NEWS

Keep current with the news here:

December 4, 2024- Los Angeles Times - California bill calls for certification for stonecutting shops amid worker deaths from silicosis

December 2, 2024- ABC News Australia- Caesarstone alleged to be hiding behind Israel's war in Gaza to slow silicosis compensation claim

December 2, 2024- US News & World Report- Workers Who Make Kitchen Countertops Face Big Lung Hazards

October 31 ,2024 - Daily Mail - Insidious way the pursuit of the perfect kitchen is killing American workers

October 31, 2024 - La Vanguardia - Cases of silicosis are on the rise in Spain: artificial stone countertops are suspected

October 21, 2024 - Los Angeles Times - Safer stone? New countertop options emerge amid concerns over silicosis and worker deaths

October 2, 2024 - AU News - Disturbing detail in understanding of 'new asbestos' concerns

September 18, 2024 - NBC Los Angeles - SoCal man with silicosis wins lawsuit against makers of artificial stone slabs

September 14, 2024 - Chicago Tribune - Letters: Artificial stone fabrication cannot be made safe. Ban the products entirely.

September 11, 2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles - Prohibición para evitar más casos de silicosis: En Australia es ley, en California no hay planes

September 10, 2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles - Organización quiere evitar más muertes por silicosis

September 2, 2024 - The New Zealand Herald - Engineered stone benchtops linked to deadly lung disease silicosis

August 26, 2024 - NBC Los Angeles - They were diagnosed with silicosis, then denied worker's comp

August 10, 2024 – Univision - Hispanic worker who became ill with silicosis sues the company that manufactures the artificial stone

August 9,2024 - LA Opinion - Víctima de silicosis gana demanda millonaria contra fabricantes

August 9, 2024 – Daily Journal – Engineered stone companies found partially liable for worker’s silicosis

August 9, 2024 - BBC Science Focus -Common kitchen worktop material is causing incurable lung disease - new study

August 8,2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles - Jurado otorga mas de 52 millones de dolares a victima de silicosis

August 8,2024 – Public Health Watch-Jury Awards $52.4M in Case Against Artificial-Stone Countertop Makers

August 7, 2024 - LA Times - Jury finds stone companies at fault in lawsuit by countertop cutter sick with silicosis

August 7, 2024- PR Newswire-In a precedent-setting legal battle, plaintiff Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, a 34-year-old immigrant from Mexico, has received a verdict for $52,437,366 in damages after a Los Angeles County jury found the defendant manufacturers of artificial stone slabs liable for his fatal accelerated silicosis.

July 18, 2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles - Suspenden proyecto de ley contra la silicosis en California

July 17, 2024 – NBC Los Angeles - Silicosis cases rise in Calif. as new legislation is abandoned

July 11, 2024 – LA Times - Doctors said cutting countertops destroyed his lungs. He had to fight for workers’ comp

July 10, 2024 – NBC Los Angeles - Emerging health concern.' Potentially deadly lung disease linked to engineered countertops

July 10, 2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles - Aumentan los casos y muertes por silicosis en California: te explicamos de qué se trata esta terrible enfermedad

July 9, 2024 – NBC Los Angeles - What to know about silicosis, a disease tied to countertop stones

June 28, 2024- AP News - US miners’ union head calls House Republican effort to block silica dust rule an ‘attack’ on workers

June 28, 2024- iNews - Ban kitchen stone or risk deadly lung disease in hundreds of workers, says medic

June 26, 2024- SBS -  Why Australia's ban on engineered stone from 1 July comes 'too late' for former workers

June 11, 2024- Daily Journal - A License to Kill is No Solution

May 23, 2024 - Telemundo Los Angeles -Epidemia oculta: cómo la silicosis afecta a trabajadores hispanos

May 15, 2024- Department of Industrial Regulations- California Adds Safeguards to Protect Workers Against Silicosis

May 14, 2024- Telemundo - Epidemia oculta: Un mal que se ensaña con los pulmones de trabajadores latinos

May 13, 2024- Telemundo - Epidemia Oculta: Pacientes de silicosis viven con un tanque de oxígeno

May 13, 2024- Telemundo - Epidemia Oculta: Un trasplante de pulmón sería su única opción

April 12, 2024- The Hill-Incurable and unconscionable: How immigrants are contracting deadly lung disease making kitchen countertops. Brayton Purcell is referenced in an article published by The Hill, which highlights the alarming issue of silicosis among Latino immigrant workers in California. These workers, many of whom are involved in manufacturing quartz kitchen countertops, are contracting this deadly lung disease due to exposure to silica dust. The fabrication of quartz, a material containing over 90 percent silica, releases fine dust particles that, when inhaled, lead to the disease.  

