Silica Isn’t the ‘Next Asbestos’
Thursday, September 11th, 2003 LiabilityAlthough it is not and probably never will be the problem that asbestos is for businesses and insurers, silica-related claims and lawsuits have been steadily increasing for the past few years, according to plaintiff and defense attorneys practicing in this field. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, silicosis, a respiratory disorder characterized by the formation of nodules and fibrous scar tissue on the lungs, is the oldest known occupational disease. It is caused by inhaling silica particles from quartz found in rocks and sand. Jim Hughes, a plaintiffs‘ attorney with Motley Rice LLC in Mount Pleasant, S.C., currently has 193 silica cases in the discovery phase. Mr. Hughes believes that silica litigation nationwide will go up because more and more people are being diagnosed with silica-related diseases.
