The Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Amazon must face lawsuits filed by families who say the company failed to prevent harm from the sale of sodium nitrite on its website.
In a unanimous decision, the court said the families can move forward with negligence claims under Washington's product liability law, Reuters reported.
The ruling overturns a lower court decision that had dismissed the cases, saying suicide was a "superseding cause" of death and shielded Amazon from responsibility.
The lawsuits were filed by four families whose loved ones died after consuming sodium nitrite purchased through Amazon's platform.
Sodium nitrite is commonly used in small amounts to preserve meat and for metal refinishing. However, the families say their relatives bought versions that were 98% pure or higher.
According to the complaint, Amazon promoted sodium nitrite alongside other products that could assist in suicide.
The families also allege the company failed to clearly display warning labels and continued selling high-concentration products despite knowing the risks.
"Big Tech companies must be held accountable when their platforms facilitate predictable and preventable harm," said Naomi Leeds, a lead partner at C.A. Goldberg, the law firm representing the families.
The firm says it represents 28 families overall in similar cases tied to sodium nitrite purchased on Amazon.
The Washington Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Amazon must face lawsuits from families of people who died after consuming sodium nitrite bought via its platform.https://t.co/bPNNuqctpL
— Abogado.com.ph (@Abogado_PH) February 20, 2026
Court Says Amazon's Duty Remains
In its ruling, the justices wrote that Amazon's "argument that plaintiffs may have misused the product does not eliminate Amazon's duty."
That statement signals the court believes companies may still have responsibilities even if a product is misused.
The case focuses on two sodium nitrite products made by Loudwolf and HiMedia, according to court records.
In a statement to CBS News, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is committed to providing a "safe shopping experience" and requires sellers to follow all laws. The spokesperson added, "High-concentration sodium nitrite is not intended for direct consumption, and unfortunately, like many products, it can be misused."
According to CBS News, Amazon said it began banning the sale of sodium nitrite in concentrations greater than 10% in November of last year.
Carrie Goldberg, the lead attorney in the case, has previously said Amazon knew "as early as 2018" that minors were purchasing sodium nitrite on its site.
She also claimed that online forums discussing suicide methods referred to Amazon as "the jungle" as a place to buy the chemical.
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