Bill Text: NJ S780 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Expands wrongful death act to allow recovery for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S780 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S780-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 780

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

Senator  NIA H. GILL

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Expands wrongful death act to allow recovery for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning death by wrongful act and amending N.J.S.2A:31-5.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    N.J.S.2A:31-5 is amended to read as follows:

     2A:31-5.     Assessment of damages by jury.

     In every action brought under the provisions of this chapter the jury may give such damages as they shall deem fair and just with reference to the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death, together with the hospital, medical and funeral expenses incurred for the deceased, to the persons entitled to any intestate personal property of the decedent in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.2A:31-4. Damages may also be recovered hereunder for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.261, s.2)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all causes of action arising on or after the effective date of the act.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     Wrongful death statutes establish a cause of action for the wrong done to an individual's beneficiaries when that individual dies as the result of the wrongful conduct of another person.

     Under present law, in a wrongful death action damages are recoverable for pecuniary loss.  This bill would expand the type of damages for which one may bring suit to include mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship.