U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik in Seattle rejected Amazon’s request to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The judge found Amazon’s argument that Washington state consumer protection laws were too vague unpersuasive, allowing the case to proceed.
Driving the news: Plaintiffs claim Amazon allowed third-party sellers to charge “flagrantly unlawful” prices for essentials like food and hygiene products on its platform.
- The lawsuit covers consumers who allegedly paid unfair prices between January 31, 2020, and October 20, 2022 – the period of COVID-related states of emergency.
- The suit also alleges that Amazon raised the prices of its own inventory to take advantage of consumer desperation during the pandemic.
- Specific price hikes cited in the complaint include Aleve tablets increasing by 233%, Quilted Northern toilet paper by 1,044%, Arm & Hammer baking soda by 1,523%, and some face masks by 1,800%.
