Fianceé Death Benefits Reversed by Appeals Court

The Court of Appeals of Texas, 13th District has ruled that a woman engaged to be married to a man killed on the job in 2016 is not entitled to death benefits, reversing earlier rulings granting her benefits as a fianceé. The case is Tex. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ochoa, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 4252.

Nathan Fryday was killed in a work-related accident in August 2016. Texas Mutual Insurance Company (TMIC) was the workers’ compensation insurer for Fryday’s employer. Following his death Fryday’s parents and his fiance, Lacey Ochoa sought workers’ compensation death benefits from TMIC.