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In April 2020 a worker at the JBS USA beef plant in Cactus, TX was infected with COVID.  This resulted in his inability to work for three weeks. The insurer of JBS USA denied compensation.  Assisted by the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Agency, the claimant referred the case to the Texas Department of Insurance, Worker’s Compensation Division.  An Administrative Law Judge ordered JBS to compensate the worker after concluding that the infection was contracted in the plant. 

This case creates a precedent since to date, the obligation has been on claimants to demonstrate that infection was acquired in the plant and not in their community.

Since JBS did not appeal the determination of the Worker’s Compensation Division, the decision of the Administrative Law Judge is binding with implications for other claims in Texas.