Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers

If your baby was born at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, at 18321 Clark Street in Tarzana, Los Angeles County, and the delivery was difficult or your child has been diagnosed with a condition that may have started around birth, you probably have more questions than answers. This page is written for you: for mothers, fathers and grandparents in Tarzana, Encino, Reseda, Woodland Hills, Northridge and the rest of the San Fernando Valley who want to understand what a birth injury is, what the warning signs look like, and what options a family has.

Beverly Law prepared this page as general information. It is not about any one birth, and it does not say that anything went wrong at any hospital. Most babies born here and everywhere else do well. But when a newborn needs intensive care, or a child later shows delays in movement, feeding or development, many families want a clear, calm explanation and the chance to have the records looked at by an independent expert. Nothing here is legal advice, and reading it does not make you a client.

Below you will find what the hospital says about its own maternity and newborn services, plain-language medical explanations from public health and medical sources, the signs worth watching for, who can be involved in a birth-injury claim, how an expert review of a delivery works, and practical steps you can take now. At the end you will find how to request your records from the hospital, where a Los Angeles County case is usually filed, and how to ask for early help for your child.

Labor and Delivery at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center

According to the hospital's own website, Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center offers maternity care through its Women's Pavilion, which the hospital says provides a full spectrum of care before, during and after pregnancy. The hospital lists obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, certified nurses and lactation consultants, along with classes on pregnancy, childbirth, infant care and parenting. The Women's Pavilion is on the same campus at 18321 Clark Street in Tarzana, and the hospital's main phone number is 818-881-0800.

The hospital also describes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on its website. It says the unit is certified by California Children's Services, that a neonatologist attends any high-risk delivery around the clock, and that the unit offers services such as advanced breathing support, therapeutic hypothermia (body cooling for certain newborns) and a high-risk infant follow-up clinic. A NICU level is a description of the kind of care a unit provides; it says nothing about any one baby's care.

The state's numbers give a sense of scale. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 2,408 newborns in its newborn nursery that year, reported 21 licensed intensive-care newborn beds and recorded 267 NICU discharges. The hospital is a private nonprofit hospital, so a birth-injury claim is generally handled as a claim against a private hospital rather than a county or University of California hospital. Families in Tarzana and the surrounding San Fernando Valley, including many Spanish-speaking families, rely on it for the birth of their children.

Birth Injuries Families Ask About After a Difficult Delivery

Birth injury is a broad term. It covers harm to a baby that is connected to pregnancy, labor, delivery or the first hours of life. Some injuries are known risks that can happen even when everyone does everything right, and some may be linked to care that fell short. Sorting out which is which is exactly what an independent medical review is for. The conditions below are the ones families ask about most, described in general terms and not in connection with this or any particular hospital.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), sometimes called oxygen deprivation or birth asphyxia, is brain injury caused by too little blood and oxygen reaching a baby's brain. The Cleveland Clinic explains that it can follow interrupted blood and oxygen flow before or during birth, for example from problems with the umbilical cord, the placenta or the mother's blood pressure. Signs include floppy or stiff muscles, feeding trouble, weak crying and seizures. Treatment can include therapeutic hypothermia, in which the baby's body is cooled and gradually rewarmed to help protect the brain. Outcomes range from full recovery to lasting conditions such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says CP is the most common motor disability in childhood, that most cases are congenital, meaning the problem happens before or during birth, and that the exact cause is often unknown. It also says a lack of oxygen during birth accounts for only a small number of cases. CP does not get worse over time, but it is lifelong, and early therapy matters.

Brachial plexus injuries, often called Erb's palsy, damage the nerves that control the arm. The Hospital for Special Surgery explains that most happen when a baby's shoulder is stuck during delivery (shoulder dystocia), and that most upper-arm injuries recover on their own with time, while about a third of children have lasting limitations and the most severe injuries may need surgery. Other injuries families ask about include newborn brain bleeds, skull fractures, a broken collarbone (clavicle), and infections such as Group B strep. The CDC notes that most early-onset Group B strep disease comes from bacteria passed from mother to baby during delivery, and that screening in pregnancy and antibiotics during labor are the usual prevention. Mothers can also be injured, for example by heavy bleeding after delivery (postpartum hemorrhage) or by tears, and mothers' injuries are part of what a review can look at.

Warning Signs of a Birth Injury in the First Days, Weeks and Months

In the first hours and days, the signs that doctors and nurses watch for include weak or absent crying, a floppy or very stiff body, trouble breathing, trouble feeding or sucking, a baby who is hard to wake, seizures (which can look like repeated jerking, lip smacking or staring), blue or gray skin color, and a swollen or bruised head. A baby who needed resuscitation, cooling therapy or a stay in the NICU is also something to write down and ask about. If you see any of these signs, tell the nurse or doctor right away and ask what they mean.

In the first weeks, parents often notice an arm that does not move like the other, a weak grip, a collarbone that feels lumpy, constant irritability or very little response to sound and light. A baby who feeds poorly, vomits often or has repeated fevers should be seen promptly, because infections can move fast. Trust your instincts and write down what you see, with dates; those notes can be useful later.

In the first months and years, the main sign of many birth-related conditions is a delay in reaching milestones. The CDC lists early signs of cerebral palsy such as head lag when lifted, stiffness or floppiness, arching of the back, legs that stiffen or cross, not rolling over after six months, and uneven crawling after ten months. It also notes that some children without CP show these signs too, so a delay is a reason to ask the pediatrician for a developmental screening, not a diagnosis by itself. Some effects do not appear until a child starts school. If your child's pediatrician refers you to a neurologist, a therapist or an early-intervention program, say yes, and ask for copies of the reports.

Who May Be Responsible in a Birth Injury Claim?

