Lawsuits are being filed by stone-cutters who developed silicosis after working with quartz countertops.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting silicosis induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a stone cutter who was diagnosed with silicosis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Disease Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the Problem?
Stone-cutters are at risk of developing a severe, life-threatening lung disease called silicosis when they breathe silica dust in the air. Cases of silicosis have recently spiked due to the booming popularity of quartz countertops for kitchen and bathroom remodels in the U.S.
Dozens of cases of silicosis have been reported among stone-cutters worldwide. In the U.S., many of the victims are young Latino men in their 20s and 30s. Many victims say they were never warned about the risk of silicosis by their employer, or given adequate protective equipment to avoid breathing silica dust on the job.
Quartz Countertop Stone-Cutting Industry in California is Epicenter of Silicosis
The stone-cutting industry in California has become an epicenter of silicosis in the U.S., with dozens of cases reported since 2016. The high silica content of quartz countertops has also been linked to a more aggressive form of silicosis, with rapid progression. For many victims, the only treatment is around-the-clock oxygen or a lung transplant.
Lawsuit Filed by 27-Year-Old Stone-Cutter With Silicosis
One of the first silicosis lawsuits in California was filed by Leobardo Segura-Meza, a man from Mexico who worked as a quartz countertop stone-cutter for 10 years in Los Angeles.
He went to the hospital with shortness of breath in February 2022, and was diagnosed with silicosis when he was only 27 years old. He must use an oxygen tank and can no longer financially support his family.
Dr. Jane Fazio, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, had this warning for safety regulators:
“I’ve witnessed this disease deteriorate their bodies, turning able-bodied 20- and 30-year-old men into skeletons. I’ve witnessed them waste away and die horrible deaths on life support while waiting for lung transplants.”
Why Are Quartz-Countertops So Dangerous?
Stone-cutters who manufacture, cut, finish, polish, or do in-home installations of quartz countertops have a high risk of developing silicosis. This is because quartz countertops contain over 90% silica, unlike natural stone like marble (10% silica) or granite (45% silica).
When the synthetic quartz countertops are cut, ground, or polished, it release silica dust into the air. Anyone who breathes this dust can develop silicosis, a deadly and incurable lung disease, which is why it is essential for stone-cutters to wear protective equipment.
Other Workers Who Breathe Silica Dust Can Also Develop Silicosis
Silicosis can also occur in other people who work in the quartz countertop industry, or even people who are not in the industry, but working in the same space during kitchen and bathroom remodels. This includes people who clean and sweep up the dust produced by stone-cutting, inspectors, production operations managers, and more.
What is Silicosis?
Silicosis is an occupational disease that has plagued miners, potters, and stone-cutters for centuries. For stone-cutters, working with quartz countertops is extremely dangerous because the slabs are made almost entirely of finely-crushed silica crystals, which are glued together with resin.
How Long Does It Take For Silicosis Symptoms to Appear?
The symptoms of silicosis can appear within weeks, or take many years to appear after a stone-cutter is exposed to silica dust. The symptoms typically worsen over time. In the past, silicosis was typically a slowly-progressing disease, but cases of silicosis linked to quartz countertops are known to be far more aggressive than usual.
What is the Risk?
The risk is highest for stone-cutters who are exposed to silica dust for a long period of time, or breathe large amounts of silica dust without protective equipment. Lung inflammation and other symptoms can also continue to worsen even after a stone-cutter is given protective gear, or is no longer working with quartz countertops.
Silicosis Symptoms & Long-Term Complications
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
- Fast, shallow breathing
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Muscle aches and joint pain
- Lung infections
- Lung cancer
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Death
What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis, or lung scarring, is an irreversible complication that occurs when silicosis progresses over time. The lung damage, inflammation and scarring may continue to worsen even after a stone-cutter is no longer being exposed to silica.
Do I have a Stone Cutter Silicosis Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting silicosis induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a stone cutter who was diagnosed with silicosis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Disease Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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