Amazon Not Liable for Caffeine Powder Death, It Tells Ohio Court

Amazon.com Inc. told the Ohio Supreme Court it shouldn’t be held liable for the death of a teen who used caffeine powder sold on its website, disputing his father’s contention that the online retailer can be held responsible as a supplier under the state’s product liability law.

Straightforward statutory interpretation shows Amazon isn’t a “supplier” under Ohio law of the product sold by a third party, the online retailer said in a Dec. 12 brief.

Fitting the law’s definition of “supplier” requires ownership, control, and hands-on actions with a product, Amazon said.

The Ohio top court hasn’t yet scheduled oral ...