Adventist Health Glendale Birth Injury Lawyers

If your baby was born at Adventist Health Glendale, at 1509 Wilson Terrace in Glendale, Los Angeles County, and the delivery or the first days afterward did not go the way you expected, you probably have many questions. This page is written for parents, grandparents and caregivers who want plain answers about birth injuries, about how a case is reviewed, and about the help that exists for a child who needs extra care.

Many babies born in Glendale and the surrounding communities have a healthy start. Some do not, and for those families the weeks after birth can be confusing: new diagnoses, medical words, appointments, and the question of whether something could have been done differently. Nothing on this page says that anything went wrong at this hospital or with any person who cared for you. We simply explain the general medical and legal landscape so that you can decide what to do next.

You will find general information about common birth injuries, warning signs, who can be responsible in a birth-injury claim, how an independent review of the delivery records works, and practical first steps, including how to request records from the hospital and how to ask for early intervention services. The information is general and is not legal or medical advice for your child. Because California sets strict deadlines for these cases, it is wise to speak with a lawyer early, even if you are still unsure.

Labor and delivery at Adventist Health Glendale

Adventist Health Glendale is a hospital in Glendale, California, in Los Angeles County. According to the hospital's own website, its Maternity Services Center at 1505 Wilson Terrace offers labor and delivery, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a postpartum unit, and the hospital states that these units are open 24/7. The maternity page describes private birthing suites, labor support that includes on-call anesthesiologists for epidurals, and dedicated operating rooms within the maternity center for cesarean deliveries. It also lists classes on childbirth preparation, breastfeeding and infant CPR.

According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 1,688 newborns in its newborn nursery that year. The same report lists 14 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds and 218 NICU discharges in 2024. The hospital's own pages describe the NICU as a Level III unit for babies who need extra medical support, and say that for babies who need more acute care the hospital partners with Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The state report lists the hospital as run by a non-profit corporation, with Adventist Health West named as the parent organization. For legal purposes we treat it as a private nonprofit hospital, not a county or University of California hospital. You can reach the hospital at 818-409-8000. If you want to confirm any service or detail, the hospital's maternity page and the staff there are the best source.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

Most deliveries end well, but some babies are injured around the time of birth. This section describes common conditions in general terms; it is not about any one hospital or any one delivery. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain injury that follows a lack of oxygen and blood flow around birth. In a hospital NICU, babies with moderate or severe HIE may be treated with therapeutic cooling, which research shows works best when started within the first hours of life. Medical reviews published through the National Institutes of Health describe this treatment and its timing.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of conditions that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC explains that most cases are congenital, meaning the brain damage or abnormal development happened before or during birth, that a lack of oxygen at birth accounts for only a small share of cases, and that the cause is often never found. Erb's palsy, also called brachial plexus birth palsy, is weakness of an arm after the nerves of the shoulder are stretched during birth. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes it is associated with factors such as high birth weight, maternal diabetes and prolonged labor, and that many infants recover with therapy.

Other conditions families ask about include bleeding in or around the newborn brain, a fractured collarbone or skull, and infections. Group B strep (GBS) is a bacterium that can pass from mother to baby during delivery; the CDC explains that providers screen pregnant women for it and give antibiotics during labor when needed, and that early treatment of a sick newborn matters. Mothers can also be hurt. Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, usually happens within 24 hours of delivery, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that stopping the bleeding quickly is the most important step. Many of these conditions happen even with excellent care, so a diagnosis alone does not show that anyone made a mistake.

Warning signs in the first days, weeks and months

In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble breathing, a weak or high-pitched cry, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or floppiness, seizures (which can look like repeated jerking, lip smacking or staring), a fever or a low temperature, and a baby who does not seem to move one arm. A baby who stays in the NICU, needs cooling, or has abnormal brain imaging should have the plan and the reasons explained to the family in words you understand. You have the right to ask questions at any time.

