SGB attorney Kaitlin Cherf was recently featured in Law360 discussing a landmark Washington Supreme Court ruling that allows families to move forward with civil claims against Amazon over the promotion and sale of high-concentration sodium nitrite used in youth suicides.

In her comments, Kaitlin explains how the decision reflects an evolving understanding of suicide and mental health, rejecting outdated legal doctrines that once treated suicide as a voluntary act that automatically cut off tort liability. The ruling recognizes the realities of vulnerable young people online and the role powerful platforms play in shaping their choices.

This decision is an important step toward holding e-commerce giants to the same basic safety obligations as brick-and-mortar sellers and ensuring that vulnerable users are not left without recourse when platforms ignore clear warning signs. Families harmed by dangerous products sold and promoted online deserve meaningful access to the justice system and a chance to be heard.

Kaitlin represents the family of 15-year-old Tyler Schmidt, whose death helped inspire “Tyler’s Law,” Washington legislation limiting access to high-concentration sodium nitrite and better protecting youth from this lethal chemical.

Read Kaitlin’s full comments in Law360.