SEATTLE — Amazon lost its bid to get a lawsuit accusing the company of causing a Washington teenager's suicide thrown out.
King County Superior Court Judge Nicole Phelps ruled the case will move forward.
Amazon has appealed the decision, but the court hasn't decided if it will consider the appeal.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of Tyler Schmidt, who died by suicide three-and-a-half years ago at the age of 15. The high school sophomore created an Amazon account, bought a lethal chemical called sodium nitrite from the online retail giant and took his own life.
“Everything was locked up," said his mother, Michelle Stickley. "Our medications were locked up, I checked on him before he went to bed. I checked on him in the middle of the night. Everything that I could think of."
"But nobody said, Did you check his Amazon?”
Amazon has been working to quash the lawsuit filed by the family last year that blames the company for Tyler's death. The lawsuit alleges that, despite Amazon knowing sodium nitrite was being purchased for the purpose of suicide, the company continued selling it anyway.
Sodium nitrite is a common meat preservative when used at a strength of 6%. Court records show between 2018 and 2022 several young people bought the chemical compound at 99% strength on Amazon, then used it to end their lives. There’s no known household use for sodium nitrite at 99%. It is used in research and hospital settings.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment from KING 5 on June 13. During previous hearings, the company has argued it's not to blame for the suicides. Instead, the company previously argued it's the responsibility of the people who bought and misused the product.
“It’s very much a relief that it went our way, but I can’t live in that space. I have to keep figuring out how to get out of bed," said Stickley.
"Yes, we got a win right now and we’re grateful for that win, but we gotta keep going.”
Tyler's family is one of about a dozen suing Amazon over the sale of sodium nitrite. The plaintiffs argue the company was exceptionally negligent for selling veritable suicide kits. When a person purchased sodium nitrite, the site would also suggest other products bought together, such as "The Peaceful Pill Handbook," a book on how to carry out suicide.
“Our babies were important to us," said Stickley. "But the money was more important to them. I don’t understand what business model you’re working from,” she said of the company.
The ruling comes at an especially tough time for Tyler's family. June 15 marks what would have been his 19th birthday. It's another birthday the family doesn't get to celebrate, but they'll never forget Tyler's smile, curiosity and love of art.
For the first time, his art is something the public can also enjoy. It is now displayed at a gallery in Vancouver.
"He would have been so proud to hold this space," Stickley said. "It was time to share it."
"I'm ready to share him. I'm ready to share his story," she continued.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit Vibrant Emotional Health’s Safe Space for digital resources.
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