Non-Silica Injuries Hang Over Insurers’ Liability in Stone Case

An insurance dispute over defense costs in litigation involving stoneworker’s injuries from toxic exposures will depend on whether any injuries alleged in stone workers’ underlying lawsuits are tied to materials other than silica.

A California federal judge pressed attorneys during a hearing Tuesday to identify any allegations that don’t include silica, as insurers argued their liability insurance policies exempt them from covering the defense costs for personal injury claims tied to silica.

“Doesn’t it have to be caused by silica for the exclusion to apply?” asked Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani of the US Distirct Court for the Central District of ...