California Medical Malpractice Law

California Medical Malpractice Deadlines & Damage Caps

Statute of limitations, discovery rule, damage caps, filing exceptions, and notable verdicts for California medical malpractice claims.

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:

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.

New research notes are added to this archive as courts publish additional decisions.

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