4 days ago
Iowa Supreme Court allows lawsuits against Tyson executives over COVID deaths
WATERLOO, Iowa (KNWA/KFTA) — The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that some top Tyson Foods executives can be held responsible for the deaths of workers who caught COVID-19 at the company's meatpacking plant in Waterloo, Iowa.
On May 23, the state's supreme court reversed a lower court decision that had blocked the families of the deceased workers from suing these executives. The ruling lets the families of five workers move forward with their lawsuits, accusing Tyson leaders of negligence and fraud during the pandemic.
While the court dismissed claims against Tyson Foods as a company and two health staff employees, it allowed lawsuits to continue against several executives, including:
John Tyson, Chairman of the Board
Noel White, former CEO and board member
Dean Banks, former President and CEO
Stephen Stouffer, President of Tyson Fresh Meats
Tom Brower, Senior Vice President of Health and Safety
Doug White, Corporate Safety Manager at Tyson Fresh Meats
Some supervisors and plant managers may also face lawsuits.
In their opinion, the Iowa Supreme Court wrote:
'Among other allegations… The petition also recites supervisors' statements to interpreters directing them to mislead workers about the dangers of the virus and its spread within the plant. We conclude that the estates have likewise alleged sufficient facts to show that the supervisor defendants had knowledge of the peril.'
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In 2020, the Waterloo plant, which employed about 3,000 people, had nearly 1,000 COVID cases, according to the court's opinion. Although hundreds of workers calling in sick, Tyson told other workers there was no outbreak.
Over two dozen workers were hospitalized, and some died from COVID complications.
'The director of the Black Hawk County Health Department attributed ninety percent of the county's total COVID-19 cases to the Waterloo facility,' the court's opinion read.
According to court documents, Tyson said it followed government rules that kept food plants open during the pandemic and believed it was protected from lawsuits.
The court said the families presented enough evidence showing these executives knew about the COVID outbreak and the risks but did not take proper action to protect workers. For example, employees with symptoms were still asked to work, and safety measures like social distancing or masking were ignored.
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The five workers who died are Jose Ayala, Hus Hari Buljic, Sedika Buljic, Honario Garcia and Reberiano Leno Garcia.
'We are just grateful that we have a judicial system that recognizes that workers' lives are as important as anyone else's, in terms of the value they bring home every night to their families,' attorney for the workers' families Mel Orchard told Talk Business & Politics. 'Tyson has a lot to answer for, and this is just the beginning. Sadly, it has taken many years just to get back to the beginning. But justice has an awe-inspiring way of winning the long game.'
These cases will now go back to a lower court for more action. Tyson Foods has yet not commented on the court's ruling.
To read all court filings related to this case, go to
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