07/08/2025
Excellent news.
BREAKING: Legislation that allows survivors of negligence, including medical negligence, to continue to recover damages for the pain and suffering of their loved ones before they died passed the California Assembly Judiciary Committee today with the support of all Democrats present in a final vote of 9-3.
Until 2022, California was one of only four states without pre-death pain and suffering damages – the right of survivors to recover damages for a victim’s pain and suffering before they die. SB 29 (Laird) extends the right to recover for pre-death pain and suffering until 2030. The measure has already passed the State Senate.
Thanks to the leadership of Senator Laird, tireless efforts by CAOC, (including by member Amy Martel and her client, Erica Cole, a medical malpractice victim), and key support from Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of California, and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California - we secured a crucial win.