WA Supreme Court Rules Lawsuit Against Amazon 'Suicide Kits' Can Proceed

Families of victims who died by suicide from consuming sodium nitrite sold on Amazon can now take their case to trial.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that lawsuits related to the sale of concentrated sodium nitrite, referred to as 'suicide kits', on Amazon's e-commerce platform can move forward. At least 10 lawsuits have been filed against Amazon since 2022 by families whose relatives died by suicide after consuming the chemical purchased on the site. The court reversed a lower court's dismissal of one of the cases, stating that Amazon has a 'legal duty to exercise reasonable care' in selling products that could foreseeably lead to harm.

Why it matters

This ruling opens the door for more lawsuits against Amazon over its sale of potentially dangerous products that have been linked to suicide deaths. It raises questions about the responsibility of e-commerce platforms in policing the sale of items that could be misused, as well as the role of algorithms in potentially promoting or recommending such products.

The details

The Washington Supreme Court unanimously ruled that negligence claims against Amazon can proceed, rejecting the company's argument that the deaths were caused by suicide and therefore not its responsibility. The court said the plaintiffs' allegations that Amazon failed to exercise reasonable care in selling sodium nitrite were sufficient to warrant a jury trial. In 2022, Amazon restricted the sale of high-concentration sodium nitrite to business customers, and as of November 2022, prohibited the sale of the chemical in concentrations greater than 10%.

  • In 2022, at least 10 lawsuits were filed against Amazon over the sale of concentrated sodium nitrite.
  • In 2022, Amazon restricted the sale of high-concentration sodium nitrite to Amazon Business buyers.
  • As of November 2022, Amazon prohibited the sale of sodium nitrite in concentrations greater than 10%.

The players

Amazon

The Seattle-based online retail giant that has faced lawsuits over the sale of concentrated sodium nitrite on its platform.

Washington Supreme Court

The state's highest court that unanimously ruled the lawsuits against Amazon can proceed.

Tyler

A 15-year-old from Camas, Washington who died in 2020 after ingesting sodium nitrite, leading to the passage of 'Tyler's Law' that limits the sale of high-concentration sodium nitrite to verified commercial businesses.

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What they’re saying

“I see no difference between marketing these products together online from putting sodium nitrite, antinausea drugs, scales and the suicide manual together on the shelf. If the plaintiffs can prove what they have pleaded, a rational trier of fact could find this was not merely negligent but reckless or intentional.”

— Steven González, Chief Justice, Washington Supreme Court (Seattle Times)

“Regulation is to prevent similar conduct in the future. Litigation is the tool to hold (companies) responsible for prior harms.”

— Lawyers representing the families (Seattle Times)

What’s next

The initial lawsuit will now proceed to trial in King County Superior Court, where a jury will determine if Amazon is liable for the deaths caused by the sale of concentrated sodium nitrite on its platform.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding e-commerce platforms' responsibility for the sale of potentially dangerous products that can be misused, as well as the role of algorithms in promoting or recommending such items. It underscores the need for greater regulation and oversight to protect consumer safety.