NY Governor Hochul Vetoes Wrongful Death Statute Amendment

Hochul Cites Potential Unintended Consequences, Remains Open to Future Changes

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the Grieving Families Act for the second time this year, a bill that would have allowed families to recover damages for emotional suffering in wrongful death lawsuits.
Hochul expressed concerns about the potential for increased insurance premiums for consumers and a risk to the financial well-being of public hospitals and other health care facilities.
New York is one of the few states that only account for economic loss in wrongful death lawsuits, with compensation based on the potential earning power of the deceased person.
David Scher, head of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, called Hochul’s veto 'a grave miscarriage of justice,' stating that it upholds a 'perverse standard of morality' in current New York law.
Hochul remains open to updating the wrongful death statute, but vetoed the bill due to lawmakers failing to adequately address concerns she raised when she vetoed a previous version last January.