St. Francis Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers

This page is for families who welcomed a baby at St. Francis Medical Center, 3630 E. Imperial Highway in Lynwood, Los Angeles County, and who now have questions about a difficult delivery or about their child's health. Maybe your baby needed time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Maybe a doctor mentioned low oxygen, a nerve injury in the arm, a brain bleed or an infection. Or maybe the worry came later, when your child was slower to roll over, sit or talk than other children.

St. Francis Medical Center is part of Prime Healthcare. According to the hospital's own website, its Family Life Center offers private labor and delivery and postpartum rooms, and the hospital has a Level III NICU. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the nursery cared for 2,363 newborns that year, and the hospital is licensed for 29 intensive-care newborn beds. This page does not say anything about the quality of care at this hospital or any other. Most births end well, and many hard deliveries are no one's fault.

Our goal is simple: explain, in general terms, what birth injuries are, what warning signs parents describe, who may be involved in a claim, how an independent medical review works, and what steps you can take now. Nothing here is legal advice about your own situation, and nothing here suggests that anyone did anything wrong. If you want to talk about your family's facts, Beverly Law offers a free consultation, and you can ask for it in English or Spanish.

Labor and delivery at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood

St. Francis Medical Center is an acute-care hospital on East Imperial Highway in Lynwood. The state lists its type of control as investor-owned, and the hospital's own website describes it as a member of Prime Healthcare. As of the date of this page, the hospital's maternity page says it offers labor and delivery through its Family Life Center, with private labor and delivery rooms and private postpartum rooms. The hospital lists 310-900-2022 for the Family Life Center and 310-900-8900 as its main number.

The hospital's website also states that it has a Level III NICU. In general, a Level III unit is meant to care for babies who are born early or who are seriously ill. The hospital describes its NICU on its maternity page; we have not repeated any figures from other pages, because the numbers published in different places do not always match. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the newborn nursery cared for 2,363 babies in 2024, the hospital has 29 licensed intensive-care newborn beds, and the NICU had 471 discharges that year.

Lynwood sits in southeast Los Angeles County, and the hospital serves many families from Lynwood and nearby communities, including many Spanish-speaking families. If you delivered here, you may have met a number of different people: the obstetrician, a nurse who watched the fetal monitor, an anesthesiologist, a pediatrician or neonatologist, and NICU staff. Knowing who was involved is a first step in understanding what happened, and that is exactly what your medical records can show.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

Doctors use the words birth injury for harm to a baby that happens around labor and delivery. Some injuries are visible right away; others only become clear months later. Families most often ask about these: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which is brain injury from too little oxygen or blood flow around birth; cerebral palsy; Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries; bleeding inside the baby's brain; fractures of the collarbone or skull; and infections such as group B strep (GBS). Mothers can also be hurt, for example by serious bleeding (postpartum hemorrhage).

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC explains that it is the most common motor disability in childhood, that it does not get worse over time, and that most cases begin before or during birth, although the exact cause is often unknown. The CDC also notes that a lack of oxygen during birth is now thought to explain only a small number of cases. That is an important point: not every child with cerebral palsy was hurt during delivery, and a careful medical review is the only way to tell.

Erb's palsy is a kind of brachial plexus birth injury, damage to the network of nerves that controls the shoulder, arm and hand. Medical references link it most often to a baby's shoulder getting stuck during delivery (shoulder dystocia) and to stretching of the neck and shoulder. Many babies improve in the first weeks or months, but some do not and may need therapy or surgery. Other conditions, such as GBS infection, can be serious in a newborn but are also often treatable when found early. This section is general medical information, not a statement about any particular hospital or delivery.

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

In the first days, parents and nurses may notice that a baby is very limp or very stiff, is not feeding well, has seizures (unusual jerking, staring or lip smacking), has trouble breathing, or needs to be moved to the NICU. One arm that hangs still, a collarbone that feels odd, or a baby who cries when one side is touched can point to a nerve injury or fracture. A fever, or a baby who is unusually sleepy, can be a sign of infection and needs medical attention right away.

In the first months, the CDC lists signs of cerebral palsy in babies younger than six months that include head lag when picked up, stiffness or floppiness, arching of the back and neck, and legs that stiffen or cross like scissors. After six months, signs include not rolling over in either direction, trouble bringing hands together or to the mouth, and reaching with only one hand while the other stays fisted. After ten months, lopsided crawling can be a sign. Missing a milestone does not always mean cerebral palsy, but it is a reason to ask.

You do not have to wait for a diagnosis. The CDC says you can contact your state's early intervention program without a doctor's referral if you are worried about development, and the CDC offers a free Milestone Tracker app. Keep a simple notebook with dates, what you noticed and what the doctors said. Those notes become very helpful later, both for your child's care and, if you choose, for a legal review.

Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim

When a baby is hurt, families often ask who could be responsible. In general, many people can take part in one delivery, and each one may have a different employer. Nurses and other hospital staff are usually employed by the hospital. The obstetrician or the midwife who delivered the baby may be an employee, or may be an independent physician with privileges, meaning they are allowed to work at the hospital but are paid by their own practice. Anesthesiologists, pediatricians and neonatologists often work through separate medical groups.

