- posted: Jan. 31, 2023
On January 30, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the Grieving Families bill, which was passed last summer by the New York State legislature with bipartisan support.
In summary, this bill was designed to overhaul New York’s antiquated 1847 Wrongful death statute, which currently ties compensation and damages for relatives in wrongful death claims to the deceased’s income.
Reasons given by the governor, suggest her office needs “more time” to fully understand the impacts of said bill. Naturally, the plaintiff’s bar and consumer groups are disappointed and seem to believe that the Governor caved to pressure from the Insurance industry and related lobbyists.
All is not lost however, as Governor Hochul has indicated she will “continue to engage with stakeholders and interested parties to do the hard work necessary to find equitable solutions.”
Similarly, trial and consumer groups across the state have signaled that they will continue to work with the Governor, to redress what remains a centuries’ long injustice to New York Consumers.
