California Jury Awards $67.7M in Silicosis Verdict Against Stone Fabricator

A California jury awarded $67.7 million to an artificial stone fabricator who contracted a deadly disease and required a double lung transplant, finding a stonemaker primarily responsible for the injuries. This was the second such verdict against the company this month. In a separate case on October 21, a jury assessed a $33 million verdict against the company and its U.S. subsidiary for a fatal case of silicosis, finding them 22% responsible. The victim in the $67.7 million case worked at Primus Marble in Los Angeles until 2022.

The epidemic of silicosis cases among fabricators has caused insurance costs in the stonemaking industry to soar. Seven multimillion-dollar silicosis cases have been tried in the U.S., with all but one ending in favor of the victims. About 100,000 stone fabricators in the U.S. are at risk of the disease.