UCI Medical Center Settles Birth Injury Case for $1M

Case Background

Sade Mitchell and Lorenzo Mitchell filed a wrongful death and medical negligence lawsuit against the Regents of the University of California, doing business as UCI Medical Center, following the tragic death of their infant son, Malachi Mitchell. The case arose from events surrounding Sade Mitchell’s labor and delivery in August 2022 at UCI Medical Center in Orange County.

Sade was admitted on August 7, 2022, after her doctors noted symptoms of preeclampsia and a urinary tract infection. Medical staff had determined two days earlier that she required an immediate induction due to her worsening condition. However, that plan was not promptly communicated or acted upon. Despite ongoing signs of distress, labor induction and interventions were delayed for more than forty-eight hours.

By the evening of August 8, fetal monitoring showed clear evidence of distress, including persistent fetal bradycardia. Still, the cesarean section was not performed until after 10:00 p.m. When Malachi was finally delivered, he was limp, cyanotic, and non-responsive. He required immediate intubation and critical care. Despite exhaustive medical efforts, Malachi never recovered. He survived for nearly two months before passing away on September 30, 2022.

Cause

Wrongful Death Due to Medical Negligence

The Mitchells alleged that UCI Medical Center’s physicians, nurses, and staff negligently delayed critical medical decisions that would have prevented Malachi’s injuries and death. They claimed the hospital failed to timely induce labor, recognize and respond to fetal distress, and provide the necessary cesarean delivery. The complaint asserted that the medical team ignored urgent signs of danger despite the mother’s high-risk condition.

Medical Malpractice (Survival Action)

Through Malachi’s successor in interest, his mother, Sade Mitchell, the family brought a separate medical malpractice claim for the infant’s pre-death pain and suffering. The complaint stated that Malachi experienced extreme distress, oxygen deprivation, and multiple invasive procedures before his death. The Plaintiffs alleged these injuries were a direct result of the hospital’s negligence and failure to meet the standard of care.

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Sade Mitchell also brought a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress, asserting that she suffered severe trauma witnessing her son’s suffering and death. Her attorneys argued that she was a “direct victim” under California law, since the negligence occurred during her own medical care.

Injury

The Plaintiffs described devastating emotional and physical losses. Malachi’s death caused deep emotional anguish and lasting grief for both parents. Sade Mitchell also suffered physical and psychological trauma from preeclampsia, the delayed delivery, and the aftermath of her son’s death.

Malachi endured significant suffering before he died. According to the complaint, he experienced oxygen deprivation, brain injury, and pain due to the delayed delivery. He spent his brief life in intensive care, unable to recover.

Damages Sought

The Mitchell family sought general and special damages for wrongful death, including loss of love, companionship, comfort, and moral support. They also requested compensation for funeral and burial costs and for Malachi’s pain and suffering under California’s survivorship statute.

Sade Mitchell separately sought damages for her emotional distress as a direct victim of the negligent medical treatment. The total demand included noneconomic damages limited by California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) caps, along with recovery of legal fees and Court costs.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

Plaintiffs: Sade Mitchell | Lorenzo Mitchell | Estate of Malachi Mitchell

· Counsel for Plaintiffs: Benjamin T. Ikuta, Esq. | Diana N. Connaughton, Esq.

Defendant: The Regents of the University of California (UCI Medical Center)

· Counsel for Defendant: Barton H. Hegeler, Esq. | Storm P. Anderson, Esq. | Wyatt D. Hegeler, Esq.

Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel

The Mitchells’ attorneys argued that UCI Medical Center’s delay in treatment amounted to a clear breach of the standard of care. They emphasized that Sade Mitchell’s medical records showed elevated blood pressure and preeclampsia as early as August 6, which required immediate action. Yet, the hospital delayed induction and ignored repeated warning signs of fetal distress.

Plaintiffs’ counsel presented a detailed timeline showing that hospital staff waited too long to act, resulting in prolonged oxygen deprivation that caused Malachi’s irreversible injuries. They argued that had the cesarean been performed earlier, Malachi would have survived without serious harm.

In contrast, defense attorneys for the Regents of the University of California denied all allegations of negligence. They contended that the medical team acted within the appropriate standard of care and that any adverse outcome resulted from natural medical complications beyond the hospital’s control. The defense also argued that Malachi’s injuries and death were the tragic but expected result of preeclampsia and not due to medical error.

Claims

The Plaintiffs pursued three principal claims:

Wrongful Death: The delayed cesarean and inadequate monitoring directly caused Malachi’s death.
Medical Negligence (Survival Action): Malachi suffered preventable injury and pain before his death due to negligent medical care.
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress: Sade Mitchell’s trauma from witnessing her baby’s suffering qualified her for separate damages.

Defense

The Regents filed a general denial of all allegations and raised twenty separate affirmative defenses. They asserted that:

The complaint was barred by the statute of limitations.
The injuries resulted from a natural medical condition, not negligence.
Plaintiffs’ damages should be limited under MICRA.
The hospital staff fulfilled all professional duties and obligations.
The Plaintiffs’ claims failed to state a legal cause of action.
Any damages were caused by superseding or intervening factors outside the hospital’s control.

The defense also invoked comparative negligence and assumption of risk, arguing that the Plaintiffs were aware of the inherent risks of childbirth and preeclampsia

Settlement

After months of litigation and extensive pretrial discovery, both sides agreed to avoid a jury trial. The parties reached a confidential settlement of $1,000,000, finalizing the case in early 2025.

The settlement resolved all claims against the Regents of the University of California and UCI Medical Center without an admission of liability. The payment compensated the Mitchell family for wrongful death, survivorship, and emotional distress claims.

The agreement provided the Mitchells with closure after a deeply painful ordeal. For the Regents, it concluded a case that raised critical questions about communication and response times in high-risk maternity care.

The settlement stood as another reminder of the legal and ethical standards expected of hospitals when managing maternal and neonatal emergencies.

Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com