April 3, 2024 - KTLA 5  - Officials introduce legislation to address incurable lung disease epidemic in Los Angeles

February 21, 2024 – San Fernando Valley Sun – A Silicosis Epidemic in the Northeast San Fernando Valley

February 7, 2024 – The Progressive Magazine – Welcome to the Cancer Factory

February 6, 2024 – CBS Morning News – The production of crushed quartz countertops may be causing deadly lung issues in workers

February 2, 2024 – Sidney Morning Harold – Scope of benchtop ban under review to guard against loopholes

December 27, 2023 – Univisión – Silicosis: la enfermedad causada por cortar la piedra que se usa para cocinas y baños

December 14, 2023 – Public Health Watch – California Issues Emergency Rule to Address Silicosis Epidemic

December 14, 2023 – LA List – California Issues Emergency Rule To Address Silicosis Epidemic

December 14, 2023 – KQED – California Regulators Approve Emergency Rules to Protect Stonecutters From Deadly Disease

December 14, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California embraces emergency rules to protect countertop workers from incurable silicosis

December 13, 2023 – Safe Work Australia – Engineered stone prohibition to make workplaces safer and healthier for all Australians

December 11, 2023 – KQED – California Regulators to Vote on Emergency Rules for Stonecutters’ Safety

December 4, 2022 – Univision – La enfermedad silenciosa que está amenazando la salud y las vidas de muchos trabajadores inmigrantes

November 24, 2023 – Sidney Morning Herald – The stone benchtop ad that found its way into a major US lawsuit

November 19, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California countertop workers died of a preventable disease. The threat was known years earlier  and in Spanish: Trabajadores de mostrador de California murieron de silicosis a pesar de años de advertencias

November 15, 2023 – The Guardian – Ikea joins Bunnings in banning engineered stone products linked to silicosis

November 14, 2023 – Sidney Morning Herald – Bunnings to stop selling engineered stone

November 10, 2023 –  Safe Work Australia’s damning report on engineered stone could lead to a total ban

November 1, 2023 – ABC News – Video: Debate continues about the use of deadly engineered stone

October 31, 2023 – Daily Mail – IKEA becomes the latest store to face pressure to pull kitchen benchtops causing fatal disease from its stores

October 30, 2023 – SafeWork SA – Prohibition on the use of engineered stone

October 30, 2023 – The National Tribune – CFMEU urges all governments not to shirk responsibility on engineered stone

October 29, 2023 – ABC Net News – Damning silicosis report calls for world-first ban on deadly engineered stone — will governments listen?

October 28, 2023 – City Hub Sidney – “The asbestos of the 2020s”: Unions push for engineered stone ban

October 25, 2023 – The Sydney Morning Herald – Engineered stone review puts total ban on the table

October 25, 2023 – The New Daily – Unions announce July 2024 deadline for engineered stone benchtops to halt killer disease

October 24, 2023 – 7 News Australia – Workers call to ban engineered stone over deadly silicosis

October 18, 2023 – Union: Caesarstone’s Killer Stone Protection Campaign Evil

October 17, 2023 – Caesarstone launches advertising blitz over potential benchtop ban

October 8, 2023 – Commentary: No one should have to die for our fancy countertops

September 30, 2023 – The Los Angeles Times – Letters to the Editor: How deadly are your beautiful new stone countertops?

September 29, 2023 – The Los Angeles Times – Engineered stone counter tops are killing workers at high rates. What can consumers do about it?