In the weeks and months that follow, the CDC lists signs that can point to cerebral palsy or other motor problems: in babies under six months, head lag when lifted, stiffness or floppiness, arching of the back and neck, and legs that cross or scissor; after six months, not rolling over, trouble bringing both hands together, or reaching with only one hand. Trouble feeding, delayed smiling or poor eye contact, and missing milestones are also reasons to talk with your pediatrician. Some children without a disability show these signs too, which is why a proper evaluation matters.

Keep a simple notebook. Write down dates, symptoms, names of clinics, what you were told and what you were not told. Take photos or short videos of how your child moves. This record helps your child's doctors and, later, anyone who reviews the case. If you are worried about your own recovery after delivery, such as heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain or dizziness, call your doctor or seek emergency care right away.

Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim

Responsibility in a birth-injury claim depends on the facts, and it is decided only after the records are reviewed. Several people and organizations may be involved in one delivery: the obstetrician, a midwife, labor and delivery nurses, the anesthesia team, the pediatricians or neonatologists who cared for the baby, and the hospital itself. A claim may name one, several or none of them, depending on what an expert finds.

One question matters a great deal: who employed the person involved? Nurses and many other staff are often employed by the hospital. Many physicians, however, are independent: they have privileges to treat patients at the hospital but work for their own practice or a separate medical group. In that case, the doctor or the medical group may be the one responsible, and the hospital may or may not share responsibility. Sorting this out is part of the legal review, and you do not need to know the answer before you call.

Families sometimes wonder whether they must choose between speaking up and remaining on good terms with their care team. They do not. Asking for your records and for an independent opinion is a normal step that many families take, and your child's medical care continues the same way whatever you decide.

How an independent expert review of the delivery works

A review starts with the records. Lawyers cannot judge medical care alone, so a qualified physician or nurse reviewer, who is independent of the people who cared for your baby, reads the chart and gives an opinion on whether the care met accepted standards and whether it plausibly caused the injury. Often several kinds of experts are needed, such as an obstetrician, a neonatologist and a pediatric neurologist.

The most important documents are usually these. Fetal heart monitoring strips show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions through labor. Apgar scores rate the baby's condition at one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical cord blood gases show how much oxygen and acid were in the baby's blood at birth. Delivery notes, anesthesia records, nursing notes and the NICU chart show what happened and when. If an MRI of the brain was done, specialists look at the pattern and timing of any injury.

The reviewer may also conclude that the injury was not caused by the care, and that is a valid and useful answer. Some families find peace of mind in knowing. A careful review protects your time and your money, because a case should only move forward when the records and the medical opinions support it.

What to do now: step by step

First, take care of your child and yourself. Follow the treatment plan, attend follow-up visits, and ask the doctors to explain the diagnosis, the likely needs and the next tests. Second, write down what you remember about labor and delivery while it is fresh, including the times, who was in the room and what you were told. Do not post details on social media.

Third, request the records. Ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, and the baby's separate chart, including the NICU records and any imaging. Your child's records are kept under the baby's name, not only the mother's, so ask for both. The next section of this page explains how to ask the hospital. Fourth, ask for an evaluation of your child's development through early intervention, which is described below. Early services do not depend on any legal case.

Fifth, speak with a lawyer who handles birth injuries early. California gives families strict deadlines, and different rules can apply depending on the type of hospital and the claim. A first conversation is a way to learn your options, and it does not commit you to anything. Sixth, keep every bill, letter and insurance notice in one folder.

Support for your child while the case is reviewed

A legal review should never delay your child's care. Depending on the diagnosis, children may benefit from physical, occupational and speech therapy, feeding support, specialist clinics and equipment. Ask your pediatrician for referrals, and ask the NICU or hospital social worker which community resources are available to you.

For children under three with a developmental delay or a condition likely to cause one, California's Early Start program provides evaluation and services through regional centers. Children who qualify for California Children's Services (CCS) or Medi-Cal may receive coverage for specialty care. Eligibility depends on diagnosis and income rules, and no one can promise a particular result, so ask a county or clinic social worker to help you apply.

Parent groups, family resource centers and local nonprofits can also help, and many families say that speaking with another parent who has been through it is among the most useful support they receive.

