Son's death sparks $5M lawsuit over care home negligence

A mother is suing Oregon state entities and a foster home company for $5 million following the death of her son, Lee Massie-Hardy. Massie-Hardy, 31, died on May 14, 2023, allegedly due to consuming contaminated, unrefrigerated food. His mother, Martha Hutton, claims his individualized service plan, which included specific protocols for his Prader-Willi Syndrome and compulsive eating disorder, was disregarded.

Massie-Hardy's condition, characterized by hyperphagia and an inability to regulate food intake, necessitated strict dietary safeguards. The lawsuit, filed on May 13, 2026, asserts that despite known risks, Massie-Hardy was allowed unsupervised access to food, including items stolen from stores, which he hoarded and consumed from his room. This allegedly led to an acute illness requiring multiple emergency room visits before his death.

The complaint details that Massie-Hardy experienced severe health issues, including morbid obesity, heart failure, and asthma, making his care plan crucial. Negligence is alleged through staff failure to prevent food-seeking behaviors and remove harmful items from his room. Hutton seeks $4.5 million in noneconomic damages and $500,000 in economic damages, accusing defendants of violating her son's civil rights and causing his suffering and death.