Silicosis Lawsuit

Silicosis lawsuits against engineered-stone countertop manufacturers are active and growing. In April 2026, a Denver jury awarded roughly $17 million to a former countertop fabricator who developed the devastating lung disease. More workers continue to file claims. No formal multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been established yet, but manufacturers have begun settling individual claims.

In April 2026, a jury awarded about $17 million in damages to Tyler Jordan, finding that Cambria Co. LLC misrepresented the harm of its product that caused Jordan to develop incurable silica dust lung disease. This is the latest verdict in several trials, adding pressure on the engineered stone industry as more countertop-cutting workers become ill.

Prior to this verdict, in August 2024, a Los Angeles jury awarded $52.4 million to a stone-fabrication worker after finding several countertop manufacturers and a distributor responsible for his accelerated silicosis and double-lung transplant. Many consider this the first major U.S. trial focused on the liability of engineered-stone products.

Most silicosis cases focus on failure to warn, defective design and fraudulent concealment. Public health and safety agencies have used these cases to push for stricter dust controls and better protections.

Cases are in their early stages and manufacturers have quietly settled a few cases, but have not disclosed the settlement amounts or terms.

Global Silicosis Lawsuits

Exposure to silica dust isn’t just a concern in the United States. Countries around the world are facing rising cases of silicosis, with many people seeking justice from their legal systems.

Lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers that provided unsafe working conditions, leading to workers developing this serious lung disease.

Silicosis lawsuits are a way for people to recover compensation and damages from the companies responsible for exposure to silica dust. While there are a number of symptoms and responses to prolonged inhalation of silica dust, the primary issues at the root of many lawsuits include:

There is no cure for silicosis. The latency period, which is the time between exposure and first symptoms, ranges from a few years to decades.

Since exposure to silica dust is preventable, individuals who work in unsafe conditions where inhalation is likely are not typically responsible for exposure. Employers have a duty to implement prevention measures or work with safer materials. Liability for the resulting health complications rests with these employers.

Unfortunately, many workers are unaware of the dangers they face in their workplaces, especially if organizations are not forthcoming about the environmental health conditions. Marginalized workers are often diagnosed with silicosis. Latino men make up a large population of those affected.

The most common exposure to crystalline silica comes from quartz, naturally found in several forms of rock or in the Earth’s surface. Whenever cutting, drilling, sanding, grinding, demolishing or mixing materials containing silica, workers may experience exposure to airborne particles. Smaller particles get inhaled deep into the lungs and lodge in the lung tissue.

The smaller the particles, the greater the risk for silica damage. There is a high risk of exposure when cutting and polishing quartz countertops. While there has long been a movement to eliminate silicosis as a health concern through prevention and awareness, further changes are still needed.

Silica Standards and Regulations

Recent reports and a growing number of silicosis lawsuits have increased pressure on regulators to clarify silica standards and reporting, especially for countertop fabrication and mining. Agencies like the U.S. Department of Labor and state-level OSHA bodies have released new guidance and enforcement memos, partly based on risks identified in ongoing lawsuits.

In June 2025, the California Department of Public Health declared silicosis a “reportable disease” in the state. That means health care providers are supposed to report both identified or suspected silicosis cases to the local health department where the patient lives.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is just one of the governing bodies within the United States putting safety measures in place for workers. An acceptable level for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air in an eight-hour, time-weighted average, according to OSHA. Actionable levels are 25 micrograms over an eight-hour day.

In addition to monitoring the air quality for workers, personal protective equipment and countermeasures are also necessary. These can include respirators, dust controls, ventilation, water-suppression systems for dust, etc. Medical surveillance is another important element in preventing unnecessary silicosis.

You may be eligible to file a silicosis lawsuit if you have suffered a serious silica-related injury or a loved one has died from such an injury.

It is important for workers who have experienced exposure to silica dust on the job to reach out to an attorney for guidance. Those who received a silicosis diagnosis within the last five years or who worked around or were exposed to silica may have a case.

A free review through Consumer Notice can help you determine the strength of your legal case and options for a silicosis lawsuit settlement.

If you received a diagnosis of silicosis and feel your employer is to blame, talk to a lawyer. An attorney can determine your eligibility for a claim, select the defendants and build evidence to support your claim. Consumer Notice offers no-obligation case reviews and can connect you with a law firm that specializes in silicosis cases.

Silicosis lawsuit settlements can provide compensation and damages for lost wages, medical expenses and more. If you lost a loved one to silicosis, an attorney can help with a wrongful death lawsuit.