An imprisoned Columbus native died of a perforated stomach ulcer after complaining for nearly two weeks of severe stomach pain — and only receiving antacids and apparently never being examined by a prison doctor, a lawsuit claims.

The family of Robert Anthony "Boo" Wright is seeking damages in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in the Ohio Court of Claims against the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The 29-year-old father of six died July 7, 2016, after being found unresponsive in his Lebanon Correctional Center cell shortly after being discharged from the infirmary with a diagnosis of constipation, the suit alleges.

Wright, who lived in the Chillicothe area in recent years, died four months shy of completing an 18-month prison sentence for possession of drugs and intimidation of a witness in Ross County.

The state prison system does not comment on pending litigation, a spokeswoman said. The lawsuit was filed by Wright's widow, Stefanie Wright, and brother, Chris Sutton Jr.

The complaint alleges a failure to provide adequate medical care and the negligence of prison medical workers caused Wright's death.

The lawsuit says Wright began complaining of "sharp pain, nausea, vomiting and upper abdominal pain" beginning on June 25, 2016, but was prescribed only antacids such as Pepto-Bismol by nurses over nearly two weeks.

By July 6, 2016, Wright's pain was so severe, he was rolling around in bed and a nurse noted he was having trouble breathing, the lawsuit says.

But Wright was discharged form the infirmary and returned to his cell, where he was found unconscious and then died at a medical center, the complaint alleges.

The lawsuit seeks in excess of $25,000 for mental anguish, suffering, loss of financial support and the cost of Wright's funeral and burial in Columbus.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow