Supreme Court Decision in IBP, Inc. v. Burress
The Burress case involved a claimant with brucellosis, which was contracted by exposure to hog blood. The Supreme Court concluded that brucellosis, despite being specifically mentioned in Chapter 85A, was an injury under Chapter 85 in Mr. Burress' case. IBP, Inc. v. Burress , 779 NW2d 210 (Iowa 2010). According to the court, an injury has its origin in a specific identifiable trauma or series of such occurrences. A disease, which is compensable under Chapter 85A, originates from a source that is neither traumatic nor physical. The court engaged in an extensive discussion of the types of diseases that are occupational diseases and not injuries. They noted that in other states, the contraction of brucellosis had been found to be "an accidental injury rather than an occupational disease. The court relied on the findings of the hearing deputy that Mr. Burress' exposures were most likely due to a cut on his hands and exposure to blood that was "sudden, traumatic...