Gov. Hochul Rejects Grieving Families Act, Limits Wrongful Death Damages in NY

New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed the Grieving Families Act, which would have allowed families to recover damages for emotional suffering in wrongful death cases. Hochul cited potential unintended consequences such as increased insurance premiums and financial risks to healthcare facilities as reasons for her decision. The current New York wrongful death statute only accounts for economic loss, which Hochul acknowledges as unfair, but she insists the bill did not adequately address her concerns. The vetoed legislation had bipartisan support and aimed to compensate families for non-economic damages like grief and anguish. Hochul remains open to revising the statute and had proposed compromises that were not included in the bill.