Genoveva Puga, Petitioner v. Donna Fruit Company, Inc., Respondent

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s summary judgment and the Court of Appeals’ affirmation, holding that the Industrial Accident Board’s unappealed ruling on employment does not preclude relitigation of that issue in a wrongful‑death action because the Board lacked jurisdiction over farm laborers absent voluntary workers’ compensation coverage. Accordingly, Donna Fruit Company failed to meet its burden of proof for summary judgment, and the case was remanded for further proceedings.