Kratom Lawsuit
The number of kratom lawsuits is rising as more people say they were never warned about the drug’s real dangers. Families and injured people who have used kratom are now turning to the courts, claiming unsafe products and misleading marketing led to serious harm.
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Why People Are Filing Kratom Lawsuits?
People are filing kratom lawsuits because they claim manufacturers and sellers failed to warn about serious risks. These claims follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings about the herbal extract, including addiction, overdose and death. Families also claim the products were deceptively marketed as natural, safe or therapeutic, sometimes in highly concentrated or contaminated forms that increased the danger.
Key Allegations in Kratom Lawsuits
Kratom lawsuits typically claim that manufacturers, distributors and retailers sold a dangerous product without providing adequate warnings or instructions for safe use.
- Misrepresented kratom as safe
- Failed to inform people who have used kratom of its risks
- Manufacturers knew or should have known that kratom could harm consumers
Kratom lawsuits may also argue that after the FDA released safety communications about kratom, the companies ignored or downplayed those warnings. Allegedly, they continued aggressive marketing and widespread sales despite emerging medical evidence concerning kratom risks.
Injuries and Complications Named in Lawsuits
People filing kratom lawsuits report serious health problems linked to kratom use. A 2022 study in the journal Substance Use: Research and Treatment linked kratom use to several serious complications.
- Aphasia (language disorder)
- Brain hemorrhage
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Liver and kidney injury
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome (withdrawal due to exposure in the womb)
- Seizures
- Visual disturbances
Some lawsuits also mention withdrawal in newborns and multi-organ problems, especially with high doses of concentrated kratom extracts.
Do You Qualify for a Kratom Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file a kratom lawsuit if you suffered serious health problems after using kratom and a doctor links your injuries to the product. Lawsuits often claim that kratom was sold with poor warnings, misleading marketing or defects. To qualify, you usually need medical records and proof of product use.
Who May Be Eligible and What Lawyers Look For in a Kratom Case
You may qualify for a kratom lawsuit if you had serious health problems after using kratom, like liver injury, seizures, heart issues, severe withdrawal or substance use disorder.
You may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if you and your lawyer can link a loved one’s death to kratom usage.
Lawyers may look at different factors to determine if you want to file a lawsuit, depending on whether it involves your own injuries or if you are filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
- Individual Injury:
- You may qualify for a kratom lawsuit if you had serious health issues after using kratom, even if you used other substances, as long as a doctor links your injuries to kratom. Lawsuits often claim kratom was marketed as safe but failed to warn about real risks.
- Wrongful Death:
- Families may sue for wrongful death if a loved one died and records show kratom was involved. These cases often claim companies failed to warn about overdose, drug interactions or potent extracts. Some families have won large verdicts after proving kratom was marketed as safe despite known risks.
What Lawyers Look For in a Kratom Case
Before talking to a lawyer about a kratom lawsuit, you should gather as much proof as you can that kratom caused your injuries or a loved one’s death. This will help the attorney determine whether you have a case.
- Proof of kratom purchase or use (receipts, packaging, photos)
- Medical records showing diagnoses, hospitalizations or treatment
- Toxicology or medical examiner reports
- Doctors’ opinions linking kratom use to your injuries or your loved one’s death
- Labeling or materials showing marketing that downplayed risks or overstated benefits
If you can’t produce all the evidence, your lawyer may be able to help you get evidence, like a doctor’s opinion or medical records.
States With Restrictions or Bans
Kratom is not regulated at the federal level, and kratom laws are different in every state. At least 24 states have some form of kratom regulation.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indianapolis
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
At least six states — Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, as well as Washington, D.C. — have banned kratom or its main ingredients as controlled substances.
The other 18 states have rules about age, possession, sale or manufacture of kratom.
This patchwork of laws shows there are safety concerns and a need for better warnings and protections.
Wrongful Death Claims Involving Kratom
A kratom wrongful death lawsuit lets family members hold kratom companies responsible if their loved one died after using the product. Depending on state law, a spouse, child, parent or estate representative can file the claim. Families can seek damages for funeral and burial costs, final medical bills and lost income, as well as compensation for pain, suffering and loss of companionship.
Allegations in Recent Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Recent kratom lawsuits say companies sold a dangerous product and did not warn about serious safety risks. Families report that loved ones died after using kratom that was sold as a natural supplement without clear warnings about overdose, addiction or the risk of mixing it with alcohol or other drugs.
- Failure To Warn About Deadly Risks
- Lawsuits say kratom sellers failed to warn that high doses can be fatal and that labels lacked warnings or dosing advice.
- Misleading “All‑Natural” or “Safe” Marketing
- Lawsuits claim kratom was marketed as a safe, natural remedy without clear warnings about addiction, overdose or lack of FDA approval.
- Dangerous Formulations and Lack of Safeguards
- Lawsuits highlight strong kratom extracts, sold with little regulation or safety information. Complaints cite high-potency products with no dosing instructions or age limits, making overdoses more likely.
Wrongful Death vs. Personal Injury Kratom Lawsuits
Wrongful death and personal injury kratom lawsuits often make similar claims — such as failing to warn about overdose risks or marketing kratom as a “safe” natural product. The difference is who was harmed and what families can recover.
Wrongful death cases are filed by surviving family members when a loved one dies and can include funeral costs and loss of companionship.
