Two separate California juries delivered multimillion-dollar verdicts against engineered stone manufacturer Caesarstone in late October 2026, awarding combined damages exceeding $100 million to former stone fabricators with silicosis. Both juries assigned part of the fault to the manufacturer, and in the larger case the majority of it.
On Oct. 26, 2026, a jury in Long Beach, Calif. awarded $67.7 million to former stone fabricator Dennys Rene Rivas Williams, who developed silicosis after fabricating engineered stone surfaces at Primus Marble in Pacoima, Calif., between 2015 and 2022. The case, initially filed in April 2023, concluded with jurors assigning 69.1% of the fault to Caesarstone Ltd. and its U.S. division Caesarstone USA, which Stone Update calculates makes the manufacturer possibly liable for $46.7 million.
Just five days earlier, on Oct. 21, 2026, another California jury returned a $33 million verdict for a fabricator who contracted silicosis after 13 years working in the stone fabrication trade. In that matter, the jury assigned 22% liability to Caesarstone and its U.S. subsidiary, while holding employer Lucky Stone 70% responsible.
Long Beach Verdict and Liability Allocation
The Long Beach jury awarded Rivas Williams $60 million in non-economic damages, plus $7.25 million in expenses, loss of earnings and household services. An additional stipulated $466,000 will be added to the judgment by Judge Michele Flurer following the verdict. While Caesarstone was assigned 69.1% of the responsibility, employer Primus Marble was allocated 30% of the fault.
The remaining 0.9% of liability was divided among nine other manufacturers and distributors named in the original complaint: Architectural Surfaces Group, Arizona Tile, Bedrosians, Dal-Tile, Color Marble, Cosentino, Francini, LX Hausys, and Walker Zanger. Six other companies cited in the initial filing—Cambria, HanStone, MSI, Vadara, Vicostone, and Wilsonart—were not assigned any share of fault by the jury.
According to Stone Update, in five previous judgments for silicosis victims the fabrication shop usually carried most of the responsibility; in this case a materials manufacturer received the majority share.
Jury Findings on Design Defect and Foreseeable Misuse
Jurors in the Long Beach case reached specific determinations regarding product liability. The jury found that Caesarstone's product design was "a substantial factor in causing harm" and concluded that the benefits of the design did not outweigh its risks. Furthermore, the jury determined that while the product was misused after leaving Caesarstone's possession, that misuse was not so extraordinary that it was unforeseeable to Caesarstone.
Rivas Williams was represented by Brayton Purcell LLP. The firm said he was diagnosed with silicosis in 2022 at age 35 and underwent a double-lung transplant two years later. He is expected to need another double-lung transplant next year.
Second California Trial and Litigation Patterns
In the second proceeding concluded on Oct. 21, 2026, the jury similarly found the manufactured stone product defective and rejected Caesarstone's defense based on product misuse. That trial resulted in a $33 million total award, holding fabrication employer Lucky Stone 70% responsible and Caesarstone 22% liable.
Brayton Purcell represented the injured workers in both trials. According to the firm, seven multimillion-dollar artificial stone silicosis cases have been tried in the United States, and all but one ended in verdicts for the workers. Caesarstone was not available for immediate comment, Business Insurance reported.
Manufacturer Background and Industry Context
Caesarstone Ltd. is headquartered in Israel, and Caesarstone USA is based in Charlotte, N.C. Silicosis litigation was already a theme in Caesarstone's Q2 2026 financial report. In 2025, Caesarstone introduced a silica-free surface made of recycled glass.
The verdicts arrive as California works on a revised Cal/OSHA artificial stone rule draft, which would require SKU-level laboratory testing. For the scale of the problem in the state, see the report on California's engineered stone silicosis cases.
What It Means for Buyers
- Anticipate Expanded Manufacturer Risk Across Supply Chains: Juries are assigning fault to slab producers as well as fabrication shops, which may lead manufacturers and insurers to tighten handling requirements for distributors and fabricators.
- Expect Stricter Safety Audits and Mandatory Shop Disclosures: Slab distributors and processing shops should prepare for enhanced safety data documentation, including formal warnings and handling protocols required by material suppliers.
- Align Specifications with Emerging Testing Mandates: Commercial buyers specifying countertops in California must evaluate product compliance alongside proposed regulatory standards, such as SKU-level laboratory testing using X-ray Diffraction.
- Evaluate Alternative Low-Silica and Natural Formulations: Project teams comparing recycled glass surfaces, sintered porcelain and natural stone should remember that natural stone fabrication also generates silica dust and needs the same dust controls.
