Stone Cutter Medical Monitoring Lawsuits Filed Over Silicosis Lung Injury Risks

Some stone cutters are seeking medical monitoring for silica dust exposure, before being diagnosed with related illnesses.

Amid a growing number of individual silicosis lawsuits being filed by workers with occupational exposure to silica dust, artificial stone manufacturers now also face claims from individuals seeking medical monitoring for potential long-term health risks they may face after years of fabricating and cutting quartz countertops.

Silicosis is an irreversible lung condition known only to be caused by routine exposure and inhalation of silica dust. It begins with lung inflammation and scarring, and eventually can develop into lung failure, and the need for transplant surgery.

The artificial stone cutting and fabricating countertop industry is considered 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.

Dozens of individual silicosis personal injury lawsuits have already been filed by workers diagnosed with the disease, alleging that manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings or safety protections against the known risks of silica dust exposure. These claims argue that artificial stone companies prioritized production over worker safety, leading to irreversible lung damage in many fabricators and installers.

However, in the last few weeks, several former stone cutters have filed claims in California state court seeking damages for their exposure to silica dust and medical monitoring costs to watch for potential long-term health consequences. These differ from other previous silicosis claims, as the plaintiffs in these newer cases do not claim to have yet suffered any serious injuries beyond exposure.

Stone Fabricator Silicosis Medical Monitoring Claims

One such complaint (PDF) was filed by Erdis Lee Powell in California Superior Court in San Francisco on April 25, against C&C North America, Inc. and Consentino Global Sociedad Limitada.

The lawsuit indicates Powell worked as a stone cutter, fabricator and installer at The Tile Masters in Vallejo, California from 2015 to 2023, during which time he cut, ground, and fabricated stone countertop products.

“As a direct and proximate result of his exposure to silica, metals and other toxins within stone products manufactured, distributed, supplied, contracted, and/or brokered by Defendants, Plaintiff, Erdis Lee Powell, was exposed to artificial stone dust,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff has not yet developed a silica related or caused disease.”

A very similar lawsuit was filed by Michele Kahn (PDF) in the same court a day earlier, with both indicating that the defendants, the same in several claims filed throughout the end of April, failed to warn workers of the potential risks of lung damage and failed to take protective measures to prevent silica dust inhalation, which they knew was dangerous.

The lawsuits present claims of negligence, failure to warn, design defect, fraudulent concealment and breach of implied warranties.

May 2025 Silicosis Lawsuits Update

These claims, as well as silicosis injury lawsuits, come as evidence linking silica dust exposure to silicosis continues to emerge.

Each of the claims present similar allegations, that employers and manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings and protection 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 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.

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.