Many people take part in a delivery, and a birth-injury review looks at the role of each one. Depending on the facts, those who may be involved include hospital nurses and other staff, the obstetrician or other physician delivering the baby, a midwife, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician who cared for the baby, and the medical group that employs or contracts with them. Whether anyone is actually responsible is a question of evidence, and it is decided only after the records are reviewed. A review may well conclude that the care met the standard.

One question surprises many families: whether the doctor was an employee of the hospital. Many obstetricians and other specialists are independent physicians who have privileges to treat patients at a hospital but work for their own practice or medical group. Nurses and other staff are more often employed by the hospital. Who employed whom can affect which parties are named in a claim, which insurance applies and how a case is organized. You do not need to figure this out yourself; an attorney reviewing the records can sort it out.

How an Independent Expert Review of a Delivery Works

An independent expert review starts with the medical records. The reviewing physicians, usually an obstetrician and a pediatric specialist such as a neonatologist or pediatric neurologist, read the records for the mother and the baby from prenatal care through discharge and any later treatment. They look for what happened, when it happened, what the team knew at each point and what they did, and then compare that with the accepted standard of care.

Several pieces of the record usually matter most. The fetal heart monitoring strips show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions during labor, and experts read them to understand how the baby was tolerating labor. Apgar scores are quick assessments of a baby's condition at one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical cord blood gases measure acid and oxygen levels at birth and can help show whether the baby was short of oxygen. Brain imaging such as MRI, EEG results, and the NICU notes show how the baby did in the first days and what treatment was given, including cooling therapy when it applies.

The expert is looking for two things: whether the care fell below the accepted standard, and whether that care, and not something else, caused the injury. Many injuries have causes unrelated to anything done in the delivery room, such as genetic conditions, infections or events earlier in pregnancy. A good review considers all of them. The review is confidential, it does not mean a lawsuit has been filed, and families are told honestly what the experts find, including when a case is not supported.

What to Do Now After a Difficult Birth: Step by Step

First, take care of your child and yourself. Keep every medical appointment, follow the specialists' advice and ask questions until you understand the answers. If your child's pediatrician has noticed a delay, ask for referrals to therapy and to early intervention right away. Early help can make a real difference, and it does not depend on whether any claim is ever made.

Second, request the records. You are entitled to copies of your own records and your baby's records. Ask for the full chart for the mother and the baby, including the fetal monitoring strips, the labor and delivery notes, the cord blood gas results, the NICU records and any imaging, and ask for them in writing. Keep your own notes of what you were told, by whom and on what date, and save photos, discharge papers, bills and insurance letters in one folder. Please do not post details of your case online or sign any release or settlement paper without advice.

Third, talk to an attorney early. California sets strict deadlines for birth-injury claims, and some claims, especially those involving public hospitals, can have much shorter deadlines than families expect. A lawyer must also give the providers written notice before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed. Talking to a lawyer about whether a review makes sense does not commit you to anything, and many birth-injury firms do not charge for the first conversation. Beverly Law can answer your questions in English or Spanish, and you can ask about fees before deciding anything.

Support for Your Child While the Case Is Reviewed

Your child's care should not wait for a legal answer. Depending on your child's needs, a care team might include a pediatrician, a neurologist, physical, occupational and speech therapists, a feeding specialist and an orthopedic or hand surgeon. The hospital's website says its NICU has a high-risk infant follow-up clinic, which is one way some families keep track of a baby's development after discharge; ask the NICU team whether your child qualifies.

For children under three, California's Early Start program offers evaluations and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or certain medical conditions. Families in the San Fernando Valley apply through their regional center, as explained in the early help section on this page. Children with certain serious medical conditions may also be eligible for California Children's Services (CCS), and many families qualify for Medi-Cal, which can pay for therapies and equipment. Ask a hospital social worker or your pediatrician's office to help with the applications.

We cannot promise any result, and no one should. A calm review of the records, early therapy and good notes at home put you in the strongest position, whatever the review finds.

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 Providence Cedars-Sinai

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.

Records for a delivery at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center are handled by the hospital's Release of Information (ROI) office at 18321 Clark Street, Tarzana, CA 91356. According to the hospital's records page, the ROI phone is 818-708-5367 and the ROI fax is 818-708-5368; radiology records have a separate phone line, 818-708-5470. The hospital asks patients to send forms by fax rather than by mail. It offers a fillable Patient Request for Access form, with a Spanish version, or you may write a signed letter that identifies the patient (preferably with name and date of birth), says who should receive the records and lists what you want. Electronic records are also available through the hospital's MyChart patient portal. Ask for the full chart for both the mother and the baby, including fetal monitoring strips, delivery notes, cord blood gases and NICU records. California law gives parents and guardians a right to these records, as explained below.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Tarzana would be filed

A birth-injury lawsuit from Tarzana would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. According to the court's local rules, unlimited civil cases for bodily injury are filed in the Central District at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Court assignments can change, so an attorney confirms the correct courthouse and department before filing. Before any lawsuit, other required steps, such as written notice to the providers, come first.

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 age 3 who have developmental delays or certain medical conditions, and it does not require a legal claim or a diagnosis of a birth injury. The regional center that serves the San Fernando Valley is the North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC), 9200 Oakdale Avenue, Suite 100, Chatsworth, CA 91311, phone 818-778-1900. You can apply online through the Early Start Intake Application on its website, or call. NLACRC says eligibility is based on a developmental evaluation and a review of your child's medical history, and a decision can take up to 45 days. Some ZIP codes are shared between regional centers, so confirm yours with the lookup tool on the California Department of Developmental Services website (dds.ca.gov).

North Los Angeles County 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 Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center or Providence. 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.