Proposed Act Shields Stone Slab Manufacturers from Silica Lawsuits, Shifts Liability to Installers

This piece of legislation, officially called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act, is straightforward: it bans nearly all civil lawsuits against manufacturers and sellers of stone slabs—think quartz, porcelain, and similar countertop materials—if the injury comes from inhaling silica dust during the cutting or installation process. The bill states that courts must dismiss any new or existing lawsuits that fall under this category, effective immediately upon the Act becoming law (SEC. 3).

The Fine Print on Liability Shields

At its core, this Act is about shifting liability. Congress argues that these manufacturers and sellers (importers, distributors, retailers) shouldn't be held responsible when injuries occur because third-party installers fail to follow existing federal safety rules designed to control silica dust (SEC. 2). They define a “qualified civil action” as any lawsuit against a manufacturer or seller where the injury resulted from “fabrication”—meaning cutting, drilling, or grinding—done by someone else (SEC. 4). The intent is clear: protect the industry from what they deem “frivolous” lawsuits that clog up the courts.

Who Pays the Price When the Dust Flies?

If you work in construction, renovation, or any trade that involves cutting these materials—whether you’re an independent contractor or an employee of a small installation firm—this bill is a massive deal. Currently, if you develop a severe, debilitating lung disease like silicosis from years of breathing dust on the job, you might sue the manufacturer, arguing the product was inherently dangerous or improperly labeled. This bill eliminates that option entirely. Instead, the full legal and financial burden for your injury falls solely on the installer or fabricator who did the cutting, potentially leaving the injured party with no way to recover damages if the installer is a small, under-insured company or goes bankrupt. The manufacturer, who profits from the sale of the material, walks away clean (SEC. 3).

The Cost of Commerce Protection

The stated purpose of the Act is to protect interstate commerce and ensure consumers can still access stone slab products without manufacturers facing undue legal risk (SEC. 2). While the bill might reduce legal costs for large manufacturers and potentially stabilize the supply chain, the practical cost is borne by the workers. It essentially creates a massive legal loophole for product liability in the stone slab industry, making it legally impossible to hold the product source accountable for a hazard—silica dust—that is inherent to the product itself when it is used as intended (i.e., cut to fit a kitchen). By mandating the dismissal of pending cases, the Act also immediately strips injured workers of their current legal recourse, impacting those already fighting for compensation.