COLUMBUS, Ohio — The former owner of East Ohio Regional Hospital has filed for bankruptcy as legal and financial fallout continues following the hospital’s closure.
According to court documents filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dr. John A. Johnson and his wife, Latha Johnson, both of New Albany, Ohio, filed for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy on Jan. 30, 2026.
Johnson, a physician and healthcare entrepreneur, owned and operated East Ohio Regional Hospital after purchasing and reopening the Martins Ferry facility following its previous shutdown in 2019. The hospital officially resumed operations under Johnson’s leadership in 2021 before closing again in March 2025 amid mounting financial challenges.
The closure left hundreds of employees without jobs and prompted multiple lawsuits alleging workers were not paid final wages or benefits. Former employees also claim they were not given legally required advance notice before layoffs. Johnson and hospital representatives have denied allegations of wrongdoing in court filings.
In August 2025, a group of former employees filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against East Ohio Regional Hospital seeking unpaid wages and financial transparency.
Legal claims connected to the hospital have also named Johnson and related healthcare entities, including Access Ohio, a behavioral health organization founded by Johnson. Access Ohio separately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2026 in an effort to reorganize operations while continuing services.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy generally allows debts to be eliminated through the liquidation of assets, while Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a person or business to reorganize debt and continue operating under a court-approved repayment plan. No further details about the Johnsons’ bankruptcies are currently available.
River News will continue to follow this developing story.