September 29, 2023 – The Sydney Morning Herald – This deadly disease should be relegated to the dustbin of history. Instead, it’s surging

September 25, 2023 – OSHA National Reliance News – Department of Labor announces enforcement, compliance initiative to protect workers from silica exposure in engineered stone fabrication, installation

September 25, 2023 – Bloomberg Law – Safety Regulator Aims to Protect Workers From ‘Engineered Stone’ – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza

September 25, 2023 – SK Pop – What is Silicosis? California workers who cut countertops afflicted by incurable lung disease – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza

September 24, 2023 – Mirror – Silicosis killing young workers who cut countertops as incurable disease destroys lungs – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza

September 24, 2023 – Los Angeles Times – California workers who cut countertops are dying of an incurable disease – Featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura Meza

September 15, 2023 – 7 News Australia – Aussie Tradies Call For Nationwide Ban on Manufactured Stone Benchtops to Prevent Silicosis

September 14, 2023 – KCBS – As Prescribed: The Deadly Truth About Synthetic Countertops

September 14, 2023 – Hospitality Design – With Quartz Linked to Silicosis, Manufacturers Seek Alternatives

September 11, 2023 – Sydney Morning Herald – Federal Government Under Pressure to Release Safe Work’s Benchtop Ban Report

August 15, 2023 – Financial Review – CFMEU to Push Labor Conference on Engineered Stone Ban – “Any suggestion engineered stone can be used safely is a lie designed to perpetuate an industry which preys on the lives of Australian workers. We’ve seen people contract silicosis and other diseases even with PPE because the tiny killer particles penetrate masks.”

July 25, 2023 – NBC News – Quartz Countertops Linked to Deadly Lung Disease in Workers Who Fabricate the Material

July 24, 2023 – New York Post – Fancy Quartz Countertops are Killing People Who Make Them, Doctors Say

July 24, 2023 – NPR – Young Men Making Quartz Countertops Are Facing Lung Damage – One State is Taking Action

July 22, 2023 – KQED – California Fast-Tracks Rules to Protect Stonecutters From ‘Horrible’ Deaths – featuring Brayton Purcell LLP client Leobardo Segura-Meza following his July 20, 2023 testimony before the Cal-OSHA Standards Board.

July 21, 2023 – KQED – New Workplace Rules to Be Put in Place to Better Regulate Silica Dust

June 22, 2023 – Monash University – World’s Most Comprehensive Study of Stone Benchtop Workers Reveals An Alarming High Prevalence of Silicosis

February 19, 2023 – 60 Minutes Australia – Video – What Your Dream Renovation is Really Doing to Workers’ Health

December 21, 2019 – NPR – A New Safety Program Takes On Silica Dust Amid a Possible Crisis

December 2, 2019 – There’s No Good Dust’: What Happens After Quartz Countertops Leave the Factory

November 21, 2019 – NPR – ‘It’s Going to Get Worse’: How U.S. Countertop Workers Started Getting Sick

October 29, 2019 – CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – Outbreak of Silicosis Among Engineered Stone Countertop Workers in Four States

October 7, 2019 – NPR – Lawmakers Seek Protections for Workers Against Lung Damage Tied to Making Countertops

October 2, 2019 – NPR – Workers Are Falling Ill, Even Dying, After Making Kitchen Countertops

September 2019 – CDPH (California Department of Public Heath) – Occupational Health Alert – Silicosis Outbreak in Engineered Stone Fabrication Workers – 18 Cases in 4 States

March 2019 – CDPH (California Department of Public Heath) – Health Advisory on Stone Fabrication Hazards – Severe Lung Disease From Inhaling Silica Dust

Additionally, NPR (National Public Radio) maintains a Special Series  – Silicosis in U.S. Countertop Workers that includes an updated list of news stories on this topic.

Ask for An Analysis of Your Potential Lawsuit

If you or a family member have worked as a fabricator, cutter, polisher, or installer of engineered stone (Quartz) (artificial) (manufactured) stone countertops, and have been diagnosed with any type of silicosis or lung cancer, or think that you potentially could have silicosis, contact Brayton Purcell LLP online or call them at (855)335-8606 for a free consultation. Even if you are an undocumented immigrant, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  You have rights.  It is time for you to seek justice.

For an overview of engineered stone, why it is dangerous, and how it causes silicosis and other diseases, click here 

To learn about Safety and Medical resources, and how to reduce or eliminate exposure to silica, click here

To learn about how silicosis from engineered stone is diagnosed and to find treating doctors who specialize in engineered stone silicosis, click here

To learn about what the manufacturers and distributors of engineered stone knew about the hazards of their products, click here

To learn about the types of monetary damages available to silicosis victims, statute of limitations (deadlines to file a lawsuit), or the major defendant manufacturers of engineered stone, click here