Lawsuit Alleges Ohio Group Home Ignored Warnings Before Resident's Preventable Death

According to a wrongful death lawsuit, an Ohio group home called Clear Skies Ahead is being held responsible for the preventable death of one of its residents, James Stewart. The lawsuit, filed by Stewart's family, alleges that the group home staff ignored weeks of warning signs before Stewart died from a massive bowel obstruction that weighed over 20 pounds.

Stewart, who had intellectual and developmental disabilities, was a resident at Clear Skies Ahead because he required daily supervision and assistance. However, the lawsuit claims the group home failed to properly monitor his health, disregarding his repeated reports of abdominal pain and constipation. Despite visible signs of his deteriorating condition, including bruising on his abdomen, the staff allegedly did not notify Stewart's physician or inform his family.

On the day of his death, November 15, 2024, a staff member reportedly told Stewart to "sit on the toilet," but he was unable to have a bowel movement. Later that day, he was found unresponsive in his bedroom. The Trumbull County Coroner determined that Stewart's colon was obstructed by a hardened stool that "weighed over 20 pounds," creating enough internal pressure to cause his death.

The lawsuit describes Stewart's death as "entirely avoidable" and states that "James did not have to die" if the group home had provided him with the proper care and attention he required.