose all her hair.

Attorney David Ross filed the suit on behalf of Mary Alice Mack, who applied a Clairol "Nice 'n Easy" natural black hair dye around Dec. 28. What followed, the suit claims, were chemical burns to Mack's scalp, her hair falling out in large clumps and hair loss that has continued after 10 months.

"People expect the products they buy to be safe, and they should be entitled to that assumption," said Ross, a Columbus attorney with Berry, Shelnutt, Day & Hoffman. A Procter & Gamble representative referred questions to another department, which couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Mack is seeking $12 million in compensatory damages and an unspecified amount in punitive damages.