Dayton Radio: Family of Jim Chenot Files Lawsuit Over His Death

Jim Chenot

The family of the late Dayton personality Jim Chenot has filed a lawsuit against Summa Health, its physician group and two of its psychiatrists, saying they caused his suicide.

Chenot died Nov. 30, 2016. He was 62.

According to ohio.com, the lawsuit alleges Chenot died by suicide hours after seeking care.

“Less than 24 hours after his departure from the care and treatment by Defendants, James Chenot jumped off the roof or a balcony at his apartment building and committed suicide,” the complaint says.

The suit, which has been assigned to Summit County Common Pleas Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger, names (son) Evan Chenot as the administrator of his father’s estate. The defendants are Summa Health, its physician group formerly known as Summa Physicians Inc. and now called Summa Health Medical Group and two of its psychiatrists.

The suit claims the physicians “deviated” from the standard of care and “caused his death.”

Chenot spent more than 30 years behind the microphone at WONE 97.5-FM, WAPS 91.3 FM The Summit and other stations.

Before settling in at 91.3 for 15 years, Chenot, a Canton native, got his start in radio in Muscle Shoals, Ala. He spent time at stations in Canton, Massillon and Cleveland before becoming one of the signature voices on the then-new WONE.