Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers

This page is for families who had a baby at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Drive in Sylmar, in Los Angeles County, and who now have questions about a difficult delivery or a baby's health afterward. It is also for grandparents, partners and caregivers who are trying to understand what happened and what comes next.

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is a Los Angeles County hospital serving the San Fernando Valley. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), its newborn nursery cared for 752 newborns that year, and the hospital has 14 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds, with 106 NICU discharges in 2024. Most births there go on to healthy homes. This page is written for the smaller number of families who are worried, and it is not a judgment about any hospital, doctor or nurse.

Below you will find plain-language explanations of common birth injuries, the warning signs to watch for, who may be responsible when a birth injury is caused by a preventable mistake, how an independent expert review works, and the steps you can take now. We also explain how to ask for your records and where to find early-intervention help for your child. Our firm offers a free, confidential conversation, and nothing here replaces advice from your child's doctors or from a lawyer about your own situation.

Labor and delivery at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center sits in Sylmar at the northern end of the San Fernando Valley and is operated by Los Angeles County. UCLA Health's residency program materials describe a labor and delivery service at Olive View, and the hospital's main phone number is 747-210-3001. For current visiting rules, classes, tours or admission questions, call the hospital directly, because services can change.

The numbers below come from the hospital's own 2024 report to the state (HCAI): 752 newborns cared for in the newborn nursery, 14 licensed NICU beds and 106 NICU discharges. A NICU is the unit that cares for babies who are born early, who have trouble breathing, who have infections, or who need close monitoring. California Children's Services (CCS), a state program, lists a community-level neonatal intensive care unit at this hospital. We do not state a numbered NICU level here because we have not seen one published by the hospital or the state.

Because it is a county hospital, Olive View serves many families from Sylmar, San Fernando, Pacoima, Sun Valley and nearby neighborhoods, including many Spanish-speaking families. Whether you delivered here or were transferred here with your baby, you have the right to understand what happened during labor, delivery and the newborn stay.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain injury from too little oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth. Babies with HIE may be limp, may have trouble breathing or feeding, or may have seizures. Hospitals may use a cooling treatment for eligible newborns that has to start in the first hours of life, so quick recognition matters. Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect movement, balance and posture. According to the CDC, most cerebral palsy begins before or during birth, the cause is often unknown, and oxygen loss at birth accounts for only a small number of cases. That is why a careful medical review matters before anyone draws conclusions.

Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries affect the nerves that run from the neck to the arm. They are most often linked to a hard delivery of the baby's shoulders, a situation called shoulder dystocia. A baby may hold one arm limp or bent in a so-called waiter's tip posture. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Cleveland Clinic explain that many mild cases improve in the first months, while injuries that do not improve may need nerve surgery, often considered around six months of age. The collarbone (clavicle) is the most common bone broken during birth and usually heals quickly. Skull fractures and bruising are less common.

Other problems families ask about include bleeding in or around a newborn's brain, infections such as group B strep (GBS), and injuries to the mother such as heavy bleeding after delivery. The CDC explains that most early GBS disease in newborns is passed during delivery, that providers should screen pregnant patients for GBS, and that antibiotics given during labor can help protect the baby. A birth injury is not always the result of a mistake. Some happen even with excellent care, and only a review of the records can tell the difference.

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

In the first days, watch for a baby who is very limp or very stiff, who does not cry strongly, who has trouble breathing or feeding, who has seizures or unusual jerking, or who does not move one arm or one side of the face. A firm lump on the collarbone or a raised swelling on the head can also be signs of a birth-related injury. Many of these findings are mild and fade on their own, but you should always ask the care team what they saw and what they plan to do.

In the first weeks and months, pay attention to a baby who is hard to feed, who is very irritable or very sleepy, who startles little or too much, who does not follow faces or sounds, or who seems to favor one side. Poor head control, stiff or crossed legs, or fisted hands that stay closed can be early signs that a pediatrician should look at. The CDC notes that delays in rolling over, sitting, crawling and walking are the main signs of cerebral palsy, and that some children without the condition show them too, so an evaluation is the safest step.

You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help. If your instinct tells you something is wrong, write down what you notice, with dates, and tell your pediatrician. Ask for a developmental evaluation and for a referral to early-intervention services. Asking questions early does not hurt your child, and early therapy often helps.

Who may be responsible in a birth injury claim

Many people take part in a delivery, and a claim may involve more than one of them. Depending on the facts, responsibility may be reviewed for hospital nurses and other staff, obstetricians, midwives, anesthesia providers, neonatologists and pediatricians, and the medical group that employs or contracts with them. Nothing about this list means any particular person did anything wrong. It only shows who may need to be looked at when a family has a serious question.

One important detail is whether a physician was an employee of the hospital or an independent doctor or a member of a separate medical group. Some doctors who care for patients in a hospital are employed by the hospital or its operator, and others work for a different group or practice. That can affect who is named in a claim and which deadlines and procedures apply. You do not need to know the answer. Your records and an attorney's review can help sort it out.

