Class-action accuses world’s largest online retailer of engaging in illegal price increase of essential goods during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

In what attorneys deem “a big win for consumers,” a federal judge today denied Amazon.com’s motion to dismiss an active class-action lawsuit accusing it of price-gouging during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to attorneys at Hagens Berman.

The Jan. 5, 2026, order from U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik reiterates that plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that “Amazon exploited vulnerable consumers who turned to Amazon as a lifeline for consumer goods and food items during a public health crisis, accumulating huge and unjust profits.”

“This is a significant victory for consumers who allege that Amazon made billions in excess profits during the pandemic,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Seattle-based Hagens Berman. “As Judge Lasnik noted in his order, Amazon’s internal documents show that the company recognized price gouging as a harmful force to consumers, such that it specifically designed systems to address such excessive pricing and represented to the Washington Attorney General that it was actively protecting consumers from it. These admissions undermine Amazon’s challenge that the concept of price gouging is too vague—its own records tell a different story.”

In two separate orders, Judge Lasnik also found that certain of Amazon’s subpoenas were designed to harass and embarrass the class representatives and to pressure them into abandoning the case. In quashing several of the subpoenas, Judge Lasnik stated, “the reasonable inference is that Amazon is trying to make this litigation as difficult, burdensome, and potentially embarrassing as possible for the named plaintiffs’ closest associates.” This, too, is an important win—one that reinforces protections for class representatives willing to stand up to powerful corporations and pursue accountability.

Previously in the case, judges upheld the rights of consumers under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA) that Amazon’s alleged price-gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes an “unfair or deceptive act” as defined by the law and also caused substantial injury. In its opinion, the court deemed Amazon’s cited cases defending the claims “unconvincing,” “unpersuasive” and “misplaced.”

Per Lasnik’s January order, the proposed class includes all persons who purchased any consumer good or food item deemed an emergency good, between Jan. 31, 2020, and Oct. 20, 2022, whose price was set at an unfair level. The precise identification of unfair prices and when they were in place will be refined after discovery and expert analysis.

Amazon’s Alleged COVID Price-Gouging

The class-action lawsuit against Amazon was originally filed April 21, 2020, and claims Amazon engaged in unlawful price increases for essential goods by upwards of 1,800 percent. The complaint includes detailed price comparisons accusing Amazon of price-gouging, including the price of toilet paper increasing up to 1,044 percent, from $17.48 to $200; the price of cold remedies increasing up to 1,523 percent, from $4.65 to $79.00; and the price of face masks increasing up to 1,800 percent, from $4.21 to $79.99, among other instances.

The lawsuit against Amazon seeks repayment to consumers for Amazon’s price-gouging, and treble damages, as well as injunctive relief from the court barring Amazon’s overpricing. The firm continues to litigate this matter as well as several active consumer cases against Amazon regarding price-fixing. Find out more about the class-action lawsuit against Amazon for price-gouging during the outbreak of COVID-19.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm’s determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260105742758/en/

“This is a significant victory for consumers who allege that Amazon made billions in excess profits during the pandemic,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Seattle-based Hagens Berman.