Personal injury cases are filed by people who were seriously hurt and want compensation for medical bills, lost wages and suffering.
Kratom Litigation Updates and Key Case Developments
Kratom lawsuits are increasing across the country. Families are filing new wrongful death and injury cases, and courts have started to issue major verdicts. Federal agencies are also looking more closely at kratom, which could change how these products are sold in the U.S.
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December 2025:
Attorneys around the United States are accepting kratom lawsuits. The litigation is in the early stages and varies across states because different laws apply based on where the people file lawsuits.
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July 2023:
Two separate kratom lawsuits result in a total of $13.5 million for three families in Florida and Washington.
Latest Lawsuit Filings
Dozens of new lawsuits claim kratom companies sold dangerous products without proper warnings. Many cases involve strong kratom extracts or powders like “space dust” bought online or at stores.
Labels often did not warn about overdose, addiction or mixing risks. Lawyers expect more lawsuits as families link sudden deaths or collapses to kratom use found in medical records.
Verdicts and Settlements
Courts have started to award large sums in kratom wrongful death cases. This means more legal risk for companies that make or sell kratom.
- In July 2023, a Florida family won an $11 million judgment after Krystal Talavera died from taking too much mitragynine. This active ingredient is linked to the "Space Dust" kratom product she ingested.
- Earlier that same month, a Washington state jury previously awarded $2.5 million to the family of Patrick Coyne, who died of what the county coroner called the toxic effects of kratom in 2020.
State or Federal Regulatory Actions
The FDA has not approved kratom as a medicine, dietary supplement or food additive, and no legal drug products in the U.S. are allowed to contain it. Because there isn’t enough scientific evidence to show kratom is safe, the FDA warns that it may cause serious health problems, including liver damage, seizures and addiction.
While the FDA cannot fully regulate kratom like an approved drug, it can take action against companies that sell illegal products or make false health claims. The agency also works with other federal partners to limit unlawful sales and warn the public about the risks.
States are also making new rules, with some banning kratom and others setting their own laws. This makes the legal situation more complicated.
Recall Announcements or FDA Alerts
Regulators have warned about contamination and other dangers in kratom products sold in the U.S.
The FDA has reported salmonella outbreaks, heavy metals and serious health problems, including at least one death from a liquid kratom product. The FDA says its warnings support claims that kratom products are not always safe and push companies to improve testing, labeling and recalls.
Who Is Potentially Liable?
Kratom lawsuits claim that companies selling the product can be held responsible if they sell unsafe or mislabeled kratom without proper warnings. This includes manufacturers, distributors, retailers, gas stations, convenience stores and online sellers.
- Manufacturers:
- Kratom manufacturers can be sued if their products are unsafe, contaminated, too potent or lack warnings about addiction or overdose. Lawsuits may also result from marketing kratom as 'natural' or 'safe' while downplaying risks or skipping required safety checks.
- Distributors and Retailers:
- Distributors and retailers can be sued for selling unsafe or mislabeled kratom, ignoring FDA warnings or using misleading labels. They may share blame if someone is harmed after using their products.
- Gas Stations and Convenience Stores:
- Gas stations and convenience stores may face lawsuits for selling kratom products without age checks or proper warnings, making it easy for customers to miss risks and get hurt.
- Online Sellers:
- Online sellers may be sued for advertising kratom nationwide, shipping to restricted states or promoting unproven health claims. Failing to warn customers about risks or marketing kratom as a 'legal' opioid alternative increases their legal risk.
What Compensation May Be Available?
If a kratom product hurt you or a loved one, you may be able to file a kratom lawsuit to get compensation. Courts can award money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering or for families who lost a loved one.
- Economic Damages:
- These pay for the actual financial losses caused by kratom injuries. This includes hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages from missing work and any future care you might need. Courts award these damages so people do not have to pay out of pocket for harm caused by unsafe products.
- Non-Economic Damages:
- These pay for losses that are not as easy to measure, like ongoing pain, emotional distress, lower quality of life and losing the ability to enjoy daily activities. They help recognize the serious personal impact of injuries that change your everyday life.
- Wrongful Death Damages:
- These damages help families after losing a loved one. They can pay for funeral and burial costs, replace lost financial support and household income, and cover emotional losses like grief, loss of companionship and the pain and suffering the family goes through after the tragedy.
How To File a Kratom Lawsuit
If you think kratom caused an injury or addiction, begin by documenting your experience and reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible.
- See a doctor and ask for detailed records of your diagnosis and treatment.
- Save any packaging, receipts and product labels as proof of your kratom use.
- Record symptoms, side effects and costs related to your condition.
- Contact a lawyer who has experience with product liability and kratom cases to talk about your legal options.
An attorney can help you find out if you qualify to join an existing lawsuit or file your own claim.
How Drugwatch Can Help
Drugwatch can connect you with attorneys who handle cases involving unsafe or mislabeled products like kratom. Our team offers free case reviews to explain your rights, help you build a timeline of your kratom use and see if you have a claim against a manufacturer or distributor.
There is no obligation to file a lawsuit after taking the free case review, and you only pay if you win your case.
Drugwatch also keeps up with FDA actions, wrongful death lawsuits and other important updates so you know how these changes might affect your case. With Drugwatch’s help, you can take the first step toward justice and find out what compensation may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kratom Lawsuits
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