Court Finds Ranch Hand's Tick-Borne Illness Compensable

The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled that a ranch hand’s tick-borne illness was a compensable occupational disease. Case: Mohler v. Young, No. H304058, 01/28/2026, published. Facts: Jonathan Mohler worked as a ranch hand for Cross Creek Ranch, a cattle operation consisting of approximately 1,000 acres. Robert Young III is the owner. Young provided Mohler and his family with a house located on the ranch as part of his employment, and Mohler was on call 24 hours a day. During his work, Mohler regularly encountered ticks and removed them from his body. In late 2022, he began ex...