The First Deposition in Dennis Prager’s Lawsuit Against Cedars-Sinai et al is Scheduled for Today

Here is a copy of Dennis Prager’s complaint. It was filed March 13, 2026 in Los Angeles Superior Court, case number 26SMCV01561, by attorney Heather E. Gibson of the Law Offices of Heather Gibson, P.C., Santa Clara, California, on behalf of plaintiffs Dennis Prager and Susan Prager against defendants Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Barlow Respiratory Hospital, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
The lawsuit wasn’t served until May 1, so the Defendants’ Answers are not due until early June.
The deposition scheduled for today (May 13, 2026) is almost certainly of plaintiff Dennis Prager (or possibly co-plaintiff Susan Prager). Defense counsel for one or more of the hospital defendants served an Amended Notice of Deposition in late April that confirmed the agreed-upon date of May 13. In medical malpractice/elder-abuse cases like this, the very first deposition defense lawyers take is nearly always the injured plaintiff — it locks in his version of events, damages, and medical history before plaintiffs’ experts or treating physicians are deposed.
Settlement talks could be happening quietly (most med-mal cases settle eventually, often after some discovery), but the docket doesn’t show any forced delay or indication that defendants are dragging their feet on Answers to buy time. The fact they’re already noticing depositions suggests they’re preparing their defense in parallel with any negotiations. No public news, statements from Prager, or court filings since the March complaint mention a settlement, dismissal, or major developments. Prager has been doing interviews/podcasts focused on recovery, gratitude, and his new projects rather than the lawsuit.
Filing the lawsuit Mar. 13 and not serving it until May 1 is a weak move by the Plaintiff but typical in solo practitioner firms. A high-powered Plaintiff firm would serve the lawsuit immediately and then follow-up with discovery requests and depositions at the first opportunity.
So far, the defense side looks more aggressive.