The RegistryCounty Record · California

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Los Angeles County, California

Counsel for harm done in care — negligence by physicians, hospitals, and clinics. In Los Angeles County, that work runs through the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. This directory presents medical malpractice records from official State Bar of California data in neutral order.

Home to roughly a quarter of all Californians, Los Angeles County operates the largest unified trial court in the nation, with dozens of courthouses from Lancaster to Long Beach. Venue for most medical malpractice matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, seated at Los Angeles.

Deadlines shape these cases before merits do — three years from the injury, or one year from discovery — whichever comes first (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.5). A 90-day notice of intent to sue must precede the filing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 364). Minors under six have until age eight or three years, whichever is longer (§ 340.5).

The clock & the court

Statute of limitations

Three years from the injury, or one year from discovery — whichever comes first.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.5

A 90-day notice of intent to sue must precede the filing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 364). Minors under six have until age eight or three years, whichever is longer (§ 340.5).

Court of record

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

County seat: Los Angeles

Official court information, locations, and filing rules: www.lacourt.org

Medical Malpractice · Los Angeles County roster

Registry indexing underway

195,000+ California attorneys are being verified against official State Bar of California records. Verified listings for Medical Malpractice · Los Angeles County will appear here as indexing completes.

Official State Bar data · Identity verification · Updated regularly

Medical Malpractice questions, cited

How long do I have to sue for medical malpractice in California?

Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.5, suit must be filed within three years of the injury or one year after you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) it — whichever comes first. A 90-day pre-suit notice of intent is required by § 364 and can extend the deadline if served in the final 90 days. Fraud, concealment, and retained foreign objects toll the three-year period.

Is there a cap on medical malpractice damages in California?

Yes, on non-economic damages only. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.2 as amended by AB 35 (2022), the cap starts at $350,000 for injury cases and $500,000 for wrongful death (as of 2023), rising annually until reaching $750,000 and $1,000,000. Economic damages — medical costs, lost earnings, life care — remain uncapped.

What must be proven in a California medical malpractice case?

That the provider's care fell below the standard of care of a reasonably careful practitioner in the same field, and that the lapse caused injury. Both elements almost always require testimony from qualified medical experts; juries are instructed they must follow the expert evidence on the standard of care (CACI No. 501). Poor outcome alone is not malpractice.

Can I sue a hospital for a doctor's mistake?

Sometimes. Hospitals are liable for their employees' negligence (nurses, technicians) under respondeat superior, and can be directly liable for negligent credentialing or systems failures (Elam v. College Park Hospital (1982) 132 Cal.App.3d 332). Many physicians, however, are independent contractors, so naming the right defendants — physician, medical group, hospital — is a threshold task in these cases.

Are attorney fees limited in California malpractice cases?

Yes. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6146, updated by AB 35, caps contingency fees in medical negligence cases on a sliding scale — 25% if the case resolves before a civil complaint or demand for arbitration is filed, and 33% thereafter, with court review available. The cap is one reason attorneys screen these expert-heavy cases carefully before filing.

Legal information, not legal advice.

From the answer files

Medical Malpractice by city in Los Angeles County

Related counsel in Los Angeles County

Medical Malpractice in nearby counties

Read the record. Then decide.

Describe your matter once, weigh the published scores, and place the call — the choice is always yours.

Find Your Counsel

195,000+ attorneys · 58 counties · Official State Bar records