Page Updated December 16, 2025

Asbestos Filler in Bowling Balls Causes Lane Owner’s Mesothelioma

Page Reviewed and Edited by

Mesothelioma Attorney Paul Danziger

When Donald Vanni and his brother decided to make bowling a family business, the two never dreamed that their venture would lead to one dying of mesothelioma. But that is exactly what happened. A Los Angeles County jury hearing their story agreed that Honeywell International Inc. had been negligent and was responsible for the man’s death, and ordered the company to pay $4.4 million in damages to the man’s family.

Years Spent Drilling Holes in Bowling Balls Filled With Asbestos

Mr. Vanni’s malignant mesothelioma was diagnosed in 2012 after he’d spent the 30 years from 1957 to 1986 as co-owner of the Arcata Bowl bowling lane. He and his brother worked every day, alternating opening and closing shifts with each other to manage and operate the business. One of their responsibilities was to drill finger holes in Ebonite bowling balls to custom-fit them for bowlers. Unbeknownst to the brothers, the popular bowling balls were made using discarded brake lining dust as a filler. The lawsuit noted that there had been no warnings provided about the presence of asbestos inside the plastic balls, and that Mr. Vanni had drilled the balls in a small room with no ventilation, leading to him unknowingly inhaling large quantities of asbestos fibers

Honeywell Sold Asbestos to Ebonite Despite the Known Risks

At the time that the Vannis were operating their bowling lane, Honeywell was generating and selling discarded brake lining dust from its Bendix brake manufacturing plant as a filler for commercial products. The asbestos-contaminated dust was a known danger due to the health risks of asbestos exposure, but extremely profitable for Honeywell.. The family filed suit, arguing that the death was “completely preventable. The Vanni family should not have lost Don nine years early due to Honeywell’s greed. Asbestos brake dust should have never gone into a single bowling ball.” The family noted that prior to his diagnosis, Mr. Vanni had been healthy and extremely active.

Why This Case Matters for Nontraditional Asbestos Exposure

This case demonstrates that asbestos exposure did not occur only in factories, shipyards, or construction sites. Industrial byproducts such as asbestos-contaminated brake dust were sometimes repurposed into everyday commercial products without adequate warnings. Workers who handled, modified, or drilled these materials for years could unknowingly inhale asbestos fibers, significantly increasing their risk of developing mesothelioma decades later.

Get Help After Asbestos Exposure

If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after long-term exposure to asbestos-containing products, understanding your legal options is critical. Cases like this show how companies can be held accountable when known asbestos risks were ignored. Speaking with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help clarify potential compensation, filing deadlines, and next steps. You can learn more by requesting our free Financial Compensation Packet, which outlines available claims and legal resources.