Care Home Sued After Resident Chokes to Death

A family is suing a care home after the tragic death of Mwite Emily Kasanga, 34, who allegedly choked on food on April 25, 2026. Kasanga, who resided at a Clearbrook facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, for 12 years, had disabilities including autism and moderate intellectual disability. Her family claims Clearbrook staff failed to provide necessary supervision and cut her food into appropriate pieces, despite her known choking risks. The lawsuit alleges that staff permitted Kasanga to eat alone while they attended to other matters, leading to the fatal choking incident. Emergency services were called, but paramedics and police were unable to save her. The family states they were not notified by the home, learning of her death hours later when her brother arrived for a planned visit. The complaint asserts that Clearbrook, as a Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) home, had a duty to ensure Kasanga's safety and protection, which they allegedly breached through negligence and inadequate staff training. The family is seeking justice and greater awareness for other families with disabled loved ones in care facilities, highlighting previous unresolved complaints about care plan issues at the home.