Because Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is operated by Los Angeles County, special rules for claims against public entities can apply, including a short written-claim period that is much shorter than the usual lawsuit deadline. The verified legal summary below explains these rules. The practical point is simple: do not wait to ask questions, because some deadlines are strict.

How an independent expert review of a delivery works

A review starts with the complete records of the pregnancy, labor, delivery and newborn stay. Reviewers look at the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate during labor, the notes about when staff recognized changes and what they did, the Apgar scores recorded at one and five minutes, and the cord blood gas results that can show how the baby was doing at birth. They also read nursing notes, medication and anesthesia records, and the NICU chart.

Imaging and specialist reports add to the picture. A brain MRI, an EEG, a head ultrasound or a pediatric neurology report can show the type, location and likely timing of an injury. Independent physicians who practice in the relevant field, such as obstetrics, neonatology, nursing or pediatric neurology, then review the records and give their opinion on whether the care met accepted standards and whether any departure caused the injury. In California, a medical case generally cannot go forward without that kind of expert support.

The review is not an accusation. Sometimes the experts conclude that the care was appropriate and that the injury had another cause, and families often find that answer important too. The review is confidential, and you decide what to do with the results.

What to do now after a birth injury: step by step

First, take care of your child. Keep every appointment, follow the specialists' advice and ask for written copies of test results. Second, write down what you remember: the dates, who spoke with you, what you were told and your questions. Save discharge papers, bills, photos and messages. Do not post details on social media.

Third, request the records. A parent or guardian may ask for the baby's chart and, separately, the mother's chart in writing. Ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips, the labor and delivery notes, the newborn and NICU records, and any imaging. Fourth, speak with a lawyer early. Some deadlines, especially for public hospitals and for notices to providers, are strict and can be much shorter than families expect.

Fifth, connect with services without waiting for the legal process. Ask your pediatrician about Early Start if your child is under three, about California Children's Services and about Medi-Cal. A conversation with our firm is free, confidential and carries no obligation, and we can explain the next steps in English or Spanish.

Support while the case is reviewed: therapies, regional center, Medi-Cal and CCS

Your child's care should not wait for a legal review. Physical, occupational and speech therapy often begin early, and for children under three the state's Early Start program offers evaluations and services through regional centers. Early Start is explained in more detail below, and it does not depend on a legal claim.

California Children's Services (CCS) is a state program that helps eligible children with certain serious medical conditions, and Medi-Cal may help cover medical care, therapy and equipment for eligible families. Eligibility depends on your child's diagnosis and your family's situation, so ask the hospital social worker or your pediatrician to help you apply. We cannot promise what any program will cover.

Many families also find it helpful to connect with other parents, parent resource centers and school-district services as their child grows. If you are a Spanish-speaking family, ask each office for an interpreter. You have the right to ask for one.

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first

Because Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is a county / public hospital (operated by Los Angeles County Department of Health Services), a claim for an injury at birth usually has to start with a written government claim, not a lawsuit. This is the single most important deadline on this page.

Many California babies are born at county or University of California hospitals: LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis and others. These are public entities, and the Government Claims Act applies. Under Government Code § 911.2, a written claim for injury or death must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury, before any lawsuit. If the claim is rejected in writing, Government Code § 945.6 gives six months from that notice to file suit. The child’s longer deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 does not replace this six-month claim, so families with a public-hospital birth should act right away.

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.

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 Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

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 Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, send a written request to the hospital's Health Information Management (medical records) office at 14445 Olive View Drive, Sylmar, CA 91342. You can reach the hospital through its main number, 747-210-3001, and ask for medical records or release of information, and also ask which form, ID and fee, if any, they require. Because a baby has a chart separate from the mother's, request both. Ask specifically for the fetal heart monitoring strips, the labor and delivery notes, the newborn and NICU records, and any imaging. We have not verified a current online request page, so please confirm the process by phone.

Where a case from Sylmar would be filed

A birth-injury lawsuit against a doctor or a Los Angeles County hospital is a civil case, and one filed in Los Angeles County would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, in its unlimited civil division. Many unlimited civil cases are heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, though the court can assign cases to other courthouses, so the filing location is confirmed when the case is prepared. The court's website is lacourt.ca.gov.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles – Stanley Mosk Courthouse (civil) → — 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 a developmental delay or a condition that may cause one. Families in the San Fernando Valley, including Sylmar, are generally served by the North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC), whose main office phone is 818-778-1900 and whose website is nlacrc.org; please confirm with them that your address is in their area. Anyone, including a parent or pediatrician, can ask for an evaluation. Call the regional center, say that you want an Early Start evaluation for your baby, and give your child's date of birth and your concerns. You can also call the state Early Start line at 800-515-2229. Early Start does not depend on a legal claim.

North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) →

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 Olive View-UCLA Medical Center or Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. 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.