Kratom Industry Faces Surge of Wrongful Death Lawsuits as Courts Award Millions

Why it matters

A wave of product liability and wrongful death litigation is accelerating against kratom manufacturers, distributors, and retailers — with multimillion-dollar verdicts signaling that courts are increasingly willing to impose major liability on the entire kratom supply chain.

The big picture

As federal and state regulators intensify pressure on kratom — including the FDA's 2025 recommendation to schedule 7-OH — private plaintiffs are simultaneously filing lawsuits across a dozen states. The combined regulatory and litigation pressure represents an existential threat for many kratom businesses. Courts have already shown they will hold the industry accountable.

Key findings

• A $2.5 million jury verdict was awarded in Washington state (Coyne v. Chin 2 Corp.) and an $11 million default judgment in Florida
• Lawsuits span at least 11 states including WA, GA, FL, NY, PA, TX, CA, OH, CO, CT, and NM
• Claims include strict products liability, negligence, failure to warn, wrongful death, fraud, and breach of warranty
• FDA has rejected all six New Drug Applications submitted for kratom products
• FDA's July 2025 action recommending 7-OH scheduling is being cited as evidence of known risk in litigation

What they say

According to the Mayer Brown analysis: "Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors of kratom and 7-OH products face material risk from both private plaintiff litigation and FDA enforcement... Companies should immediately evaluate their product labeling, marketing claims, corporate structures, and import documentation."

Bottom line

Kratom manufacturers and distributors face rapidly accelerating multimillion-dollar litigation alongside intensifying regulatory pressure — a combination that could fundamentally reshape the U.S. kratom market.