Silicosis Lawsuit Investigation

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking to file lawsuits on behalf of stone fabricators who developed silicosis.

Cases of silicosis disease, an irreversible and preventable lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust, have been on the rise among countertop workers, installers and stone cutters, especially those who work with artificial or engineered stone. Silica is a component of natural stone, such as marble and granite, but makes up a high percentage of engineered stone, like quartz.

These workers have begun to file lawsuits claiming manufacturers and employers failed to protect them from exposure to harmful silica dust and are consequently liable for related medical expenses and other damages.

Who Can File a Silica Dust Exposure Lawsuit?

This may include countertop fabricators, installers, stone cutters and others who cut, shaped, ground, polished or worked with engineered or natural stone.

Family members of deceased individuals may also be able to file a silica dust exposure lawsuit on behalf of their loved ones. Fill out the form on this page to learn how to get in touch with a silicosis attorney.

What Is Silicosis? Symptoms and Signs

Silicosis is a currently incurable lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust, or small particles of the mineral silica in its crystalline form. Over time, the silica particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing scarring (pulmonary fibrosis) and inflammation and restricting the lungs’ functionality.

According to the American Lung Association, silica is most commonly found in sand, as well as in quartz and many other types of rock. Because of this, those working in the countertop, stone masonry, mining, construction, demolition, sandblasting and some manufacturing industries are at greater risk of developing silicosis.

Notably, cases of the disease have risen among workers who cut, grind, fabricate and polish artificial or engineered stone, such as quartz, to make kitchen and bathroom countertops. Engineered stone, which is manufactured by mixing quartz crystals with resins and pigments, often contains as much as 90% silica, much higher than natural stone like granite (which typically contains less than 45% silica) and marble (which typically contains less than 10%). One study in Australia found that at least 12% of workers who cut stone countertops had silicosis.

Individuals may also experience other silicosis symptoms related to the body being less able to fight infections, according to the American Lung Association.

Because silicosis affects the body’s immune system, patients with silicosis disease are at an increased risk of developing tuberculosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease and various autoimmune diseases.

For a silicosis diagnosis to be made, the individual must have a history of exposure to silica dust (also called respirable crystalline silica), and medical imaging such as chest X-rays or tissue samples must show signs of silicosis, according to the CDC.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with silicosis after working in the stone fabrication industry, fill out the form on this page to get in touch with a silicosis lawyer or legal representative and learn more about your options.

Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

One stone fabrication worker who was diagnosed with silicosis and pulmonary massive fibrosis after working in several California fabrication shops for over 20 years reached silicosis lawsuit settlements totaling $26 million with countertop manufacturers and suppliers.

In another case, a California stone fabrication worker reached confidential silicosis lawsuit settlements with 29 manufacturers. The lawsuit went to trial against three remaining manufacturers—Caesarstone, Cambria and Color Marble—and a Los Angeles jury awarded the plaintiff $52.4 million.

It’s important to note that a settlement is not guaranteed, and silicosis compensation amounts may vary based on the facts of each case.

Silicosis Compensation: What Could I Be Owed?

In the event of death, a lawsuit could also provide compensation for funeral expenses, loss of expected wages and loss of consortium (i.e., benefits of a marriage or partnership, such as love, affection and comfort).

Is This a Silicosis Class Action Lawsuit?

No. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org will be handling these cases on an individual basis. This means you will need to file your own silica lawsuit, outlining your individual work history, medical history and the damages (lost wages, medical bills, etc.) you incurred. You can learn more about how these types of cases differ from class action lawsuits here.

However, a silicosis class action lawsuit was filed in January 2026 on behalf of workers who were exposed to artificial stone dust and have not been diagnosed with silicosis. Rather than seeking compensation for personal injury, the lawsuit aims to require artificial stone manufacturers to pay for medical monitoring for exposed workers, who, according to the case, “all have an extraordinarily high risk of developing silicosis, lung cancer and other silica-related diseases.”

How Much Does a Silicosis Lawyer Cost?

The attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling silicosis lawsuits on what’s called a “contingency fee” basis. This means you will only pay if they win your case—and their payment will come as a percentage of your silicosis settlement or jury award.

What’s Involved in Filing a Silicosis Lawsuit?

If you decide to pursue a silicosis lawsuit, your attorney will first need to gather documentation and other information relevant to your case, which may include copies of medical records, employment history, details of your or your family member’s silica dust exposure and the negative impact of silicosis on your or your family member’s life.

Once your silicosis lawyer has gathered enough information, they will draft and submit to the court a document called a complaint, which will detail the allegations you are making against the defendant(s), meaning the company or companies being sued. The defendants may include the stone fabricator’s employer(s) and/or the manufacturers of the stone countertop products.

The complaint will also include the names of your attorneys, their contact details, the court where the document will be filed and the damages you are seeking. When the complaint is officially filed with the court, your lawsuit begins.

