Silicosis lawsuit settlements usually range from $30,000 to over $1 million. The sizes of silicosis settlements are dependent on illness severity, duration of exposure and evidence of negligence.
Call our experienced silicosis lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one received a silicosis diagnosis after spending a minimum of one year cutting, installing, fabricating, or polishing engineered stone/quartz. We can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, pain, suffering, wrongful death, lost wages and more. We will charge no legal fee until we win your case.
Key Takeaways
- Settlements range from around $30,000 for minor cases to over $1 million for severe or fatal cases.
- The largest silicosis verdicts in United States history have come from California. The state saw $52.4 million awarded in a silicosis case in 2024.
- Settlements can include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and wrongful death.
- Workers have two years from the date they discovered that occupational silica dust exposure caused their silicosis to file a silica exposure lawsuit in California.
- Defendants in silicosis cases can include artificial stone manufacturers such as Caesarstone, Cambria and Francini. They can also include employers who failed to provide safe workplaces.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Average Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amount?
- Examples of Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amounts in California
- Who Can File a Silicosis Lawsuit?
- What Compensation Can Silicosis Victims Pursue?
- How Long Do You Have to File a Silicosis Lawsuit in California?
- When to Contact a Silicosis Lawyer
- FAQs
What Is the Average Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amount?
Settlements involving the lung disease silicosis usually range from $30,000 to over $1 million.
Some cases involving severe silicosis involve settlements or verdicts which far exceed $1 million.
Minor cases involving limited exposure to respirable crystalline silica will usually involve settlements at the lower end of the range.
Cases involving accelerated silicosis, acute silicosis, advanced silicosis, lung cancer, lung transplant or death have led to multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. An example of this is a $52.4 million 2024 verdict in California in the case Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez v. Caesarstone USA et al.
Key factors which affect settlement value include:
- Severity of diagnosis: Chronic silicosis vs. accelerated silicosis vs. silicosis with lung cancer or requiring lung transplant.
- Duration and intensity of exposure to airborne silica dust particles: This includes if levels exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit under 29 CFR 1910.1053.
- Strength of evidence: This involves evidence which links defendants’ products or work sites to occupational exposure to silica dust leading to silicosis.
- Number of defendants named: Multiple defendants can be named in silicosis lawsuits, including employers as well as countertop manufacturers such as Caesarstone, Cambria and Francini.
- Defendant conduct: Settlement and verdict values can be higher when employers or manufacturers concealed known risks or failed to provide adequate respiratory protection.
- Documented economic losses: These include medical bills, future treatment costs and lost earning capacity.
Examples of Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amounts in California
$52.4 Million Verdict (August 2024): Gonzalez v. Caesarstone USA et al.
A Los Angeles Jury awarded $52.4 million to a 34-year-old stone fabricator who required a double lung transplant after developing silicosis.
The man had worked with engineered stone countertop products for 15 years before being diagnosed with silicosis.
Defendants in the lawsuit included:
- Caesarstone USA
- Cambria Company LLC
- Color Marble, Inc.
This was the largest silicosis verdict in United States history.
$17.45 Million Verdict in Colorado (May 2026)
A Colorado jury awarded $17.45 million to a countertop worker.
The man allegedly developed occupational silicosis and kidney disease after he worked with engineered stone products for about 10 years.
$26+ Million Confidential Settlement in California (April 2025)
This California settlement involved a countertop fabricator in his 50s with accelerated silicosis and pulmonary massive fibrosis.
The man was dependent on oxygen at the time of the settlement.
Defendants in the lawsuit included:
- Casesarstone USA
- Cambria Company LLC
- EIDP Inc.
- Francini, Inc.
The total settlement exceeded $26 million. The terms of the settlement were confidential.
$18.5 Million Class Action Settlement: Midwest Foundry Workers
This Illinois class action settlement involved over 200 foundry workers with chronic silicosis due to inhaling silica dust in the workplace.
This settlement illustrates that silicosis litigation extends beyond stone fabrication, involving traditional industrial settings like foundries.
$5 Million Silicosis Verdict in Mississippi
This case involved a construction worker alleging that prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust caused him to develop silicosis and, later, lung cancer.
The lawsuit alleged that defective respiratory protection equipment contributed to his exposure.
$2 Million Settlement: Silicosis Progressing to Lung Cancer
This settlement involved a worker who developed silicosis and, later, lung cancer.
Who Can File a Silicosis Lawsuit?
