Life
Life v. County of Los Angeles
Opinion
Opinion
Klein, J.
Plaintiff and appellant Gabriel Y. Life, also known as Gebru Teklehaimanot (Life) appeals a judgment following a grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants and respondents County of Los Angeles (the County). ,
Because Life’s filing of a claim with a County hospital’s “legal department” did not amount to substantial compliance and the County is not estopped from asserting the claims statutes (Gov. Code, § 810 et seq.), the judgment is affirmed.
Factual and Procedural Background
Following Life’s injury in an automobile accident, he was treated by County physicians and personnel at Martin Luther King, Jr., Medical Center (Medical Center), a County facility, from December 1983 until February 10, 1984. On or about February 8, 1984, Life retained Zuzga to represent him in his suit against the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision.
Subsequently, Life discovered the Medical Center’s alleged negligence. Zuzga had no prior experience in filing a claim against a governmental entity. Sometime prior to May 1984, Zuzga called the Medical Center’s records department regarding Life’s medical records and spoke to an unidentified employee. During this telephone…