A Santa Monica jury has awarded $47 million against tile manufacturers Dal-Tile Distribution, LLC and Dal-Tile, LLC in a case involving the death of a stone countertop factory worker—marking the fourth silicosis trial related to artificial stone and the third resulting in a plaintiff victory.
The verdict, returned Aug. 3, compensates the estate of Wilmer Ruben Martinez Paredes, who died at 41, as well as his widow, Evelin Liseth Gonzalez Rodriguez, and three minor children. Martinez Paredes developed artificial stone silicosis, silicosis-triggered rheumatoid arthritis and a silicosis-linked autoimmune disease during his years fabricating engineered stone countertops.
The award represents one of the largest in this emerging class of occupational disease cases and reflects a pattern: manufacturers of artificial stone products have known for years about severe respiratory and immunological dangers to workers who cut, shape and polish the materials without adequate protection, yet continued to expose employees to the hazard.
Engineered stone, manufactured from crushed quartz and resin, contains far higher concentrations of crystalline silica than natural stone. When workers cut or grind these products, they inhale microscopic silica particles that lodge in the lungs, triggering medical complications. International health authorities have warned about this risk for more than a decade.
Court filings from similar cases reveal a recurring pattern: manufacturers marketed artificial stone as a premium, durable alternative to granite and marble while providing minimal discussion of crystalline silica content and respiratory hazards. Some workers received minimal dust control training, while others worked in poorly ventilated facilities with little access to proper respiratory protection.
The verdict comes amid growing pressure on the industry from worker compensation claims, state public health investigations of artificial stone fabrication shops and increasingly sophisticated legal evidence linking occupational exposure to disease onset.
The Brayton Purcell law firm, which represented the family, has signaled its intention to pursue additional cases, suggesting the litigation landscape around artificial stone silicosis will continue to expand.
