Op-Ed | Grief for New York's Grieving Families Act amNewYork

"New York's Grieving Families Act, which would have overhauled a wrongful-death statute that dates back to 1847, has just been vetoed by Gov. Kathy Hochul for the fourth time. She criticized lawmakers for not changing the bill to her liking. Lawmakers, lawyer groups, and victims of wrongful deaths criticized her for supporting special interests, including insurance companies, hospital associations, and defense lawyers who typically represent municipalities and individuals sued in tort lawsuits denies."

"This law enlarges monetary damages for the wrongful death of a loved one. It authorizes juries in wrongful death cases to award monetary damages not only for financial losses like medical costs, funeral expenses, diminished inheritance, and loss of love and companionship, but also for the grief and anguish caused by the victim's death. New York State is an extreme outlier. Similar provisions that authorize tort damages for grief and anguish can be found in 48 other states."

Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the Grieving Families Act for the fourth time, citing lawmakers' failure to change the bill to her specifications. Critics accused the governor of siding with insurance companies, hospital associations, and defense lawyers. The proposed law would enlarge monetary damages in wrongful-death cases to include grief and anguish in addition to financial losses such as medical costs, funeral expenses, and diminished inheritance. New York remains an outlier, with similar statutes in 48 other states and only Alabama sharing a comparably antiquated law. The measure would require juries to assess emotional as well as financial value.

Read at www.amny.com