Last year this website posted a blog that touched on the issue of negligent infliction of emotional distress. The Court of Appeals recently wrote an opinion clarifying an issue surrounding these claims: Green v Esplanade Venture Partnership, 2021 NY Slip Op 01092.
This sad story occurred May 17, 2015. Two year old Devere Green was a pedestrian killed by debris that fell from the front of a building owned by defendant. Devere Greene was in the company of her grandmother, Susan Frierson, at the time of this accident. Frierson wanted to make her own claim for damages against the defendant for emotional distress. The Court had previously held that Frierson could make such a claim if she was in the “zone of danger” and she was in the “immediate family” of the injured party.
There was no issue that Frierson was in the “zone of danger.” She was right next to her granddaughter when the debris struck. But prior cases limited recovery to a parent as part of the “immediate family.” This Court in Greene found that a grandparent could be part of the injured party’s “immediate family.” However, the Court also mentioned there was an “emotional bond” between Frierson and Greene. Frierson was actively involved in the child’s life with frequent visits and sleepovers at Frierson’s home.
So now this opens additional questions regarding negligent infliction of emotional distress (or “zone of danger”) cases. If an injured party is accompanied by an aunt, or a cousin, or close friend at the time of an accident, could that uninjured person that witnessed the accident make a claim for emotional distress if they have an “emotional bond” with the injured party?
By James Santner, Esq.
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