Amazon lawsuit claims retailer sells chemical used in suicides

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Amazon suicide class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: A federal judge in Washington state ruled Amazon.com must face claims from the families of Tyler Muhleman and Mikael Scott. 
• Why: The Muhleman and Scott families claim Amazon sold the two men sodium nitrite powder that they ingested, causing them to die by suicide. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit is filed in the Superior Court of the State of Washington. 

A federal judge in Washington state denied a motion filed by Amazon.com to dismiss claims brought against it by the families of two men who died by suicide using chemicals marketed and sold by the company. 

The families of 17-year-old Tyler Muhleman and 27-year-old Mikael Scott claim Amazon sold the two men sodium nitrite powder that they argue was later ingested by them and led to their deaths, the Amazon class action states.

Sodium nitrite powder, which allegedly has been banned or had its online sales regulated in other countries, sold by Amazon can be mixed with water and cause a human death within minutes, reportedly according to the Amazon suicide class action. 

The families argue in an amended complaint that Amazon owns HIMedia sodium nitrite inventory wholesale, ultimately making it responsible for both its marketing and shipment. 

Company continues to sell sodium nitrite powder despite hearing from families of suicide victims, Amazon class action claims 

Amazon is accused of continuing to sell the sodium nitrite powder despite having heard from the families of individuals who have purchased and used the product to die by suicide. 

Further, the families of Muhleman and Scott claim Amazon enables suicide deaths by recommending, among other things, the sodium nitrite powder product and an acid reduction medicine endorsed by suicide forums as a good way to prevent vomiting, the Amazon suicide class action claims. 

For suicide help, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-8255 or visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Amazon was in the news for a number of a number of recalls and class action lawsuits last year, including claims related to its handling of biometric data, the price of its Amazon Prime membership, issues with product defects and the way it classified its employees.

Have you been concerned with a product you saw for sale on Amazon? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Carrie Goldberg and Naomi Leeds of C.A. Goldberg PLLC and Scott David Smith and Francisco Duarte of Fury Duarte PS.

The Amazon suicide class action lawsuit is Scott, et al. v. Amazon.com Inc., Case No. 22-2-01739-2 SEA, in the Superior Court of the State of Washington. 

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