In July, at the end of that year's legislative session, a bill called the Grieving Families Act was passed, in response to the limitations faced by the plaintiffs in the Schoharie crash suits, as well as some other recent incidents. It would allow plaintiffs in wrongful death cases to seek emotional damages, and expand the category of family members with standing to file such suits. It was strongly opposed by insurance companies and some medical and business groups. As of early August Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had replaced Cuomo following his resignation a year earlier, was reviewing the bill and had not yet signed it.
