LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — NBC 4 Los Angeles presented a newscast and article on September 19, 2024 by Lolita Lopez and Helen Jeong that tells the story of a recent verdict in favor of a stone countertop fabricator in Los Angeles County.
The article highlights a groundbreaking verdict in which Gustavo Reyez Gonzalez, a Southern California worker diagnosed with silicosis after 15 years of fabricating artificial stone slabs, has been assessed a verdict of over $52 million in damages against several manufacturers of artificial stone slabs. The jury’s verdict, considered a landmark case, highlights the deadly nature of fabricating artificial stone slabs used for kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, expressed gratitude for the outcome, stating, “I am grateful to the judge and the jury… It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families.”
Gonzalez’s attorney, James Nevin of Brayton Purcell LLP, emphasized the broader impact of this verdict, saying, “Hopefully, consumers hearing about this, and workers hearing about this, can send a message to these companies to stop selling these products.”
The case sheds light on the increasing number of silicosis cases caused by exposure to silica dust from fabricating artificial stone. According to health experts, the artificial stone contains high levels of nano-sized silica and other toxins, leading to an epidemic of accelerated silicosis among fabrication workers, predominantly in immigrant populations throughout the U.S. and the world.
With this verdict, advocates are pushing for the banning of the manufacturing and distribution of artificial stone products that have proven to be deadly to those fabricating the materials for use in residential and commercial buildings. While Australia has already banned the use of artificial stone, the U.S. faces resistance from slab manufacturers.
For a link to the full NBC 4 Los Angeles article and more information about artificial stone silicosis, visit Stone Silicosis in the News.
CONTACT:
Nolan Lowry
Brayton Purcell LLP
(415)898-1555 x649
[email protected]
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SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP
