Stone Cutter’s Lawsuit Alleges Lung Disease, Silicosis Warnings Should Have Been Provided

Worker likely to require a lung transplant due to respiratory damage, following decades of work with artificial stone in quartz countertops.

A California man who spent nearly 30 years fabricating artificial stone countertops has filed a lawsuit alleging he developed silicosis and other severe lung conditions, following prolonged exposure to silica dust, claiming the manufacturers failed to warn workers about the risks.

Silicosis is an irreversible lung disease that is only known to be caused by routine exposure and inhalation of silica dust, which most often comes from cutting artificial stone products. Inhalation of the dust can cause lung inflammation and scarring, and eventually can develop into lung failure, and the need for transplant surgery.

The stone cutting and countertop fabricating industry is a primary source for silica dust exposure. Also known as “engineered stone,” quartz countertops are believed to be a significant silicosis risk for stone cutters, who regularly inhale large amounts of silica dust as they make countertops for consumers’ kitchens and bedrooms.

A complaint (PDF) was filed by Jose Luis Granados, and his wife Gabriella, in San Francisco Superior Court on May 15, joining a growing number of silicosis lawsuits that present claims that countertop manufacturers failed to provide adequate warning or protective equipment to stone cutters and fabricators, despite knowing the risks of exposure for decades. The lawsuit names numerous stone countertop companies as defendants.

The lawsuit indicates that Jose Luis Granados has worked with artificial stone countertops in kitchens and bathrooms since 1997, regularly cutting, grinding, drilling, polishing, and fabricating the materials. In May 2024, he was diagnosed with silicosis after years of exposure to silica dust and other harmful substances released during fabrication.

“As a direct and proximate result of his exposure to silica, metals and other toxins by Defendants and Defendant’s products, Plaintiff, Jose Luis Granados, developed lung disease characterized by pulmonary nodules, silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis, progressive massive fibrosis, and other forms of lung damage, and therefore has a significantly increased risk of developing other silica-related diseases such as lung cancer, chronic kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma),” the lawsuit states. 

Granados claims he was never warned about the health risks of inhaling silica dust and was not provided with adequate protective equipment or medical screenings. As a result, his condition went undetected for years, and by the time he was diagnosed, the lung damage was already irreversible.

The complaint presents claims of negligence, failure to warn, design defect, fraudulent concealment, and breach of warranty. His wife presents claims of loss of consortium.

Silicosis Lawsuits

As more career stonecutters, like Granados, discover the health effects of silica exposure, the number of complaints is expected to continue to grow.

Each of the claims present similar allegations, that employers and manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings and protections to workers who were exposed to silica dust. This alleged negligence has led to severe and sometimes fatal respiratory conditions, including chronic silicosis.

The lawsuits often involve individuals who have worked for years in industries such as sandblasting, mining, construction, and manufacturing of products like quartz countertops, concrete and glass, where workers are frequently in contact with silica. 

Plaintiffs argue that despite longstanding knowledge of the risks associated with inhaling silica particles, sufficient measures were not taken to educate or protect workers, violating occupational safety regulations.

As a result, lawyers across the United States are providing free case evaluations for individuals who were exposed to silica dust throughout their careers, and have subsequently been diagnosed with silicosis.