The RegistryCounty Record · California
Medical Malpractice Lawyers in San Mateo County, California
Searching for a medical malpractice attorney in San Mateo County? Counsel for harm done in care — negligence by physicians, hospitals, and clinics. This page indexes the county's medical malpractice coverage from the State Bar of California's official roll, with identity-verification markers where available.
The Peninsula county between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, home to San Francisco International Airport and the headquarters of several major technology companies; the Hall of Justice in Redwood City anchors its civil calendars. Venue for most medical malpractice matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, seated at Redwood City.
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
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).
Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo.
County seat: Redwood City
Official court information, locations, and filing rules: sanmateo.courts.ca.gov
Medical Malpractice · San Mateo County roster
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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.
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