Opinion ID: 2418639
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Humble Sand & Gravel v. Martinez

Text: Jose Martinez worked as a sandblaster from 1978 to 1984 for ICO, Inc., d/b/a Spincote Plastic Coating Company, and from 1984 to 1986 for LTV. On September 13, 1989, he filed a worker's compensation claim for a lung disease arising out of and in the course of his employment. Martinez stated on his claim form that the disease first manifested itself on August 31, 1989. He later testified in his deposition, however, that he filed the claim only as a precaution because he was experiencing minor breathing problems in 1989, and because his brother, who was also a sandblaster, had been diagnosed in 1985 with a work-related lung ailment known as silicosis. Martinez's employer's insurance carrier opposed the worker's compensation claim, which is still pending. Martinez first consulted a doctor about his breathing problems in September 1990 when his attorney sent him to Dr. Stephen Wiesenfield. Martinez alleges that he could not visit a doctor any sooner because his employer's compensation insurer refused to pay for his medical treatment, and he could not afford a doctor on his own. Dr. Wiesenfield informed Martinez that something was wrong and recommended a biopsy, but Martinez did not comply because, again, he allegedly could not afford it. A year later, arrangements were made for Dr. Joseph Viroslav to perform Martinez's biopsy. On September 23, 1991, Dr. Viroslav wrote Dr. Wiesenfield, informing him that Martinez probably had silicosis. On October 7, 1991, Dr. Wiesenfield told Martinez he had silicosis. On August 13, 1992, Martinez sued Humble Sand & Gravel, as well as other manufacturers and suppliers of sandblasting equipment, for products liability, negligence, breach of warranty, and conspiracy. In addition, his two children sued for loss of parental consortium. The trial court granted summary judgment for Humble Sand & Gravel and the other defendants on substantive grounds as to the conspiracy claims, and limitations grounds as to the remaining claims. The court of appeals affirmed as to the breach of warranty and conspiracy claims, and reversed as to the remaining claims, holding that a fact issue existed about when Martinez knew or should have known about the nature of his injury. 940 S.W.2d 139.