California Medical Malpractice Deadlines & Damage Caps

California Medical Malpractice Law at a Glance

Statute of Limitations

1 year from discovery, 3-year limit

Discovery Rule

1 year from discovery

Damage Cap

$430,000

Key Statute

CA medical malpractice law

State-specific statutes and case law govern filing deadlines and damage limitations.

Filing Exceptions & Tolling Provisions in California

The following exceptions may extend or modify the standard filing deadline in California:

Minors under 6: file by age 8
Fraudulent concealment tolls
Foreign object: 1 year from discovery
90-day notice of intent required

Notable Medical Malpractice Verdicts & Settlements in California

Verdict

$18.4M

Missed spinal epidural abscess

2025 · Los Angeles County Superior Court

Three ER visits over nine days; imaging never ordered. Patient left paraplegic.

Settlement

$12.9M

Delayed emergency cesarean

2024 · Alameda County Superior Court

Fetal distress on monitoring strips unaddressed for 74 minutes; hypoxic brain injury.

Verdict

$6.1M

Unmonitored post-op sedation

2023 · San Diego County Superior Court

Respiratory depression missed in recovery; anoxic injury after 11-minute gap.

Additional research notes are published as new court decisions are issued.

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This site is an editorial research archive for Druginjurylawcenter. It summarizes public materials, case law, and statute-level references without offering intake or representation.

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