This matters because a claim may name a hospital, one or more physicians, a medical group, or several of them together, depending on what the records show. It does not mean anyone is blamed in advance. A claim is only a way of asking a neutral expert and, if needed, a court to decide whether the care met accepted medical standards and whether any departure caused the injury. Many families whose doctor was not employed by the hospital are surprised to learn they may still have options.

Some people, including parents who delivered at a public county or University of California hospital, face a much shorter claim period. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state, St. Francis Medical Center is a private, investor-owned hospital, so those public-hospital rules are not the usual ones here. Even so, every medical case in California has strict deadlines, which we explain in the legal section below. The safest approach is to ask early, not to wait.

How an independent expert review of the delivery works

A birth-injury review usually starts with the medical records, not with accusations. Experts, typically a maternal-fetal medicine or obstetric physician, a neonatologist and, when needed, a pediatric neurologist or radiologist, read the chart and look for what happened and when. They are independent of the hospital and of the family. Their job is to answer two questions: did the care follow accepted standards, and, if not, did that cause this child's injury?

The records they look at commonly include the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions during labor; the notes of nurses and doctors about decisions made during labor; the Apgar scores at one and five minutes after birth; cord blood gas results, which measure acid in the baby's blood at birth; the NICU notes; and any brain imaging, such as an MRI. Because a monitor strip is a long record, the review often lines up the times on the strip with the times written in the chart.

Sometimes the review shows that the delivery was handled properly and the injury came from something else, such as a condition that began before labor. That is also useful for a family: it can bring closure and better direction for your child's care. If the review does find a problem, the family can decide what to do next, with a lawyer's help.

What your family can do now: step by step

First, take care of your child. Keep every medical appointment, follow the specialists' advice, and ask for referrals to therapy if your child's doctor suggests it. Nothing in a legal review should delay medical care. Second, start writing things down: the dates of your hospital stay, who you spoke to, what you were told, and how your child has developed since. Save discharge papers, bills, photos and videos.

Third, request the medical records for both mother and baby. The hospital's Health Information Management department handles requests, and the details are in the records paragraph below. Ask specifically for the labor and delivery chart, the fetal monitoring strips, the newborn nursery and NICU records, and any imaging. Fourth, learn the deadlines. California gives children their own deadline for birth-injury cases, but parents' claims can be shorter, and a written notice must be sent to the provider before a lawsuit. These are explained in the verified legal paragraphs on this page.

Fifth, talk to a lawyer who handles birth-injury cases. At Beverly Law the first conversation is free, you pay no fee unless there is a recovery, and a Spanish-speaking team member can help you. Bring whatever you have; you do not need to have the records yet. The lawyer can request them for you, arrange the expert review and explain your choices, including the choice to do nothing.

Support for your child and family while a case is reviewed

Your child's needs come first and do not have to wait for a legal decision. Many children benefit from physical, occupational and speech therapy, and some need equipment, medicines or specialist follow-up. Ask your pediatrician about California Children's Services (CCS), a state program for children with certain serious conditions, and about Medi-Cal, which may cover therapies and equipment for eligible families. Eligibility depends on your situation, so ask the program directly.

For children under three, California's Early Start program offers evaluation and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or certain health conditions. In Lynwood it is run through the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC). Families can ask for an evaluation themselves; no doctor's referral is required, and the early-help paragraph below explains how. Starting early can matter, because the first three years are a time of fast brain development.

Raising a child with a disability is demanding for the whole family. Parent support groups, your child's school district once your child turns three, and community organizations can help you feel less alone. We cannot promise any outcome from a legal review, but we can promise to listen, to explain in plain words, and to respect your decisions.

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 St. Francis 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 your records from St. Francis Medical Center, contact the hospital's Health Information Management (Medical Records) department, located in the main hospital at 3630 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262. The hospital's website has a medical records page with its request instructions and form, and lists the department's phone as 310-900-8640. Ask for both the mother's chart and the baby's chart, including the labor and delivery record, the fetal monitoring strips, the newborn nursery and NICU records, and any imaging. Hours for the public and any fees can change, so confirm them with the department before you go or send a request.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Lynwood would be filed

A medical negligence case from a delivery at a Lynwood hospital would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, in its unlimited civil division. The court's main civil courthouse is the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The court decides which courtroom hears each case, and assignments can change, so a lawyer will confirm the right location on the court's website (lacourt.ca.gov) when a case 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

If your baby is under three and you are worried about development, you can ask for an Early Start evaluation without waiting for a diagnosis. Families in Lynwood are served by the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC), which is one of the state's regional centers overseen by the Department of Developmental Services. SCLARC's website has an online application for children under three, and you can also call (213) 744-7000. Tell them your child's age, what you have noticed, and that your child was born at St. Francis Medical Center or had NICU care. There is no need to have a doctor's referral.

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) →

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 · 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 St. Francis Medical Center or Prime Healthcare 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.