You or a loved one might qualify to file a silicosis lawsuit if you cut, fabricated, installed or polished engineered stone/quartz then developed:
- Any kind of silicosis
- Severe restrictive/obstructive lung disease
- X-ray/HRCT evidence of fibrosis, nodules or ground-glass opacities
- Lung transplant evaluation or referral
- Progressive massive fibrosis (PMF)
Exposure settings include:
- Countertop fabrication shops
- Crews for on-site installation
- Manufacturing plants for engineered stone
- Remodelers who performed dry quartz cutting
U.S. citizenship isn’t required. Many claimants speak Spanish. Undocumented workers are able to file claims.
Legal Grounds
Legal grounds for silicosis lawsuits include:
- Product liability: Failure to warn about the risks and silica content of engineered stone products.
- Negligence: Employers failing to implement required engineering controls or provide adequate respiratory protection.
- Wrongful death: Surviving family members may file wrongful death lawsuits when workers die from silicosis or related illnesses.
What Compensation Can Silicosis Victims Pursue?
Silicosis victims can pursue financial compensation for damages through civil lawsuits. This compensation is separate from any compensation recovered through a workers’ compensation claim.
Civil lawsuits can recover damages that aren’t covered by workers’ comp, such as compensation for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages.
Silicosis lawsuit plaintiffs may be able to recover financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
Compensation may be available for the costs of current, future and past medical care.
This may include compensation for the costs of things such as pulmonary rehabilitation, hospital stays, oxygen therapy, lung transplants, hospital stays, ER visits, doctor visits, medications, medical treatments, physical therapy, medical testing and more.
Lost Wages
Compensation could be available for income that is lost while you are unable to work or receive treatment.
Loss of Earning Capacity
You may qualify for compensation for being unable to earn at the same level as before or being unable to return to work because you developed a permanent or long-term disability due to silicosis.
Pain and Suffering
Compensation may be available for mental suffering, physical pain, severe shortness of breath, fatigue and physical discomfort related to silicosis.
Lost Quality of Life
You could recover compensation for the inability to enjoy hobbies, participate in family activities or maintain an active lifestyle.
Emotional Distress
You could qualify for compensation for depression, anxiety or fear linked with silicosis.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one to silicosis, we can help you recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- The pain and suffering your loved one went through before passing
- The medical expenses your loved one incurred before passing
- The loss of your loved one’s companionship, love, spousal benefits, household services and income
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded if the liable party demonstrated gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Punitive damages may be awarded when willful disregard for worker safety occurred. This can happen when employers ignore OSHA requirements.
Punitive damages punish negligent parties as well as deter future safety violations.
How Long Do You Have to File a Silicosis Lawsuit in California?
The time limit to file a silicosis lawsuit in California, in most cases, is two years from the date you discover that your occupational exposure to silica dust caused your silicosis.
Exceptions exist to this time limit. Some exceptions shorten it and others lengthen it.
It’s wise to contact a silicosis lawyer as soon as possible so evidence can be preserved, your lawyers have as much time as possible to build a strong case, and all paperwork can be filed comfortably on time.
When to Contact a Silicosis Lawyer
Call our experienced hazardous exposure lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was diagnosed with silicosis after cutting, polishing, installing or fabricating engineered stone/quartz for a minimum of one year. We can help you to recover compensation for medical costs, pain, suffering, lost wages, wrongful death and more.
We will charge you no legal fee until we win your case.
Call us today.
FAQs
Is Silicosis Always Caused by Workplace Exposure?
No. However, workplace exposure causes the overwhelming majority of cases.
Non-workplace causes of silicosis include:
- Environmental/geographic exposure: “Desert lung disease” can result from long-term exposure to sandstorms in desert areas.
- Recreational/DIY work: DIY projects involving drilling, cutting or grinding tile, concrete or masonry can produce hazardous dust.
- Secondary exposure: Family members may inhale silica dust brought home on the shoes, hair or clothing of workers in high-risk industries.
Can Silicosis Be Fatal?
Yes.
Silicosis is an incurable, progressive and potentially fatal lung disease.
Not everyone with silicosis dies from it. However, advanced and severe cases of it can be deadly because of progressive respiratory failure or complications like kidney disease, lung cancer or tuberculosis.
Can I File a Silicosis Lawsuit If I Also Filed for Workers’ Compensation?
Yes. In fact, most workers who develop silicosis can file lawsuits even after receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
Silicosis lawsuits can provide compensation for things that workers’ compensation benefits don’t cover, including emotional distress, pain, suffering and punitive damages.
What Is the Difference Between Chronic Silicosis and Accelerated Silicosis?
Chronic silicosis involves long periods of exposure to low to moderate concentrations of silica dust.
Accelerated silicosis involves shorter periods of exposure to higher concentrations of silica dust.
