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In a 9–0 decision, the court overturned an intermediate-level appeals court ruling that had shielded Amazon from negligence claims on the grounds that suicide constituted a "superseding cause" of death.
Washington State Supreme Court says Amazon must face lawsuits over Sodium Nitrite sales
UPDATED: Feb 20, 2026 06:18 IST
The Washington Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday that Amazon must defend itself against lawsuits brought by families whose relatives died by suicide after purchasing high-concentration sodium nitrite from third-party sellers on its platform.
In a 9–0 decision, the court overturned an intermediate-level appeals court ruling that had shielded Amazon from negligence claims on the grounds that suicide constituted a “superseding cause” of death. The justices rejected that reasoning, holding that a jury should determine whether the deaths were a foreseeable result of the company’s conduct.
Writing for the court, Justice G Helen Whitener said Amazon, as a retailer, owes customers a duty of reasonable care and must guard against “harm from the foreseeable conduct of a third party.” She said jurors must decide whether suicide was a foreseeable consequence of Amazon’s alleged failure to restrict access to highly concentrated sodium nitrite.
Twenty-eight families have filed lawsuits under Washington state product liability law, alleging that Amazon knew for years about links between sodium nitrite and suicides yet continued allowing unrestricted sales by outside vendors. They are seeking unspecified damages.
Thursday’s ruling addressed appeals involving four families whose relatives, aged 17 to 27, died in 2020 and 2021 after ingesting sodium nitrite with purity levels of 98% or 99.6%.
Sodium nitrite is a legal chemical commonly used as a preservative in meat and fish products. It also has legitimate applications in laboratories and in the treatment of cyanide poisoning. In concentrated form, however, it can be lethal if consumed.
Amazon said it disagrees with the decision but expressed sympathy for the affected families. The company said highly concentrated sodium nitrite “is not intended for direct consumption” and can be misused. It added that it now prohibits sales of sodium nitrite with purity levels exceeding 10% on its platform.
The ruling is among a growing number of cases nationwide seeking to hold online sales platforms liable for products sold by third-party vendors.
- Ends
With inputs from Reuters
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Feb 20, 2026
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