Recent Million-Dollar Kratom Verdicts. Recent court awards, including an $11 million Florida verdict and $2.5 million Washington State case, show that kratom manufacturers can be held liable for deaths and serious injuries.
FDA’s July 2025 Crackdown. The FDA’s recent warning letters against kratom companies for selling dangerous synthetic compounds provide vital evidence for future lawsuits.
One-Third of Users Face Health Risks. Medical research shows that up to 33% of kratom users experience side effects. Despite this, manufacturers continue marketing these products without adequate warnings.
An estimated 1.7 million Americans use kratom regularly, but new medical research shows that some users experience serious adverse effects. As kratom-related injuries and deaths are on the rise, so are the numbers of individuals and families who are filing personal injury lawsuits and seeking justice in court. And they’re winning millions.
The kratom industry got hit hard on July 15, 2025, when the FDA issued its strongest warning yet against manufacturers, acknowledging that their products “may be dangerous.” If you’ve been affected, our kratom lawsuit guide explains your legal rights, recent court victories, and how those harmed can take action.
What Is Kratom and Why Is It So Dangerous?
Kratom comes from the dried leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Workers in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have chewed fresh leaves or sipped kratom tea for centuries to help them stay energized during long workdays. Traditional healers used the substance to treat stomach troubles and chronic pain.
Why People Use Kratom
Americans turn to kratom for a variety of health issues, especially those who prefer natural alternatives to prescription medications. The most common reasons include treating chronic pain and inflammation, managing anxiety and depression symptoms, helping with opioid withdrawal during addiction recovery, and boosting energy and alertness throughout the day.
Modern Kratom Products Are Different
The kratom you can buy today at gas stations and vape shops is significantly more potent than traditional preparations, creating addiction and overdose risks that simply didn’t exist with fresh leaves. Modern kratom’s main chemical components can cause physical dependence, withdrawal, and breathing difficulties that may even cause death.
What makes kratom particularly dangerous is its dual nature. Lower doses act like stimulants, while higher doses create opioid-like sedation. And with the substance so easily available, millions of Americans don’t suspect they’re consuming something that has addiction potential and could harm them.
The Growing Wave of Kratom Lawsuits
Numerous personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have already been filed against kratom manufacturers. As awareness grows, we expect more legal actions to follow. Recent major kratom lawsuits include:
$11 Million Florida Verdict: Krystal Talavera collapsed and died in 2021 after taking a kratom product called “space dust.” A judge awarded her family over $11 million after an autopsy confirmed acute mitragynine (a chemical in kratom) intoxication as her cause of death.
Texas Wrongful Death Case: The Hernandez family filed suit in 2022 after their loved one died from drinking kratom tea, alleging companies falsely marketed kratom as a safe remedy for opioid withdrawal.
$2.5 Million Washington Verdict: In 2023, a jury in Washington State awarded $2.5 million in the nation’s first kratom wrongful death trial. The case involved Patrick Coyne, who died of acute mitragynine intoxication after using “Kratom Divine.”
Growing Class Actions: Multiple consumers have joined forces and filed class actions against kratom manufacturers, suggesting individual cases may soon consolidate into larger mass tort litigation.
FDA Takes Action Against Kratom Industry in July 2025
On July 15, 2025, the FDA sent warning letters to seven companies for illegally marketing products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a synthetic compound that can be up to 30 times more potent than morphine.
The FDA had never taken such strong action against the kratom industry before, which has largely operated without proper oversight until now. This regulatory crackdown is huge news for those filing kratom lawsuits, providing attorneys with powerful evidence straight from the government’s regulatory body.
What Are the Serious Health Risks and Side Effects of Kratom?
Kratom users have experienced adverse side effects that can be life-threatening, ranging from cardiovascular problems to serious addiction. Despite industry claims that kratom is natural and safe, medical research doesn’t support this. Some of the documented Kratom health risks include:
Cardiovascular problems like heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest.
Neurological issues, including seizures, confusion, cognitive impairment, and tremors
Liver and kidney damage
Respiratory problems
Addiction and withdrawal symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC linked kratom to 152 deaths between 2016 and 2017, with 87% involving multiple substances. While fatalities from kratom alone may be uncommon, combining kratom with other drugs can create dangerous interactions.
Can You File a Kratom Lawsuit?
If kratom has hurt you or someone you love, you might wonder whether you have a legal case and could pursue damages. Here’s how you could file a kratom lawsuit:
Personal Injury Claims. If kratom caused you serious injuries and financial losses from medical treatment or being unable to work, you could have a personal injury case.
Wrongful Death Cases. Family members of someone who died from kratom can seek compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost income and financial support, pain and suffering damages, loss of companionship, and other damages.
Addiction Claims. If you became addicted to kratom, you may be able to file a claim and recover costs for addiction treatment and rehab, wages lost during treatment, and mental health treatment expenses.
Compensation Available in Kratom Lawsuits
Damages in kratom litigation can include economic damages such as medical expenses, lost income, future medical costs, and rehabilitation expenses. If you were significantly injured, you may also recover non-economic damages for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and mental anguish.
In cases where manufacturers engaged in particularly egregious conduct, such as trying to cover up known dangers while marketing products as safe, courts may award punitive damages. Such payments are designed to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior.
Will there be a Kratom Mass Tort?
All signs point to there being a kratom mass tort in the near future. With a flood of lawsuits already filed and more families coming forward, kratom litigation is showing all the indicators of mass tort development. Many cases involve the same legal issues, such as failure to warn and defective product claims against a handful of major manufacturers.
Additionally, the FDA’s recent warning letters provide plaintiffs with the same evidence to use against these companies. When you combine that with the fact that every kratom case needs similar medical and scientific expert testimony, coordinated litigation makes sense.
What to Do If You’ve Been Harmed by Kratom
If you or a loved one has suffered serious health complications or death from kratom use, time is critical for preserving your legal rights. Don’t wait too long to explore your legal options, as you may have only a short time to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations (deadline to file a lawsuit) varies by state.
Take the immediate steps to protect your case, including preserving evidence, such as receipts proving purchase and kratom packaging. Document everything, including your medical treatments, time away from work, and out-of-pocket expenses connected with your kratom injury. Most importantly, if you have not already done so, get medical advice immediately.
ConsumerShield Is Here When You Need Help
Dealing with a kratom-related injury or losing a loved one to this dangerous supplement can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. ConsumerShield believes that finding the right attorney during such a difficult time shouldn’t add to your burden. We can take the guesswork and stress out of finding legal help.
ConsumerShield has helped individuals like you connect with experienced attorneys who specialize in dangerous product litigation and understand what you’re going through. We’ll match you with attorneys who have successfully handled cases like yours and can guide you through every step of the process, so you can focus on healing.
Fill out our form today and take the first step toward getting the justice and answers you deserve.
Tamara Armstrong
Contributor
Tamara Armstrong is a legal content writer who has helped drive traffic to the websites of some of the country's best-known law firms and legal service providers.