During your case, your attorneys and the attorneys for the defendant(s) will go back and forth attempting to resolve the case.

In the event that your silicosis lawsuit does not settle and is not dismissed or otherwise resolved, it will proceed to a jury trial. However, it should be noted that courtroom trials are rare in civil cases.

Types of Silicosis

Exposure to silica dust can lead to three different types of silicosis, depending on the intensity and duration of exposure. Generally, the level of silica dust exposure determines how long it takes to get silicosis.

Chronic Silicosis

Chronic, or long-term, silicosis is the most common type of silicosis, caused by repeated, regular exposure to moderate or low levels of silica over a period of 10 or more years. Chronic silicosis may, on average, take anywhere from 10 to 30 years after the individual’s first silica exposure to be diagnosed.

Accelerated Silicosis

Accelerated silicosis has a more rapid onset than chronic silicosis and is caused by between five and 10 years of regular exposure to high levels of silica. Accelerated silicosis is generally diagnosed within five to 10 years of the first exposure and tends to more rapidly affect the lungs, with scarring and related symptoms occurring much more quickly than in cases of chronic silicosis.

Cases of accelerated silicosis, in particular, have begun to rise among countertop and stone fabrication workers due to the high silica content of engineered or artificial stone and the growing popularity of quartz countertops.

Acute Silicosis

Acute silicosis is the most severe type of silicosis and is caused by exposure to very high levels of silica over a short period of time, generally weeks or months. In cases of acute silicosis, the lungs often become rapidly and severely inflamed and, in some instances, may fill with fluid.

Who Is Liable in a Silicosis Lawsuit?

It’s possible that engineered stone countertop manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and employers could potentially be held liable for workers’ silicosis injuries.

The dangers of silica dust, and particularly the connection between workplace exposure and silicosis, have been known for hundreds of years, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established standards to protect workers from the preventable disease.

Lawsuits have also been filed claiming that distributors and manufacturers, such as Cambria, Caesarstone and Cosentino, have violated laws requiring the makers of toxic products to ensure their safe use. The lawsuits claim manufacturers should be held accountable for failing to warn workers of the dangers associated with their engineered stone products despite knowing stone fabricators and others in the industry would be exposed to high levels of toxic silica dust. Cambria, the leading quartz slab manufacturer in the U.S., alone is facing around 400 silicosis lawsuits, according to a January 2026 NPR report.

Industry experts have pointed out that safer substitutes with low or no crystalline silica (and instead using amorphous silica) have already been developed by manufacturers for use in Australia, which was the first country to prohibit the sale and use of high-silica artificial stone.

Silicosis FAQs

Can You Get Silicosis from One Exposure?

It is extremely unlikely that one instance of silica dust exposure will cause silicosis. However, repeated exposure to high levels of silica dust in a short period of time, generally over a few months or sometimes even weeks, can lead to a type of the disease called acute silicosis, which is the most severe type, and its symptoms progress incredibly quickly.

Can Silicosis Kill You?

Yes, silicosis can, unfortunately, be fatal. Per the CDC, the disease is progressive, meaning that its damaging effects can increase over time, decreasing a patient’s lung capacity and sometimes leading to respiratory failure or death.

Silicosis life expectancy depends on the severity of each person’s case, as well as their age and overall health, but some patients can live 10 to 20 years or longer after a silicosis diagnosis.

Is There a Cure for Silicosis?

There is no known cure for silicosis. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), current silicosis treatment focuses on developing a disease management plan to slow its progression and relieve present symptoms, and clinical trials are ongoing in search of improved silicosis treatments.

The ALA also recommends that silicosis patients be tested for tuberculosis (TB), as silicosis puts them at higher risk for TB and often increases the severity of its effects should they contract it.

How Much Compensation Could You Get for Silicosis?

While there are no guarantees as to what you could get or whether your lawsuit will be successful, previous silicosis settlements and verdicts have awarded victims and/or their families anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars.

For instance, some experts estimate that the average silicosis settlement amounts range from $25,000 to over $1 million.

In successful silicosis lawsuits, the compensation awarded will be based on the individual’s specific circumstances, including the severity of their case and its physical, emotional and financial effects.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Silicosis Lawsuit?

Yes. The deadline for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is set by what’s called the statute of limitations, which can vary depending on your state and the details of your case. Generally, the statute of limitations ranges from one to six years from either the date of diagnosis or the date the person became aware of the link between their silicosis and exposure to silica dust.

Because these cases can often be complex and the time period for filing can be short, it’s important to consult an experienced silicosis lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that your lawsuit can be filed on time.

What You Can Do

After you fill out the form, an attorney or legal representative may reach out to you directly to ask you some questions and explain more about what’s involved with filing a silicosis lawsuit. Remember, it costs nothing to fill out the form and speak with someone, and you’re not obligated to take legal action if you decide not to.

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