Army veteran Alan Bonin would still be alive today if it weren’t for a brutal three-year battle with asbestos-induced mesothelioma that ultimately took his life.
A hard-working husband, father, and veteran, he never doubted that he worked as a mechanic and HVAC technician for many years after leaving the military. His specialty was brake work, and he then worked for a heating and cooling company for 30 years, and it is believed that he contracted cancer as a result of the hidden asbestos risks he faced while working there.
“I never thought I would contract a disease like mesothelioma,” Bonin said before his death in a video testimony conducted for attorneys at the National Sokolob Law Office and shared with Military.com. “When I was little, my father worked on hydroelectric dams. When I got older, I helped him work on the brakes, and the brakes were made of asbestos.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, mesothelioma is a type of cancer that begins in the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. The lining of the lungs and chest wall are most affected, and symptoms include shortness of breath, abdominal swelling, pain in the chest wall, cough, fatigue, and weight loss.
Late U.S. Army veteran Alan Bonnin and his wife Constance. He died of mesothelioma (Sokolov method) in 2025.
MD Anderson Cancer Institute says the main culprit is asbestos, which has historically been used in construction, shipbuilding, car brakes and other manufacturing.
“Asbestos was used in all branches of the U.S. military. In its early days, asbestos was considered a ‘miracle mineral’ that was heat-resistant, fire-resistant, cold-resistant, and strong,” Ricky LeBlanc, principal attorney at the Socolab law firm, told Military.com. “Asbestos was used in boilers, steam pipes, aircraft, and anywhere high heat was generated. It was also used as a fire retardant to prevent fires.”
Common features of mesothelioma among service members
Cases of mesothelioma among military personnel are more common than thought.
“Of the claims we receive from all over the country, veterans make up about 33 percent of mesothelioma claims nationwide,” LeBlanc said. “Our mesothelioma patients have consistently hovered between 33% and 42% of our caseload.”
Bonin died in 2025, but he was far from alone in his fight. He passed away surrounded by his wife Constance and four sons, three of whom had autism. Bonin was also part of a legion of veterans and civilians who were diagnosed with mesothelioma after exposure in their daily lives or during their military careers.
Alan’s wife, Constance Bonin, said: “When you look at a man who has been your rock your whole marriage, and you see him standing tall like that, yes, mesothelioma has changed our lives dramatically.” “We have to prepare for our grandchild, we have to plan a little vacation, we have a lot to do.”
Constance Bonin lost her husband Alan, an Army veteran, to mesothelioma in 2025 (Sokolove method).
The Socolove Act deals with mesothelioma lawsuits that are still being actively filed due to asbestos exposure that may have occurred decades ago, illustrating how long the effects of asbestos exposure can last. However, the victim’s life expectancy is relatively short.
“Mesotheliosis is a rare disease, with approximately 3,000 cases diagnosed each year,” LeBlanc said. “Once you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you typically have six months to a year and a half to live. In recent years, we are seeing new treatments and therapies that are slightly extending life expectancy.”
Companies and military use asbestos without knowing it
LeBlanc says that early on, the U.S. military and countless private companies had no idea that the asbestos products they were using could be so harmful and potentially deadly.
“To be fair, the federal government was fooled just like soldiers and factory workers and others,” LeBlanc said. “Products containing asbestos were sold as ‘miracle minerals’ but turned out to be a nightmare.
“So this claim is not against the government or the military. It’s against the manufacturers who originally made these asbestos products. They knew the harm because workers in their factories were dying at high rates. They just failed to inform everyone.”
The process of filing a claim can be long and daunting, and there are statutes of limitations, and corporate trusts and veterans benefit from overcoming filing deadlines. It all can be overwhelming, especially for sick patients and their families.
Ricky LeBlanc, principal attorney at Socolove Law Firm, advises mesothelioma patients to seek legal help immediately (Sokolab Law).
“There are hundreds of companies that have been manufacturing asbestos over the years,” LeBlanc said, adding that his company has recovered $5.5 billion in mesothelioma claims from customers and that number is growing. “Each complaint will have dozens of defendants.”
I filed a lawsuit with 87 defendants listed. We hold 87 companies responsible for asbestos exposure.
He called some companies “the usual suspects,” including major household brands such as General Electric, Owens Corning and Johns Manville.
“Basically, any type of equipment that is used or was ever manufactured to generate any kind of heat, including hair dryers, toasters, cosmetic powders, baby powder, industrial talc, etc., contained asbestos manufactured by these companies.”
Legal advice for mesothelioma patients
LeBlanc urges veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma to immediately consult a mesothelioma attorney and apply for veteran’s disability benefits immediately.
“This type of litigation has been going on for 40 years, and some lawyers and law firms already know the steps to take immediately,” LeBlanc said. “We already have records in place and we’re already in contact with the manufacturers responsible, most of whom fully agree that asbestos was present and there was clear exposure.”
Constance Bonnin said having a specialist lawyer helped her family, but it couldn’t save her husband’s life.
“It was amazingly efficient,” she said. “If our office couldn’t come to our aid and say, ‘We know what to do for you, we know how to file, we know every step you need to take, and we’re there for you,’ we would have been lost.”
They made that promise to us and kept it to the end.
LeBlanc said there are no winners in these cases, but he knows the legal battles are worth it for victims and families who have nowhere else to turn.
“We can try to bring you justice, but we can’t restore your health,” LeBlanc said. “There are real victims, including a spouse of 60 years, a grandfather, a best friend. We are working hard to bring some recognition to their sacrifice and the knowledge that their family will take care of them when they are gone.”
