The Silent Suffering: Why Latino Workers with Silicosis Often Don’t Seek Help

By Charley Velasco Ariza, Plaintiffs Attorney at Brayton Purcell LLP

Before they call us, most of my clients have already lived through years of quiet decline.

They feel short of breath just walking to their car. They wake up coughing, again. Their backs ache, their joints throb, and they can’t keep up at work the way they used to. They stop playing soccer with their kids. They stop laughing. Some blame it on getting older. Others say it’s allergies or just a persistent cough. But deep down, many already know, something is wrong.

And yet—they don’t go to the doctor. They don’t tell their wives how bad it’s gotten. They don’t call a lawyer. They keep working. They tell themselves, “It’s nothing,” or “I’ll rest tomorrow.” They don’t want to confirm the fear they carry inside.

As a latino, I know that in our culture, many men are raised to be strong and silent. To show vulnerability is to show weakness. To complain is unmanly.

But silicosis doesn’t care about pride. It doesn’t wait for courage. And by the time many of these men finally pick up the phone and call Brayton Purcell LLP, the disease has already stolen years they’ll never get back.

Why This Work Is Personal to Me

I was born and raised in Colombia, where I first practiced law in the public health sector. I worked in hospitals, clinics, and on health policy in Bogotá. I saw firsthand how vulnerable people are when they lose their health—and how powerful the law can be in protecting what little they have left.

When I moved to the United States, I became a lawyer here too. Not just a Spanish-speaking attorney, but an attorney who deeply understands the fears, sacrifices, and cultural values of the Latino community.

At Brayton Purcell LLP, I work every day with workers who remind me of my family, my neighbors, and the people I’ve spent my whole career trying to protect. I strive to meet my clients where they are, because I’ve seen firsthand what they’re going through.

Eric’s Journey: From Denial to Defiance

Eric Reyes had worked with artificial stone slabs, fabricating countertops, for more than a decade. Like many others, he had seen coworkers get sick—some with breathing problems, some who simply didn’t come back to work. But like most men raised in Latino households, Eric kept pushing through. He chalked up his fatigue to long shifts. He blamed his shortness of breath on a cold, or maybe COVID.

He didn’t talk about it. He didn’t go to the doctor. And he didn’t want to know.

What changed everything wasn’t a medical emergency. It was his wife. She noticed the signs—more coughing, more silence, more distance. She urged him to get checked. She made the appointment. And even then, Eric hesitated.

But when the test confirmed he had silicosis, the truth he’d been avoiding became impossible to ignore. His lungs were already damaged. He was running out of time.

And yet, even with a diagnosis in hand, Eric didn’t call us to talk about a potential case. He called us because he was worried about his family.

“What justice is there,” he asked me, “for the three-year-old left without a father?”

He wasn’t being rhetorical. He was thinking about the families he’d seen torn apart by this disease—the wives forced to work two jobs after losing their husbands, the children growing up without a father. He didn’t want to be another story of silence and loss. He wanted to do something, while he still could.

When I asked Eric what he would say to other workers—other fathers, brothers, friends—who might be feeling what he once felt, he didn’t hesitate:

“If you’ve worked with artificial stone, don’t be afraid to find out. Even if you think you’re strong, even if you feel fine—get tested. Your family deserves to know. You deserve to know. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

It takes courage to face an incurable disease. But Eric did. And in doing so, he gave his family legal protection and a future.

What Justice Really Means

When Eric asked, “What justice is there for a three-year-old left without a father?”—he wasn’t just thinking about himself. He was speaking for every family caught in the aftermath of this disease.

Justice, in these cases, doesn’t look like a courtroom drama or a giant settlement check. It looks like a single mother not having to choose between paying rent and buying oxygen for her husband. It looks like a worker finally understanding why he can’t breathe—and knowing he’s not crazy, he’s not weak, and he’s not alone.

It’s important to say this clearly: no amount of money can restore someone’s lungs. We can't undo the damage artificial stone slab manufacturers and distributors allow by allegedly failing to warn, failing to protect, and failing to care. But what we can do is fight to make sure that those same companies answer for it.

Justice is about accountability. It’s about telling the truth—on the record—about what’s happening to these artificial stone countertop fabrication workers. It’s about exposing the risks that were allegedly hidden, ignored, or downplayed by the companies manufacturing and selling artificial stone slabs. And yes, it’s about financial support: compensation that helps cover lost wages, ongoing medical care, and future stability for families left behind.

For many of our clients, justice is also about legacy. They know they may not live to see their children grow up. But they want their families to have something to hold onto. Something that says: “I tried. I didn’t just suffer in silence. I fought for us.”

As an attorney, I take that seriously. Justice is not a word I use lightly. It's not a slogan or a promise—it’s a responsibility. And it’s one my colleagues and I at Brayton Purcell LLP carry every single day, because these clients deserve nothing less.

What Happens When You Call Brayton Purcell LLP

If Eric’s story resonates with you—or if you’ve worked around artificial stone and wonder if you could be one of the thousands of workers unknowingly living with silicosis—please don’t wait. This disease is often silent until it’s advanced, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Here’s what happens when you take that first, courageous step and call Brayton Purcel LLP:

First, we talk. The conversation is free and confidential, and it’s in your language—English or Spanish. We ask questions about your work history, your health, and the kind of materials you’ve worked with. You don’t need a diagnosis. You just need to be honest. We’ll listen, and we'll tell you if we believe you may have a case.

If we move forward, we begin guiding you through the steps. Here’s what that usually looks like:

• Paralegal and Medical Support
  Within a few days, a paralegal from our team will reach out. They’ll help you complete paperwork, gather records, and—if needed—schedule a high-resolution CT scan to detect silicosis with more accuracy than standard imaging.
• Detailed Exposure Interview
  We talk through your work history in depth: what companies you worked for, what countertop materials you handled and what equipment you used.
• Filing Your Case
  If the medical evidence and work exposure align, we file your lawsuit. That means the companies responsible must now answer for your illness.
• Investigation and Legal Discovery
  We exchange evidence, take sworn statements, and work with experts in occupational health and medicine to build your case.
• Negotiation or Trial
  Some cases settle. Others go to trial. Either way, we fight to recover compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and your family’s future.

And throughout all of this, we stay by your side. We assist with insurance, immigration referrals, and health access—because this is about more than just law. It’s about making sure you’re not left to face this alone.