CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers

This page is for families who welcomed a baby at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, at 1300 North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and who now have questions about a difficult delivery or about their child's health. Maybe your baby needed intensive care, was slow to reach milestones, or a doctor mentioned a diagnosis such as cerebral palsy or a brain injury at birth. You may simply want to understand what happened and what your options are. That is a fair and normal thing to ask.

Nothing here says that anything went wrong at this hospital, and nothing here is a judgment about its staff. Many babies are born every year with complications that no one could have prevented. Our goal is to explain, in plain words, what birth injuries are, which signs to watch for, how an independent medical review works, and which steps a parent can take now, including getting the medical records and finding early help for your child.

We wrote this guide in English and Spanish for parents, grandparents and caregivers. It is general information, not legal or medical advice, and it cannot replace a conversation with your child's doctors or with a lawyer who can look at the facts of your own case.

Labor and delivery at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles

According to the hospital's own website, its Labor and Delivery Center includes labor, delivery and recovery rooms, triage rooms, testing rooms, a recovery area and surgical suites on the maternity floor. The hospital also describes a six-bed antepartum section for high-risk pregnancies, where expectant mothers rest under the watch of labor and delivery nurses. Families who want to learn about delivering there can call its Special Deliveries line at 323-913-4909.

The hospital has a newborn intensive care unit, or NICU. The hospital's website says the NICU is directed by neonatologists from Children's Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group, and that babies who need NICU care are usually admitted within the first 24 hours after birth. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), it has 15 licensed NICU beds and had 348 NICU discharges in 2024. The same report says 2,763 newborns were cared for in its newborn nursery that year.

The hospital sits in the Hollywood and East Hollywood area of Los Angeles and serves a diverse community of families from across the city. In the state's data, it is listed as a privately operated hospital, not a county or University of California hospital. Whether a hospital is public or private matters for how a claim is started, so it is one of the first things a lawyer will confirm for you.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

A birth injury is harm to a baby before, during or shortly after delivery. Some injuries come from the delivery itself, and others come from conditions that began during pregnancy. Doctors often cannot tell right away which it was, and that is why a careful review of the records matters. Below are general medical facts, not statements about any one hospital or any one birth.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is brain injury caused by too little oxygen and blood flow to the baby's brain around the time of birth. Medical centers describe signs such as seizures, trouble breathing, poor feeding and unusual muscle tone. A treatment called therapeutic hypothermia, or cooling, is used for some newborns with HIE, and it works best when started in the first hours of life. Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture and are caused by abnormal development or damage to the developing brain. The NICHD notes that cerebral palsy can begin before, during or shortly after birth, and that in many cases the exact cause is never found. The CDC adds that cerebral palsy does not get worse over time, but that early diagnosis and treatment help.

Erb's palsy, also called brachial plexus birth palsy, is weakness or loss of movement in a baby's arm after the nerves of the shoulder are stretched or torn. It is often linked to a shoulder that gets stuck during delivery, known as shoulder dystocia, and many babies recover with therapy, though some need surgery. Other injuries families ask about include bleeding in or around a newborn's brain, a broken collarbone or a skull fracture, and serious infections such as group B strep (GBS) that are not caught or treated in time.

Mothers can be hurt too. Heavy bleeding after delivery (hemorrhage), tears, infection and complications after a cesarean birth are among the maternal injuries families ask about. If you or your baby had a problem you do not fully understand, you are allowed to ask for a clear explanation and to get a second opinion.

Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months

In the first days, parents and nurses watch for a baby who is very limp or very stiff, who has seizures or jerking movements, who has trouble breathing, feeding or staying awake, or who does not move one arm or leg as much as the other. A baby who needs to be moved to intensive care, who needs cooling treatment, or whose cord blood or Apgar scores were low is also a baby whose family may want to ask more questions later.

In the weeks and months that follow, some signs are quieter. The CDC lists possible signs of cerebral palsy in babies under six months, such as a head that lags when the baby is picked up, a body that feels stiff or floppy, an arched back and neck, or legs that stiffen and cross. After six months, a baby who does not roll over, who has trouble bringing hands to the mouth, or who reaches with only one hand may need an evaluation. Some babies without cerebral palsy show these signs too, so they are a reason to ask, not proof of a problem.

Other things to bring up with your pediatrician include missed milestones such as smiling, sitting or babbling, unusual irritability, trouble swallowing, or concerns about hearing and vision. Trust your instincts. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to ask your pediatrician about a developmental screening, and the CDC offers a free Milestone Tracker app that can help you keep notes.

