WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A new lawsuit in Florida's Palm Beach County alleges kratom killed a 41-year-old man who regularly used it.
The lawsuit brought by the Estate of Patrick B. George is bad news for Glass Chamber, a smoke shop in West Palm Beach. Verdicts in similar kratom wrongful death cases have reached into the millions, including $11 million in West Palm Beach federal court in July.
Kratom is made from a tree in Southeast Asia, is not approved for any use by the Food and Drug Administration and produces "opioid- and stimulant-like effects," the National Institute on Drug Abuse says. It is sold as a powder or gel caps or made into an extract and some use it to cure opioid withdrawal symptoms.
The lawsuit brought by George's estate says it is also highly addictive. Florida has passed a law forbidding its sale to anyone under 21 years old.
"Nonetheless, products containing kratom are sold at numerous retail outlets throughout the country, including gas stations, vape shops and head shops," the suit says.
George died Dec. 13, 2022, in his home, and the manner of death was found to be ingestion of an excessive amount of kratom. The suit alleges Glass Chambers failed to warn of the dangers of kratom.
"After Patrick George began purchasing and ingesting the kratom products, Defendants breached their duty to issue adequate post-sale instructions and warnings to reduce and prevent the foreseeable risk of harm and death to Patrick George..." the suit says.
Andrew Norden and Ami Romanelli of Osborne & Francis in Boca Raton are representing the plaintiff.