In a ruling involving a deceased pet, a New Jersey appeals court has made recovery easier for certain plaintiffs seeking compensation for infliction of emotional distress.

The court said a trial judge erred in throwing out the pet owner’s claim after applying a bystander liability standard instead of a direct liability standard and finding that such claims based on the suffering of a pet are not allowed. The appeals courts reversed the dismissal order, finding that the direct liability standard applies, and remanded the case for trial.