Silicosis Lawsuit Results in $7.6M Verdict for Former Sandblaster

A former sandblaster has been awarded $7.6 million against Mississippi Valley Silica Co. Inc. after filing a silicosis lawsuit, which claims he developed the incurable lung disease from exposure to silica particles at his former job.
The silicosis lawsuit was filed by Robert Eastman, who developed a severe case of the disease after working as a sandblaster between 1963 and 1978. The sand used in sandblasting at the facility was provided by Mississippi Valley Silica, and Eastman alleged that the company knew that their product could cause potentially fatal silicosis, and failed to take steps to protect workers or provide adequate warnings.
Following a trial in Warren County, Miss., a jury awarded Eastman $7.6 million in compensation. According to a report in the Clarion Ledger, the Silicosis lawsuit was the first such case to go to trial in Mississippi.
Silicosis Lawsuit
Were you exposed to silica dust?
Silicosis lawsuits are being filed by stone fabricators, construction workers and others who developed silicosis after being exposed to silica dust released from engineered countertop products.rnrn


Silicosis Lawsuit
Were you exposed to silica dust?
Silicosis lawsuits are being filed by stone fabricators, construction workers and others who developed silicosis after being exposed to silica dust released from engineered countertop products.rnrn
Silicosis, also known as Potter’s Rot, is caused by overexposure to crystalline silica particles which the lungs cannot expel by coughing or mucus once inhaled. Scar tissue develops around the particles in the lungs and reduces the ability of the lungs to pull oxygen from the air. Silica exposure has also been associated with bronchitis, tuberculosis and lung cancer.
Silicosis is most common among industrial workers, particularly sandblasters, rock drillers, stone cutters, masons, miners and glass manufacturers, making it one of the oldest known industrial-related diseases in the world.
The disease is more common in developing countries than in the United States; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one million workers in the U.S. are exposed to silica dust. Estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Labor and WHO place the number of U.S. silicosis-related deaths at between 150 and 300 annually.
2024 Silicosis Lawsuit Update
Following a growing body of medical research linking the silica dust released from cutting, grinding and polishing engineered stone countertops, lawyers across the nation are investigating lawsuits for stone fabricators, sandblasters and others who have been diagnosed silicosis.
To find out whether you qualify for a silicosis lawsuit from exposure to silica dust, submit information for review by a lawyer to determine if you may be eligible for a lawsuit payout.
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