(DeWitt, New York, Dec. 12, 2024) — David Bodenstein, chair of the board of Big I New York and president of Mike Preis, Inc. in Jeffersonville, New York, issued the following statement today in response to the veto by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul of Assembly Bill 9232-B. This bill would have expanded the categories of damages that could be recovered in a lawsuit for an alleged wrongful death.
“Big I New York and its member independent insurance agents and brokers are very pleased that Gov. Hochul vetoed this costly bill. We strongly believe that the families of accident victims should receive fair compensation for their losses. However, we also believe they can obtain it under current law. This bill would have imposed crippling costs on all New Yorkers, including small businesses and health care providers, by driving up liability insurance premiums. Many New York businesses already have difficulty purchasing liability insurance protection at an affordable cost, if it is available at all. This bill would have worsened an already bad situation. We wish to thank Gov. Hochul for this action to protect New York residents and businesses."