Silica Dust Exposure Lawsuit Filed Over Incurable Silicosis Diagnosis From Polishing Artificial Stone

A flurry of stonecutter lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers and distributors of various quartz products used to make artificial stone countertops in kitchens and bathrooms.

A California man has filed a lawsuit against several dozen companies involved in the sale of “artificial stone” products, indicating that he developed a progressive and deadly lung disease after inhaling silica dust while cutting and polishing the countertops for more than 20 years.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Antonio Gonzalez in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles on August 7, indicating that the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks associated with silica dust exposure, which he indicates was the direct cause of his silicosis diagnosis in May 2025.

Silicosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It occurs when tiny particles of silica, a mineral found in rocks, sand and soil, become embedded in the lungs and cause inflammation and scarring.

In recent years, silicosis among stone workers has been increasingly linked to their work with quartz, also known as “artificial” or “engineered” stone, due to manufacturers’ and employers’ lack of safety provisions and warnings about the dangers of inhaling dust from these products.

As a result of these findings, numerous silica dust exposure lawsuits have been filed by masons and other construction workers diagnosed with silicosis after cutting, grinding and polishing engineered stone countertops for years.

In his lawsuit, Gonzalez claims manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and contractors of engineered stone failed to provide adequate protective measures to ensure he and other stone cutters did not inhale dangerous silica particles created as a byproduct of working with these materials.

The complaint points out that in May 2025, Gonzalez was diagnosed with silicosis while in the hospital. Although he does not know the precise substance that caused his illness, the lawsuit claims defendants hid the toxicity of products he had spent more than 20 years working with, many of which contained silica particles, the only known cause of silicosis.

“At all material times hereto, Defendants failed to disclose to Plaintiff toxic hazards of their products, which Defendants were by law required to disclose to Plaintiff, Antonio Gonzalez, pursuant to the Hazard Communication Standard and pursuant to California common law.”

–Antonio Gonzalez v. Aaroha Radiant Marble & Granite Slab et al

Gonzalez raises allegations against all defendants of negligence, strict liability – failure to warn, strict liability – design defect, fraudulent concealment, breach of implied warranties, as well as negligence, product liability, and breach of express and implied warranty with relation to 3M Company respirator products. He is seeking compensatory damages for pain, suffering, disfigurement, and emotional angst.

Silicosis Lawsuits

Gonzalez’ complaint is similar to other stone cutter silicosis cases brought by industry workers who spent years regularly exposed to silica dust.

An increasing number of these silicosis lawsuits being filed in California state courts, as the state is the epicenter of the quartz countertop industry. Each claim alleges manufacturers and employers knew about these risks to workers, but failed to take sufficient measures to educate or protect employees, violating occupational safety regulations.

As a result, attorneys nationwide are offering free consultations to individuals who were exposed to silica dust on the job and have since been diagnosed with silicosis.

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