Amazon’s COVID-19 Safety Lawsuit Against N.Y. Attorney General Dismissed

NEW YORK — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Amazon.com Inc. to block New York’s attorney general from investigating steps it took to protect warehouse workers from COVID-19, ruling that abstention is warranted due to the attorney general’s related state court action against the e-commerce giant.

On Aug. 10, Judge Brian M. Cogan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York explained that abstention pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971) is appropriate because there is an ongoing state proceeding and New York has a “legally cognizable interest” in that action.