Buffalo, New York: Kitchen Countertop Lung Disease

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer Who Is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Personal Injury Service. If You or a Loved One Has Developed Silicosis After Working With or Around Stone Countertops and Stone Countertop Slabs, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Explore Your Best Options for Effective Legal Relief.

Health officials in the neighboring state of Massachusetts recently confirmed a near-unprecedented case of silicosis in a man who spent more than a decade installing stone countertops.

In a press release, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that the 40-year-old man had spent at least 14 years working in the stone countertop industry. He was recently diagnosed with silicosis, which experts believe was caused by exposure to quartz particles.

“The confirmation of this case in Massachusetts is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not just a distant threat,” said Massachusetts Public Health Director Emily H. Sparer-Fine. “It is here, and it is seriously impacting the health of workers in Massachusetts.”

Although New York has yet to report any cases of occupational silicosis, news from Massachusetts suggests that anyone who works with or near stone countertops could be at risk for this serious respiratory disease. However, much like asbestos and mesothelioma, the relationship between stone countertops, quartz, and silicosis is not always obvious. For workers, it can take years, and sometimes even decades, for symptoms to appear.

Even though silicosis is not usually life-threatening, it cannot be cured, and its symptoms can be severe enough to take a very real toll on both the body and the mind. Recovery can be expensive, entailing intensive treatment that costs enough to drain bank accounts and empty out retirement funds.

You do not have to accept hardship in place of a fair recovery.

If you or a loved one has developed silicosis after working with stone countertops, you could be entitled to significant compensation. For more than 25 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of workers in Buffalo. Since our founding, we have helped our clients secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please contact us immediately at 716-839-3939 to speak to a kitchen countertop silicosis lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Silicosis is a type of lung disease that can develop after exposure to silica dust.

Silica is a naturally occurring compound that can be found in many places, including plants, sand, soil, water, and rock. Manufacturers sometimes use silica for industrial purposes. One of its most common applications is in silica gel, which is used to fill the small, moisture-protecting packets found in many prepackaged food items.

Anyone who works with or lives around silica-based products could be inadvertently exposed to silica dust. In Massachusetts, public health officials said there is always an exposure risk when handling natural stones but emphasized that engineered products, like the quartz used in kitchen countertops, pose an even greater danger.

“In recent years, the disease has become prevalent among stone fabrication workers due to the rise in popularity of countertops made from engineered stone,” the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said.

Most people who are diagnosed with silicosis were exposed to silica dust at work. However, unlike the flu or common cold, it can take a very long time for the symptoms of silica exposure to appear. Instead, silica can slowly infiltrate the respiratory system, hurting the body from the inside out. In most cases, it takes about 10 years for symptoms to become noticeable.

Once the symptoms of silicosis do appear, they are often hard to ignore. These symptoms vary from person to person, but typically include some combination of:

1. A long-lasting and persistent cough;
2. Inflammation in your lungs and surrounding tissue; and
3. Extensive scarring of lung tissue and fiber.

These symptoms can be accompanied by more general feelings of malaise, like fatigue, muscle weakness, and unexplained weight loss. If silicosis is not promptly diagnosed and treated, chronic inflammation in the lungs can also give rise to other, bigger problems, raising your lifetime risk of developing a condition like tuberculosis or lung cancer.

Silicosis is not a rare disease: according to some estimates, more than 2 million Americans are currently living with a diagnosis. In recent years, the overall rate of occupation-related silicosis has declined, thanks in part to increased safety standards.

However, nobody can protect themselves from a risk they never expected to face.

For years, workers and regulators across the country have shared concerns about the presence of silica dust in the kitchen countertop industry. Until recently, though, most people diagnosed with silicosis had few options for recourse. This has started to change. In 2024, for instance, a California man who spent years installing kitchen countertops became one of the first workers to successfully obtain a multimillion-dollar judgment against companies that make artificial stone slabs.

You may be able to take action, too, if you meet the following conditions:

1. You worked as a stone fabricator, home contractor, or were otherwise exposed to silica dust at work; and
2. You have developed silicosis as a result of your exposure.

Simply proving that a dangerous product at work caused a diagnosis like silicosis can be more difficult than you might expect. More often than not, it involves a thorough inspection of your medical records, worksite investigations, and input from industry professionals with the expertise to determine exactly when, where, and how you were exposed.

Lawyers use the term “damages” to describe the different kinds of compensation available in a personal injury lawsuit. If you have been diagnosed with silicosis, you could be entitled to damages for:

1. Your existing medical expenses;
2. The costs of continuing or anticipated care;
3. Physical rehabilitation;
4. Mental health counseling;
5. Paid co-pays and insurance deductibles;
6. Lost income from work;
7. Pain and suffering;
8. Loss of enjoyment; and
9. Wrongful death.

Unlike many other states, New York does not cap damages in most silica exposure claims. This means that you could obtain as much money as you need to reclaim your financial independence. However, you cannot wait too long to take action. If you delay, the statute of limitations could expire, and once it does, your case could be dismissed on a technicality, preventing you from obtaining the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

Do not lose your chance to obtain justice. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades filing, fighting, and winning cases like yours. We know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for recovery, and we have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us at 716-839-3939 to speak to a silicosis lawyer in Buffalo and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!