Court pauses order forcing survivors to turn over medical records in Cedars-Sinai abuse case

The California Court of Appeal has stayed a trial-court order that would have required sexual abuse survivors suing Cedars-Sinai to disclose confidential medical records to the hospital. McGrath Kavinoky LLP, which filed the challenge, says the ruling raises privacy concerns and could deter survivors from pursuing claims.

Why it matters: - The case tests how far a hospital can go in seeking private medical records from people accusing one of its doctors of sexual abuse. - The dispute could affect survivor privacy in medical-abuse litigation and shape discovery fights in similar cases. - The Court of Appeal’s stay gives the survivors temporary relief while the judges review whether the trial court applied the law correctly.

What happened: - McGrath Kavinoky LLP filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate after a trial court ordered sexual abuse survivors to disclose confidential medical records to Cedars-Sinai. - The California Court of Appeal issued a stay while it reviews the dispute in Case No. B354712. - The order at issue would have allowed Cedars-Sinai access to plaintiffs’ medical records maintained by the hospital, including records unrelated to the allegations against Dr. Barry J. Brock. - The survivors are among hundreds of women alleging that Dr. Brock sexually abused, exploited and molested them over more than four decades while he practiced at Cedars-Sinai. - Dr. Brock denies the allegations and surrendered his California medical license in 2025.

The details: - The trial court denied a motion for a protective order before Cedars-Sinai sought access to the records. - The lawsuits allege that Cedars-Sinai received complaints about Dr. Brock for years and allowed him to continue treating patients. - McGrath Kavinoky LLP argues the order would force survivors to reveal confidential medical histories to the institution they are suing. - The petition also argues that the ruling could discourage survivors from bringing legal claims because of medical privacy concerns. - Hundreds of women are pursuing claims against Dr. Brock through more than a dozen law firms. - McGrath Kavinoky LLP is the only law firm to challenge this order before the California Court of Appeal. - Jennifer McGrath said the survivors had trusted Cedars-Sinai with their care and that the hospital’s lawyers are now seeking access to their medical histories because the women came forward. - Darren Kavinoky said no woman should have to disclose a lifetime of private medical records while seeking accountability for alleged abuse.

Between the lines: - The stay does not decide the underlying dispute, but it signals that the appellate court sees enough weight in the privacy issue to pause enforcement for now. - The challenge also highlights a broader tension in sex-abuse litigation: defendants often seek broad discovery, while survivors argue that requests can become intrusive and retaliatory. - McGrath Kavinoky LLP’s move may influence how other firms handling the Brock cases approach discovery battles. - The firm says it previously represented 312 survivors in the UCLA matter involving Dr. James Heaps, which led to a settlement of more than $375 million.

What's next: - The California Court of Appeal will review whether the trial court applied the law correctly. - The appellate court will then decide whether the order should remain in effect. - The stay is temporary, so the discovery fight will continue unless the court limits or overturns the order. - Survivors seeking more information can visit more information.