It looks like a law designed to help families is making it’s way through the NJ Legislature.

 Families, for the first time, would have a right to sue for emotional harm caused by the “wrongful death” of a loved one under a controversial bill approved yesterday by a Senate committee.

Current state law permits survivors to recover economic damages based solely on the victim’s financial worth and earning potential. By this measure, the life of a child, a disabled person or a retiree is not worth very much, according to victims’ advocates and trial lawyers who testified in favor of the bill at the Statehouse.

If you base damages at trial only on the “financial worth” of the victim, then you do not value people who are retired, or work at home caring for family members.  Why shouldn’t those people have value?  They should.  This NJ Wrongful death law should go forward.  It has been trying for almost 7 years, given that it was introduced in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

Read the Full article at the Star Ledger :  Senate Bill would allow bereaved to sue over anguish