Employer Not Liable for Worker's COVID Death

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Texas employer could not be held civilly liable for a worker’s death from COVID-19. Case: Rodriguez v. Blaine Larsen Farms Inc., No. 22-10514, 08/05/2025, unpublished. Facts: Blaine Larsen Farms Inc. operates a potato farm and processing facility in Dalhart, Texas. BLF hired Marco Antonio Galvan for temporary work at its farm through the H-2A visa program for agricultural workers. Galvan arrived at BLF’s Dalhart facility on July 2, 2020. Eight days later, Galvan told his wife that he was experiencing a sore throat, cough, chill...