COVID-19 at Tyson Foods Meat Packing Plant in Amarillo, Texas

Brooks Schuelke, Esq.
Schuelke Law PLLC

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 13, 2020 – The COVID-19 virus has been making its way across the globe. Recently the virus has reached Tyson Foods Meat Packing Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

As a result of COVID-19 circulating in the plant, and an on-the-job injury accident, an 8-year employee died. Her husband, four children and a representative of her estate filed a lawsuit on May 15, 2020, against Tyson Foods. Even though Amarillo issued a shelter in place order on April 1, 2020, the woman continued to work at the plant. 

Subsequently, she slipped and fell, injuring both knees, resulting in a trip to the company doctor. She was sent back to work despite pain and swelling in the knees and was not permitted to go home because the plant was short-staffed. 

The woman became infected with COVID-19 and began having trouble breathing, ending up in the hospital for several weeks. The combination of COVID-19 and her knee injuries culminated in her death. According to the lawsuit, at least 18 Tyson workers have died, and at least 4,500 have been infected with COVID-19.

The lawsuit alleges that the company is failing to provide workers with proper personal protective (PPE) gear and is not following distancing requirements. It is further alleged that Tyson is malicious and grossly negligent in its conduct and shows a callous disregard for its workers’ safety. 

Across the United States, 5,000 meatpacking workers have been infected. At least 20 have died. The Panhandle is a top hot spot for COVID-19, and in Moore County, at least 240 workers at the JBS facility have tested positive for the virus. Potter County had 1,027 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in May. The number of cases continues to rise. 

“This is one of the earliest lawsuits of its kind,” said Austin wrongful death attorney Brooks Schuelke, who is not involved in this case. “It’s going to be interesting to see how it takes shape. How Tyson has handled the COVID-19 pandemic may play a large part in the lawsuit.”

COVID-19 is leaving death and severe injuries across the nation in its wake. The pandemic is going to impact work injury and workers’ compensation lawsuits across the country.   

Learn more at https://www.civtrial.com/.
Learn more at http://www.civtrial.com