COLUMBUS, Ohio (CN) - A man died after a night of drinking when his friend tried to carry him to a couch to sleep and dropped him down the stairs, the estate claims in court.
The estate of Joseph T. Chapman sued the estate of James Ross on Dec. 23, in Franklin County Court.
Chapman died on June 24 and Ross died two days later, according to the lawsuit.
Chapman died as a result of the fall downstairs, according to the complaint, which does not state how Ross died.
The men "had both been consuming alcohol" in Ross's house on June 19, according to the complaint, when "Ross determined it to be necessary to put Mr. Chapman to bed and negligently attempted to assist, carry, and/or walk Mr. Chapman to a couch."
"As a direct result" of this, the complaint states, Chapman fell down the stairs. The estate claims that Ross then failed to seek medical attention for his friend in a timely manner.
Chapman died on June 24, Chapman two days later, according to the complaint.
The estate seeks medical and funeral expenses and damages for wrongful death and survivorship. The estate also sued two insurance companies.
Chapman's estate is represented by John Smalley, with Dyer, Garofolo, Mann & Schultz, of Dayton.
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