Kratom Overdose Lawsuit Alleges Krave Products Caused Fatal Mitragynine Intoxication

Lawsuit claims Krave marketed kratom products as “all natural” and “botanical” while failing to adequately disclose their addictive potential.

A California mother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming her son died after regularly consuming kratom products that contained dangerous and undisclosed levels of compounds that produce opioid-like effects.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Mary Soria individually and as successor in interest of her son, Martin Soria, in California Superior Court on September 30. It names Ashlyn Marketing Group Inc., doing business as Krave Kratom, as the defendant.

Mary Soria maintains her son would not have consumed Krave products if he had been adequately warned about the risk of acute mitragynine intoxication.

Kratom Addiction Risks

Kratom is a psychoactive substance made from the leaves of the Mitragyna tree, which grows naturally in Southeast Asia. Products derived from the plant are readily available online and at gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops and wellness retailers nationwide, where they are frequently promoted as dietary supplements.

The substance is available in powders, capsules, tablets, concentrated extracts, shots, gummies and beverages. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom to treat any medical condition. In addition, compounds found in kratom interact with some of the same brain receptors targeted by opioids such as morphine and heroin.

Federal regulators have increasingly expressed concerns about kratom-related addiction and serious health risks. In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) placed three highly potent kratom-related opioids into Schedule I, pointing to risks that include addiction, respiratory depression and other potentially severe complications.

Those concerns have also fueled a growing number of personal injury lawsuits, which claim kratom manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers that their products may lead to addiction, withdrawal symptoms and other health problems.

Kratom Overdose Allegations

According to the complaint, Martin Soria regularly used several Krave kratom products, including KRX Extra Strength Gold, Krave 100X and 200X Kratom Extracts, Krave Botanics Maeng Da Kratom Extract and Krave Kratom Extract capsules. He allegedly believed the products were natural and safe for consumption.

However, the lawsuit claims the products contained dangerous levels of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), compounds that can produce opioid-like effects and increase the risk of overdose.

On May 30, 2025, Martin died in Los Angeles County from what the complaint describes as acute mitragynine intoxication. A medical examiner reportedly found kratom in his system, and his mother maintains that Krave products contributed to his death.

Mary Soria alleges Krave marketed its products as “all natural” and “botanical” supplements without adequately disclosing their addictive potential or the dangers associated with their ingredients.

The complaint claims Krave failed to warn consumers about the risks of respiratory depression, sedation and fatal overdose, or disclose the amount of 7-OH contained in its products. It also alleges the company provided inadequate instructions for safe use, leaving consumers like Martin unaware of the potential dangers.

Mary further claims Krave continued selling the products despite knowing or having reason to know about the risks, without conducting adequate safety testing, research or monitoring of reported adverse effects.

“KRAVE products executives knew that the Krave products’ formula contained ingredients that were dangerous and that individually and in combination could cause acute mitragynine intoxication and addiction, like MARTIN SORIA suffered.”

— Mary Soria v. Ashlyn Marketing Group Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of negligence, failure to warn, manufacturing and design defects, breach of implied warranty and violations of California’s unfair competition law. It seeks wrongful death and survival damages, funeral and burial expenses and punitive damages, as well as court orders requiring corrective notices and stronger warnings if Krave continues selling the products.

Kratom Addiction Lawsuits

As concerns mount over the potential for kratom to cause addiction and serious health problems, personal injury lawyers are investigating kratom lawsuits for individuals who suffered severe side effects or injuries, including:

• Kratom addiction or physical dependence
• Severe withdrawal symptoms
• Heart complications, including rapid or irregular heart rhythms
• Seizures
• Liver or kidney damage
• Respiratory depression or breathing difficulties
• Fatal overdoses and other kratom-related deaths

Kratom injury lawyers are pursuing these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or case expenses, and attorneys are paid only if they obtain compensation through a settlement or jury award.

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