Who may be responsible in a birth injury claim

Many people take part in a birth. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve hospital nurses and other staff, the obstetrician, a midwife, an anesthesiologist, neonatal doctors, or the medical group that employs a physician. Whether any of them did something that fell below accepted standards of care is a question for independent medical experts, not something a family should have to decide alone.

One point surprises many parents: the doctor who delivered your baby may not have been an employee of the hospital. Some physicians are independent and have privileges to treat patients at a hospital, and others work for a medical group. Nurses and other staff are often employed by the hospital itself. Who employed whom, and who was in the room, can affect who may be named in a claim, so it is worth keeping the names on your bills, consent forms and discharge papers.

A claim is also not an accusation against everyone involved. It is a legal process to determine whether a child's lifetime needs should be paid for by those who were responsible. Strict deadlines apply, and different rules can apply to public hospitals and to health plans such as Kaiser, which is why it helps to speak with a lawyer early.

How an independent expert review of a delivery works

A careful review starts with the records. A lawyer working with you will usually request the full chart for both mother and baby, then have it reviewed by independent physicians, often an obstetrician, a neonatologist and, when needed, a pediatric neurologist or radiologist. They look for what the care team knew, when they knew it, and how they responded.

Several records matter most. The fetal heart monitoring strips show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions through labor. The Apgar scores rate how the baby looked and responded at one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical cord blood gas results can show how much oxygen the baby had. Brain imaging such as an MRI can show the pattern and timing of an injury, and NICU notes show what happened after birth, including seizures, cooling and tests. Nursing notes and physician orders fill in the timeline.

The reviewers then answer a simple question: did the care meet accepted standards, and did any departure cause the child's injury? Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no, and sometimes the injury had causes that began long before labor. A family is told honestly either way, and a review does not obligate you to file anything.

What families can do now: a step-by-step guide

First, make sure your child is getting the care and therapy they need. That always comes first. Write down what you remember about the labor and delivery, including dates, times, who you spoke with and what you were told, while the memories are fresh. Keep every bill, discharge paper and test result in one folder.

Second, request the records. Ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart and the baby's newborn and NICU chart, and ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips. California law gives parents a right to these records, and the hospital's Medical Records department can explain its process. Third, speak with a lawyer early. Deadlines are strict, a written notice to the provider is required before a malpractice lawsuit, and claims against public hospitals can have much shorter windows than other cases. Many birth injury lawyers offer a free first conversation.

Fourth, ask your pediatrician about early intervention and any specialists your child needs. Fifth, avoid signing releases or discussing fault in writing with insurers until you have had advice. You can ask questions of the hospital and of your child's doctors at any time, and doing so does not harm your child's care.

Support for your child and family while a case is reviewed

A legal review can take time, and your child's needs will not wait. Physical, occupational and speech therapy, specialist visits and equipment can often begin right away through your child's doctors. In California, children with certain serious conditions may qualify for California Children's Services (CCS), and many families use Medi-Cal for coverage. Ask your pediatrician or your health plan how to apply.

For babies under three, California's Early Start program provides evaluation and early intervention services through regional centers. Your family does not need a doctor's referral to ask for an evaluation. Support groups for parents of children with cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries or NICU stays can also help you feel less alone. We cannot promise any result from a legal review, but we can help you understand your options.

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 CHA Hollywood Presbyterian

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 request your records from CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, contact its Medical Records department, which the hospital's website places on the A-Level of the Doctors Tower, at 1300 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027. The hospital lists the phone number 323-913-4960 for records requests, and its website also mentions an online request option and a patient portal. Ask for both the mother's labor and delivery chart and the baby's newborn and NICU chart, and ask specifically for the fetal heart monitoring strips. Keep a copy of your written request and note the date you sent it.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Los Angeles would be filed

A birth injury case from Los Angeles County would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. According to the court's notices, personal injury cases filed in its Central District are assigned to independent calendar departments at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The right courthouse depends on the facts of each case, so a lawyer will confirm it with the court's current rules before anything is filed.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles – Stanley Mosk Courthouse → — 111 North 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 three who have developmental delays or are at risk for them. According to the Department of Developmental Services, the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center lists Hollywood-Wilshire among the communities it serves for Early Start, and its Early Start intake line is (213) 252-8610. Because the regional center that serves you depends on your home address, you can also call the Early Start BabyLine at 800-515-2229 or use the lookup tool at dds.ca.gov. You do not need a doctor's referral to ask for an evaluation.

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 · St. Francis Medical Center · 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 CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center or CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. 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.