The family of a deceased meat plant worker has allegedly been denied workers' compensation benefits after workplace exposure and contraction of the COVID-19 virus.
Before contracting the virus, seventy-eight-year old Saul Sanchez only left home to work on the meat-packing line, and to go to his church with a five-person congregation. Sources close to the matter claim that no one else in the family or at the church were infected.
JBS, the largest meatpacker in the world, denied the family's application for workers' compensation benefits. Claims filed by two other families who lost members due to COVID-19 exposure at the meat-packing plant were also denied. In denying the workers' compensation claims, JBS has claimed that the employees' COVID-19 exposure and resulting infections were not work-related.
Editors Note: This tragic story exemplifies the difficulties workers' may face in linking their infections to employment and getting compensation for medical care and lost wages. Many states have implemented a presumption that an essential worker who is infected with COVID-19 contracted the disease while at work.
A discussion on Zika and Workers' Compensation discusses some case law relevant to this tragic topic. You can find that article here.