Review Urged After Suit in Baby’s Death

Three Los Angeles County supervisors Wednesday called for a review of legal procedures after criticism of the county’s defense tactics against a lawsuit brought by a mother who claims that her baby died because a birth defect went undetected at Olive View Medical Center.

“I think we have to be fair and just and honest,” Supervisor Ed Edelman said. “I think we have a higher standard than a private company defending itself. Maybe we have to review whether we are meeting that standard . . . or whether we met it this time.”

A county counsel’s representative said Tuesday that based on results of a DNA test showing that Patty Chavez and her boyfriend, Reynaldo Ruiz, could be related to the dead infant, the county would begin settlement talks.

Leonard Torres, the private attorney hired by the county, had claimed that the county was not to blame for the death of Steven Antonio Ruiz because he was not the baby born at Olive View. But officials acknowledged two weeks ago that, despite its legal defense--which has cost more than $40,000--the county had not determined whether the child was Chavez’s.

Three supervisors said that in the future they may want to be apprised of the county’s legal defenses on major cases. Robert Alaniz, press deputy to Supervisor Gloria Molina, said Molina will bring up the issue soon.

“How did it get this far without us being notified?” he asked. “Gloria’s concerned about how many other cases there are out there.”

Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he would support closer board scrutiny of cases. But he defended using private attorneys in cases such as Chavez’s, where expertise in medical malpractice is needed.

“It would be financially a waste of taxpayers money to hire full-time experts,” Antonovich said.

Supervisors Deane Dana and Kenneth Hahn could not be reached for comment.