Friday, November 6, 2026 from Stone World

A California jury returned a $33 million verdict in a lawsuit involving engineered stone countertop fabrication and silicosis, according to a statement released October 23 by attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

Brayton Purcell LLP reported that jurors reached the verdict October 21 in a case brought by Jose Luis Martir Navarro and Silvia Rebeca Gudiel Garcia against Caesarstone Ltd., Caesarstone USA Inc. and other defendants.

According to the law firm, Martir Navarro developed silicosis after working in the engineered stone countertop fabrication industry for 13 years.

The firm said the jury found both Caesarstone entities liable under a product-design defect theory. Jurors assessed $25 million in noneconomic damages for Martir Navarro and $8 million for Gudiel Garcia’s loss of consortium.

The jury also apportioned responsibility among multiple parties, according to the attorneys. Caesarstone Ltd. and Caesarstone USA Inc. were each assigned 11% of the fault, while Martir Navarro’s employer was assigned 70%. Other stone manufacturers and distributors were assigned a combined 8%.

The $33 million represents the total damages verdict, not necessarily the amount ultimately payable by the Caesarstone companies.

“The evidence in this case showed that artificial stone silicosis is a preventable disease,” said Liliana Carbone, an attorney with Brayton Purcell LLP.

The reported verdict comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of crystalline silica exposure in the countertop fabrication industry.

California regulators released an updated discussion draft October 22 proposing restrictions on the manufacture and fabrication of artificial stone containing 1% or more crystalline silica. The proposal remains under consideration, with public comments accepted through October 30.

The reported verdict has not yet been independently confirmed against the court’s verdict form. Caesarstone’s response and the potential for post-trial proceedings or an appeal also remain unverified.