On February 19, 2026, the Washington Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Scott v. Amazon.com, Inc., reinstating negligence claims brought by the families of four young people who died after ingesting high‑purity sodium nitrite purchased through Amazon’s online marketplace.
Background: A Dangerous Product and Foreseeable Misuse
The plaintiffs alleged that Amazon sold industrial‑grade sodium nitrite—98–99.6% pure and lethal in small quantities—without restrictions, age verification, or adequate warnings. Although sodium nitrite can be used legitimately in laboratory and commercial settings, the product at issue had no household purpose and had increasingly been used nationwide as a means of self‑harm.
The Court Rejects the “Suicide as a Superseding Cause” Rule
The court rejected Amazon’s argument that suicide is always a superseding cause as a matter of law. It held that suicide is not automatically a superseding cause under the Washington Product Liability Act and that plaintiffs adequately alleged Amazon’s conduct could have proximately caused the deaths.
Implications for Online Marketplaces
The ruling signals that online marketplaces may have a duty to anticipate and mitigate foreseeable misuse of dangerous products and that algorithmic recommendations may constitute actionable conduct when they increase risks to vulnerable individuals.
KND Law will continue monitoring this case as it proceeds.