Manufacturer Liability in Silicosis Cases
The surge in silicosis cases among workers fabricating artificial stone countertops has brought unprecedented scrutiny to manufacturers of engineered stone products. Recent high-profile verdicts and a wave of lawsuits underscore the legal and ethical responsibilities these companies face when their products expose workers to deadly silica dust.
Why Manufacturers Are Liable
Manufacturers of artificial stone products can be held legally responsible for silicosis when their products are defectively designed, lack adequate warnings, or cannot be used safely in their intended manner. Under product liability law, companies have a duty to ensure their products are safe for foreseeable uses-or to clearly warn users of inherent risks if safety cannot be guaranteed.
In the 2024 Reyes-Gonzalez case, which awarded $52.4 million to Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, a 34-year-old artificial stone fabricator, a Los Angeles jury found three major artificial stone manufacturers-Caesarstone, Cambria, and Color Marble-liable for a worker’s accelerated silicosis after years of fabricating engineered stone countertops. The jury determined that these companies failed to provide adequate warnings and sold products that were inherently dangerous due to their extremely high silica content (often over 90%), which generates hazardous dust during cutting and polishing.
Legal Theories Used Against Manufacturers
Manufacturers may be found liable under several legal theories:
• Design Defect: The product is inherently unsafe for its intended use, even when used as expected by workers. Artificial stone slabs, for example, release respirable crystalline silica dust during routine fabrication, posing a severe health risk.
• Failure to Warn: Manufacturers must provide clear, adequate warnings about the dangers of silica dust and the need for strict protective measures. Many lawsuits allege that warnings have been insufficient or misleading, failing to communicate the true level of risk or the necessity of advanced safety equipment.
• Negligence: Companies may be negligent if they fail to take reasonable steps to reduce risk, such as improving product safety, providing training materials, or supporting safer fabrication methods.
• Strict Liability: In some cases, manufacturers can be held liable simply because their product caused harm, regardless of intent or negligence.
Recent Verdicts and Industry Impact
The Reyes-Gonzalez verdict sent a powerful message to the artificial stone industry. Jurors assigned significant responsibility to manufacturers, finding that their products could not be fabricated safely in ordinary workplace conditions and that the companies failed to warn users adequately. The case is seen as a bellwether for hundreds of similar lawsuits expected nationwide.
Most manufacturers in the Reyes-Gonzalez case settled before trial, but the verdict against the remaining defendants highlights a growing recognition that the risks of engineered stone are neither hypothetical nor remote-they are a daily reality for thousands of workers.
What This Means for Exposed Workers
If you or a loved one has developed silicosis after working with artificial or engineered stone, you may have a strong legal claim against the product’s manufacturer. Key elements include:
• Proof of exposure to silica dust from a specific product
• Evidence that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings or design a safer product
• Medical documentation of silicosis or related lung disease.
Legal action can help recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. More importantly, holding manufacturers accountable drives industry change and helps protect future workers from preventable harm.
Conclusion
Manufacturers of artificial stone products are increasingly being held liable for silicosis cases, particularly when their products are found to be inherently dangerous and lack sufficient warnings. Recent verdicts make clear that companies must prioritize worker safety or face significant legal and financial consequences. If you’ve been affected, consulting an experienced attorney is the first step toward justice and industry accountability.
For more information or a FREE consultation, contact our law firm. We have experience holding manufacturers accountable.