The family of a Rolling Meadows resident has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, accusing Clearbrook and a staff member of negligence after their daughter choked to death at a group home. The complaint says Emily Kasanga had a diagnosed swallowing disorder and an individualized feeding plan that required close, supervised meals. Attorneys contend staff left her alone while she was eating and did not follow that plan, and emergency responders were unable to revive her. The suit seeks damages and also calls for the state to be held accountable for alleged oversight failures.
What the suit alleges
The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims staff failed to follow Kasanga's individualized care plan, including instructions that her food be cut into small pieces and that she be monitored during meals. According to FOX 32 Chicago, attorneys say a caregiver left Kasanga unattended while she was eating and returned to find her choking. The family's lawyers say Kasanga required 24-hour supervision and was considered at high risk for choking.
Obituary and background
The funeral home's obituary lists Mwite Emily Kasanga's birthdate as April 16, 1992, and records her death on April 25, 2026, at age 34. The notice says she was born in Lusaka, Zambia, and had lived in the Rolling Meadows home for about 12 years.
Family concerns and prior complaints
The family says they repeatedly raised concerns about Kasanga's care before her death, including issues with hygiene, missing clothing and alleged bullying by other residents. They also say they filed a complaint with the Illinois Office of the Inspector General and were not notified by the facility after the medical emergency, according to CBS Chicago. Attorneys say Kasanga's brother arrived to pick her up and instead found emergency vehicles outside the house, according to the complaint.
What state rules require
Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) such as the Clearbrook house are licensed under Illinois rules that require person-centered plans, appropriate staffing and medical supports tailored to each resident's needs. The standards for CILA licensure and operations are set out in the Illinois Administrative Code for CILA providers, which assigns licensing and monitoring responsibilities to the Department of Human Services. A recent performance audit by the Illinois Auditor General found gaps in DHS oversight of CILA providers, including inconsistent monitoring and problems with incident reporting and follow-up.
What happens next
The family's lawyers say they will hold a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss the lawsuit and push for changes to how group-home care is monitored. "Our hope is that we can kind of shine a light on how this happened, why this happened," attorney Margaret Battersby Black told FOX 32 Chicago. Clearbrook has not responded to requests for comment, the outlet reports. The nonprofit operates dozens of CILA homes in the suburbs, according to CBS Chicago, and the suit asks the state to be held accountable for oversight of those programs.
