Losing a loved one can cause immeasurable emotional pain to the family and those who cared about them. Despite this, the civil justice system does not account for emotional damages when compensating families for their loss. The current wrongful death statute only finds financial value in the deceased based on their potential lifetime earnings, leaving many families with little to no relief from the civil justice system.
The State legislature passed S.74-A (Hoylman) / A.6670 (Weinstein), which will expand the scope of current regulations surrounding compensation for wrongful deaths to be more inclusive and flexible with who can receive benefits in the amounts that they can be awarded. There are 41 other states that have already updated their policies, and New Yorkers deserve the same level of support.
Please urge Governor Hochul to sign S.74-A (Hoylman) / A.6770 (Weinstein) into law.