Deadlines for a birth-injury case in California

California gives a child’s birth-injury case its own deadline. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, a minor must sue within three years of the wrongful act, but a child who was under six when it happened has until his or her eighth birthday if that is longer. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the eighth birthday. The clock runs from the act itself, not from the day the family learned what went wrong, and it is paused only in narrow cases of fraud or collusion. Parents’ own claims, and claims against a public hospital, can have much shorter deadlines, so it is safer to get advice early.

Before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed in California, the doctor or hospital must get written warning. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 364, the health care provider must receive at least 90 days’ notice of the intention to sue. No special form is required, but the notice must state the legal basis of the claim, the type of loss and the specific injuries suffered. Under § 364(d), if the notice is served within the last 90 days of the filing deadline, the deadline is extended 90 days from the date of service. The notice is a required step, and it is often the moment a case moves from questions to formal action.

What MICRA caps — and what it does not

California’s MICRA law limits one part of a medical malpractice recovery. Under Civil Code § 3333.2, as amended by AB 35, non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) are capped. In 2026 the cap is $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, and it rises every January 1 ($40,000 and $50,000 a year until 2033, then 2% a year). Separate caps can apply to doctors, hospitals and unaffiliated providers. Economic damages are not capped: lifetime medical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications and lost earning capacity can be recovered in full, and in a birth-injury case they are usually the largest part of the claim.

How to get the delivery records from Adventist Health

California law gives families a right to these records. Under Health and Safety Code § 123110, a patient or the patient’s personal representative — for a baby, a parent or guardian (§ 123105) — may inspect the records within five working days of a written request and is entitled to a paper or electronic copy, which the provider must send within 15 days after receiving a request that says which records are wanted. For a birth-injury review, ask for both charts: the mother’s labor and delivery record, including the fetal heart rate monitoring strips, and the baby’s newborn and NICU record.

To get the records from Adventist Health Glendale, contact the hospital's Health Information Management (medical records) department at 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale, CA 91206, phone 818-409-8171, fax 818-545-1872, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Adventist Health's records page. Adventist Health lets you request records online, or by sending its Authorization to Release Medical Information form or Patient Directed Request form by email to MedRecords@AH.org, by fax or by mail. Ask for both the mother's labor and delivery chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, and the baby's own chart, including NICU records, and ask for the original strips and any imaging. Fees may apply to copies sent to you or to a lawyer.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Glendale would be filed

A civil lawsuit for a birth injury in Los Angeles County is filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Unlimited civil cases, which include most medical malpractice and birth-injury claims, are generally handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The court's website has a filing locator, and the court decides the right courthouse and department, so a lawyer will confirm where your case belongs.

Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles → — 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Help for your child now: Early Start in Los Angeles County

Early Start is California's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 who have a developmental delay or a condition likely to cause one. Glendale is served by the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center, which the Department of Developmental Services lists as serving the Central, Glendale, Hollywood-Wilshire and Pasadena health districts of Los Angeles County. To ask for an evaluation, call Lanterman's Early Start intake line at 213-252-8610 or email Referrals@lanterman.org. You do not need a diagnosis or a doctor's referral to ask, and you can call even if you are not sure your child qualifies.

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center →

Key facts

Questions parents ask

Other Los Angeles County hospitals we cover

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Miller Children’s & Women’s Long Beach · Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center · Kaiser Permanente Downey · Antelope Valley Medical Center · Adventist Health White Memorial · Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park · Queen of the Valley Hospital, West Covina · CHA Hollywood Presbyterian · Huntington Hospital, Pasadena · Los Angeles birth injury lawyers →

Related pages

Cerebral Palsy · Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury · HIE / Oxygen Deprivation at Birth · Statute of Limitations · MICRA Damages Cap · All California hospitals · California birth injury lawyers · Birth injury guides

Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for Adventist Health Glendale or Adventist Health (Adventist Health West). Hospital facts on this page come from the public sources listed above.

Important: This page is general information about birth injuries and California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No fees or costs unless we win. Last reviewed: 2026-09-18.