The Estate of Angela Reid will receive a $9.5 million settlement for the her wrongful death lawsuit against a Staten Island bus company.  Angela Reid, a surgical nurse, was struck and killed by a bus driven by Rufus Jones an ex-con who had failed to disclose his lengthy rap sheet when he was hired.  On January 21, 2009, as Reid walked to work at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, Jones ran a red light at 34th St. and Madison Ave., crushing Reid.  The settlement will be given to Reid’s children, Dante, 9, and Devante, 11, who now live with their father, Troy Morgan, in Florida. The settlement funds, approved in Bronx Supreme Court, will be placed in a trust fund for them.  Read more: Full article.

Wrongful death is a claim against a person who can be held liable for a death that is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives.  New York’s wrongful death statute, EPTL §5-4.1, provides that the personal representative of the estate has the right to sue for pecuniary loss on behalf of the distributees.  Damages are determined by the court in an amount it deems to be fair and just compensation for pecuniary injuries resulting from the decedent’s death.  It calls attention to reasonable expenses for medical aid, nursing, and funeral expenses, “in addition to every other lawful element.”  Punitive damages, designed to punish the defendant in cases of recklessness or depravity, are allowed.  A wrongful death cause of action must be filed within two years of the date of death.  It is important to consult with an experienced estate attorney if you believe you have a possible wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one.

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. have worked with a variety of families in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island.  For questions regarding probate and estate planning, please contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-556-2529 or visit the firm’s website at www.lbestatelaw.com.